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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

Kyle Larson is a household name in the world of motorsport racing. Young racers grew up watching his superlative skills, hoping to emulate him. But one special teenager could proudly call herself a former teammate of the racing star.

One of the few prominent female names in the racing circuit, Jade Avedisian dreamt of the day she should compete in a NASCAR race. Consequently, the 16-year-old midget racer behaved like an experienced sportsperson before she could be one, which is precisely why she exhibited her poised demeanor after a brutal crash last year, far beyond her years.

Budding female dirt racer thought of her sponsors after mid-race collision

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Jade Avedisian was racing in the Top 5 positions on a dirt track in North Carolina. Her #84 midget was racing neck-to-neck with #71M of Tanner Carrick. With the astute confidence of a seasoned dirt track winner, she drove her USAC midget ahead. Until all of a sudden, her vehicle was up in the air and she crashed on the sidelines.

The collision occurred when Carrick rammed her into the wall at Turn 1. Once she walked out, she strode toward Carrick and everyone justifiably expected her to incur a heated exchange. To their utter shock, she gave him a fist bump and quietly walked back.

In a sport where angry scuffles and blows are a common occurrence, her magnanimity was truly astounding. She later spoke about her intention behind the move as reported by Jeff Gluck of The Athletic.

“Obviously, I was pretty mad, but you can’t lose your head in those situations. As much as I wanted to go scream at him, you can’t. (The fist bump) was my best option to still do something, but not blow it up to where people were saying, ‘What is she doing?’ If it’s a bad look for me, it’s a bad look for your sponsors as well.”

Avedisian’s raw talent and refined mannerism were also appreciated by her idol and 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson.

Read More: “I’m Really Bad” – Kyle Larson Reveals the One Thing About Wife Katelyn That Scares Him

Kyle Larson saw superior qualities than NASCAR veterans in a teenage teammate

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Jade Avedisian only got better thereon with each subsequent race. This year itself, she marked 5 wins in midget races, the highest ever for a female racer. She also won Rookie of the Year at the Chilli Bowls Midget Nationals earlier this year. Her admiration for Kyle Larson, however, remained intact.

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Avedisian followed Larson’s career since he established himself as a noted dirt racer. When he drove for Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM), Larson got a chance to observe Avedisian’s craft. Her natural talent and passion for the sport truly impressed Larson.

Kyle Larson couldn’t believe he was interacting with a mere 13-year-old. He realized her innate ability and sincerity toward her racing career after observing her on track. Jeff Gluck continued his report with Larson’s reaction to Jade Avedisian.

“’You wouldn’t look at her and talk to her and think she’s a gasser, but she hammers it’. Avedisian ‘has a little bit better understanding of patience and race craft’ than many other drivers he’s seen. ‘That’s not something you can necessarily teach somebody. They just have it or do a better job learning it.’”

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Jade Avedisian’s racing journey would serve as a source of inspiration for millions of women across the globe. Hopefully, Avedisian will soon find herself racing next to Kyle Larson in a NASCAR series.

Watch this story | Kyle Larson’s Troubles Could Harm HMS’ Chances as JGR Has Advantage