Behind the Steering Wheel with KaCee Guedry

This week’s DragChamp Jr. Racer Spotlight is all about Louisiana Junior Dragster driver, KaCee Guedry.

BRUSLY, LA- KaCee Guedry started racing Junior Dragsters as soon as he turned eight years old, and has been racing ever since. He got introduced to the sport by his Dad and their family friend, Chuck Prejean, who runs a NHRA Super Comp Dragster in Division 4. Once his sister Rebecca was old enough, she started racing and KaCee followed right behind her. Nine years later and KaCee is close to aging out of the Junior Dragster program and getting ready to make the jump into big cars.

Currently, he competes in the 7.90 Junior Dragster class and they frequent State Capitol Raceway, No Problem Raceway, and Gulfport Dragway. They also like to compete in Gaylon Rolison’s King of the Coast Series and other events that he puts on as well as any “big money” events that they can get to.

During his first two years, in the 11.90 class, he was just having fun and learning the ropes but in the process of doing so, he won two Ironman’s and a championship. His time in the 8.90 class, treated him very well and he spent a lot of time in the winner’s circle. KaCee’s 7.90 years have been less consistent, due to fighting problems with both the car and the driver all in addition to the COVID situation. But, that won’t stop him from enjoying his final season of Junior Dragsters.

Get to know more about KaCee below!

His Race Cars

KaCee’s current race car is a 2017 Halfscale Extreme that he has had since it was brand new. The engine is a 3 x 3.5 JR Race Car’s ZR4 built by Craw’s Racing Engine and the fastest pass he has made was a 7.64 at nearly 90 miles per hour. But typically, he runs the 7.90 class at 85ish miles per hour. KaCee also has a ‘79 Camaro footbrake car that’s going to be gone through and freshened up for when he ages out of Juniors at the end of this year.

KaCee’s Accomplishments

• 2014 11.90 No Problem Raceway Track Champion
• 2016 8.90 State Capitol Raceway Track Champion
• 2016 BTE King of the Coast Bracket Racing Series 8.90 Class Champion – Top 5 finisher every year since
• 2017 Western Conference Finals 12 year old Runner Up
• 2017 8.90 State Capitol Raceway Track Champion
• 2019 7.90 No Problem Raceway Track Champion
• 2020 BTE King of the Coast Bracket Racing Series Tournament of Champions Winner
• 5 Time IHRA Ironman Winner
• 2 Time NHRA Wally Winner
• 34 Career Wins
• 22 Career Runner-Ups
• Over $10,000 of Career Winnings

Outside of Racing

When KaCee isn’t behind the wheel of his race car, he can be found working on his truck or working on getting his race cars ready for the next race. He is also on his high school’s track team, so sometime he is running or working out at the school gym. His favorite genre of music is Rock, and some of his favorite artists include, Motley Crue, Led Zeppelin, Soundgarden, Metallica, and Bob Seger. His favorite movie series is Smokey and the Bandit. Some things most people don’t know about KaCee is that he is pretty good at voice impressions, is quite the math geek, and can solve a Rubik’s Cube.

KaCee’s Q&A

What’s on your bucket list, future goals, what do you hope to achieve?

This year I hope to seal the deal on my second King of the Coast Championship, finally do well at the Eastern Conference Finals in Bristol, and make it all the way in a big money race. In the future, I want to become a top contender in footbrake. I want to build a street legal race car and complete Hot Rod Magazine’s Drag Week. Kind of outside the racing aspect of my life, I hope to own and operate my own high performance engine shop.

What is your favorite race car, and why?

My favorite race car I’ve owned was my second race car, the “Blue Ribbon/Devil,” the name depended on how it was acting, mostly because over the two years I ran it, I was frequently in the winner’s circle. As for my favorite race car that I would like to own in the future it has to be a ‘67 Chevy II Wagon.

Who has made the biggest impact on your racing success?

My Dad. He might not be able to always give me the best racing advice, since he’s never raced himself, but without him I would definitely not have accomplished anywhere near as much as I have and I surely would not be racing. Plus, he’s my biggest supporter and doesn’t tell me “No” too often.

Who do you look up to in the sport?

Cool Simoneaux. No matter who’s car he’s racing, what class he’s racing, where he’s racing, or who he’s racing he manages to keep his cool, I hope to be able to do that one day. And to make it better, he’s going rounds and making it deep in just about every race he enters.

Tell us what you do for a living?

I’m a junior at Brusly High School.

How do you support your racing, side hustle, sponsor, partner, etc.?

My winnings pay my entry fees, my parents pay the rest, and for the buybacks, my grandpa, Grumpy, handles those.

Who do you hate to see in the other lane, and why?

I hate lining up next to Payton Simoneaux, my girlfriend. When I race her, I get it in my head that I have to crush the tree and end up turning it red most of the time.

What’s the hardest part of drag racing?

The hardest part of drag racing, for me, is not beating myself up after I do something stupid like taking too much at the stripe or ripping too much and giving it back (or not remembering to fill the car back up).

What’s your most embarrassing moment in a race car?

The most embarrassing moment(s) by far is when I’m on the starting line and I hear the terrible sound of the motor leaning out because I forgot to put fuel back in it…

What are you saying to yourself just before you stage the car?

It depends on who’s next to me. Sometimes I’ve got to pep myself up, sometimes I’ve got to calm myself down.

What do you enjoy the most at the racetrack?

I really like winning, but hanging out with all my friends and family is what I love the most.

Are you superstitious?  If so, what are they?

No not really, I trust my skills to help me win, but I do have a routine, but that’s so I don’t forget anything (like putting gas) before the next round.

Do you love to win or hate to lose?

I love to win but I hate to lose more, especially when I give up the win, by going red or taking the stripe by too much or ripping too much and giving it back.

Which are you better at the starting line or the finish line?

I would say I am definitely better on the finish line, and I have a feeling my frequent opponents would tend to agree.

What motivates you to continue racing?

The cars, the rush I get from racing, but most of all it’s because of my racing “family.” To me there’s no point in racing if there’s no one on the starting line to celebrate when I win.

If money were no object, what would your racing operation look like?  Car, trailer, class, race schedule, etc.

I would have a toterhome with a huge stacker full to the top of the best of everything, a ‘67 Chevy II with a small block that revs to the moon, a ‘70 split bumper Camaro with a blown big block that rattles your bones at idle, and I would chase the money all year hopping from one big race to the next.

How often do you use a practice tree?

Not nearly as often as I should.

What is your daily driver?

My daily driver is going to be a 1970 Chevy C20. It’s currently mid-restoration. It’s going to have a Holley fuel injected 350 Small Block backed by a Tremec TKX 5 speed manual.

Where do you spend the most time on the internet?

Most of my time on the internet I’m on Racing Junk or Facebook Marketplace browsing race cars and motorhomes we can’t afford.

What is your favorite sport?  Favorite team?

Drag Racing – just KID’n Racing Team

What are you really good at?

I’m really good at making people laugh.

What’s your favorite thing to eat?  Individual item, meal, or restaurant?

A nice rack of ribs with a side of any serving of potatoes.

Who would you like to thank, who helps you the most?

Definitely my dad, without him I would not be racing, and he definitely helps me the most with anything. I would also like to thank my mom, she supports me in whatever I do. I want to thank Grumpy too, he’s the wisest old man you’ll ever meet, who loves to share his knowledge with anyone who’ll listen; he’s also what inspired my love for cars.

What is a piece of advice you’d give to an aspiring racer?

A piece of advice I would give to an aspiring racer would be don’t worry about the win lights or the money, the memories you make with all the people you meet are more important and last much longer.

For more DragChamp Jr. Spotlights, click here.