Jessica Young is a 19-year-old student, dog owner, and seasoned race car driver. When she was seven years old, she expressed interest in racing, so her father stuck her in a Quarter Midget and told her to try it out. She has loved racing ever since.

Young and her father, Jayson, bond over their love for racing. “I think it’s pretty cool that I am taking after something that he did and I think he loves that too.” They spend a lot of time together fixing the car, preparing for races, and are at the track almost every weekend during racing season. Because of their similar strong-willed personalities and spending so much time together, sometimes they bump heads.

Just four months ago, Young made the switch from pavement racing to dirt tracks. Pavement is more straightforward, “like driving a regular car,” said Young, whereas with dirt you slide, and it feels like you are moving much faster. “I like to go fast,” said Young.

The dirt track feels like a home for Jessica. Dirt is flying, cars are roaring and fans are cheering. “Everyone seems so content and happy because they are doing what they love,” said Young. Going to races throughout her childhood introduced her to so many people and shaped her to be the friendly, outgoing woman she is today.

Her car is dedicated to her step mom, Ashley Barrett, who has had sarcoma, ovarian and brain cancer all within a year and a half of each other. She has been cancer free for about two years, but her battle against cancer has taken an extreme toll on her family. Young races for her step mom in hopes of raising awareness for these cancers.

Young’s parents separated in 2006, which accelerated her growing up and maturity. Young had to figure things out on her own take on more responsibilities sooner than other kids her age. “I think she has become stronger and more independent because she didn’t have both parents to lean on,” said Kylea Dempsey, Jessica’s biological mother.

On race day, Young worked with her father and boyfriend, Bristol, to make the final adjustments to her car. She removed her gold sandals and diva sunglasses and put on her racing suit. She jumped in her car and fastened her helmet. Before a race when Young is waiting in the chute, she thinks to herself, “I need to go fast and I need to make my dad proud. Alright, let’s do this.”

Young is new to dirt track racing and is still learning how to navigate the track. She did not place in the A-Main Feature race, but raced in the B-Main. Tension was building between Young and her father after she claimed there was an issue with her motor which was affecting her performance while racing. They later found out her fuel pump was malfunctioning during the race which was causing her problems.

During the next week, Young found out her mother, Kylea Dempsey, was diagnosed with bone marrow failure. This information took a toll on Young and she was stressed about her mother’s condition. Young got into a verbal altercation with her father about the stress she was experiencing, her commitment to racing and monetary contributions to living under his roof.

Young decided to move out of her father’s house to live with her boyfriend’s family about 25 minutes away. She would no longer be racing. “I know what’s best for me and what was going to make me happy. I needed to think about myself first,” said Young.

On her first Saturday free from racing, she went shopping. She said it was the first time she was able to shop for herself in several months because so much of her time, energy and money had gone into racing.

Jessica’s plans for the future are uncertain, but her main priority is her education. She is an early childhood education major at Columbus State, with aspirations of teaching K-3rd graders. “As a teacher, you take a lot of responsibility of furthering the child’s knowledge. Starting them young and seeing what they are capable of makes me happy,” she said.

She will continue working two jobs and taking care of her dog, Hoozier. She feels it will take time to rebuild her relationship with her father and is not sure if she will ever race again.

Young is sad to be done with racing, but she knows this decision was made because of more than just an argument. “There are more important things to focus on in my life right now that will affect my future,” she said. Young said her primary focuses will be on finishing school, working to support herself, helping with her mom’s health and being there for her younger sister, Meghan, who is 16.

“Racing doesn’t define who she is, or what she is going to be. Her education is what is going to make her stronger in life and I don’t want her to get the two confused,” said her mother, Kylea. Her mom had Jessica at 18 and never had the opportunity to go to college. Because of this, she stresses the importance of education to her daughter. “Racing will always be a part of her that she can come back to. She realized that it was a hobby, and not a career,” her mother said.

Young has a tattoo on her right shoulder that states, “She believed she could, so she did.” All throughout high school, Young was bullied to the point of severe depression and self-harm. She was hospitalized three separate times for having suicidal thoughts. She got this tattoo as a reminder that she got through those tough times and refuses to let other people’s words control her anymore. The birds surrounding the quote symbolize her flying away from the negativity in her life.

This tattoo is a reminder for how she has overcome tribulations in the past and will continue to do so as she navigates this current transition in her life. “Things happen, and you just got to get through them,” said Young.