Central Iowa woman trying to forge NASCAR career in after ARCA races

NEWTON — Kadence Davenport wants to go as far as racing will take her.

Davenport, 21, grew up in a working-class family in Slater in Story County, and is racing part time in her first season in the ARCA Menards Series, the lowest of four NASCAR national touring series. Davenport said she started racing go-karts at age 6, and raced those for about 14 years before moving up to bigger cars during the last year.

This was Davenport’s third of three ARCA races this season. Her first came on July 18 at Elko Speedway in Minnesota. In late July, she raced at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indiana.

Her father owns contractor Davenport Concrete and put up the funding for the ride, according to a news release.

“I’ve learned how to be comfortable in the car, how to be in uncomfortable situations,” Davenport said in an interview after Friday’s race. “This is the fastest thing I’ve ever driven before. So learning how to handle that is a bit of a challenge, but I like it.”

‘I kind of like the challenge,’ Iowan says of racing against men

Racing is a male-dominated sport. But Davenport said she’s comfortable earning her stripes against men.

“It can be difficult, but once you do finally earn that respect from everybody else around you, it’s a lot more fulfilling,” Davenport said. “I kind of like the challenge.”

Davenport was one of four women to race in the Atlas 150 on Friday, Aug. 1. She finished 17th out of 27 entries, 11 laps down after spinning out twice.

There is precedent for a female driver from Iowa being successful. Janet Guthrie, the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in 1977, was born in Iowa City but raised in Miami.

Guthrie also made 33 NASCAR Cup Series starts from 1976 to 1980, and was the first woman to lead a lap in a NASCAR race.

Davenport grew up coming to races at Iowa Speedway. On Friday, she raced at the track for the first time. Afterward, she said she felt proud to represent Slater and Iowa.

“I didn’t realize how big this track was until I got here,” Davenport said of the 7/8 mile track. “It’s cool for it to be around my hometown because a lot of my family and friends who want to support me and have supported me get to be here.”

Like Guthrie, Davenport wants to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and forge a career in racing, whether that’s as a driver or in another role, “in any area of racing.”

“I just love the sport,” Davenport said as the sun set on Iowa Speedway. “I grew up doing it. It’s a big part of who I am.”

Other Iowans competing at Iowa Speedway’s NASCAR and ARCA races

Mason Mitchell, a West Des Moines native, the 2014 ARCA champion and winner of the 2015 ARCA race at Iowa Speedway, also raced Friday night and finished ninth.

Cedar Rapids native Joey Gase and Johnston native Sammy Smith will also race in the Saturday, Aug. 2 Xfinity Series race in NASCAR’s top developmental series, scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Philip Joens covers retail, real estate and motorsports for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-284-8184 or pjoens@registermedia.com.