LAS VEGAS — When this weekend’s RISK ON 360 Open Wheel Showdown kicks off, a familiar face will be a part of the sprint car portion of the event.
California driver Audra Sasselli will make her return to winged pavement sprint car competition after being inactive the past few seasons. Her return will come at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as she competes in the $50,000-to-win event promoted by Davey Hamilton Jr.
Sasselli has been absent due to the lack of pavement sprint car racing in the state of California in recent seasons.
When Sasselli first saw the Open Wheel Showdown announcement, she knew where she would be Dec. 1-2. It has been since 2019 that she last raced her pavement sprint car with a wing.
“The last time I raced with a wing was 2019 when King of the Wing came out to Kern County and Irwindale,” explained Sasselli. “There really hasn’t been anything out here since then. It’s funny because this summer I was talking to my friends. There are so many big dirt races out here. I don’t run dirt anymore. I was kind of sad and moping. I said we just need something big out here on the West Coast, so we don’t have to travel far. It was maybe two weeks later that it was announced. I felt like I needed to go.
“I had no idea this announcement was coming,” Sasselli said with a laugh. “We were on a road trip with my best friend, her family and mine. We were just talking about racing and things. I wasn’t complaining, I was just saying I wished there was something out here, and not so far away. I’m past that point in my life where I have to travel constantly. For us, I count this as close to home.”
Sasselli was competitive and ran strong in her last winged sprint car appearance in 2019. She seems confident she can have a good showing in Las Vegas despite her layoff.
“We recently hot lapped at Madera Speedway. We felt normal. I didn’t feel any different than as if I raced last week,” she explained. “Now, I don’t know how everyone else has progressed. Maybe they know new things that we don’t, there is that. But I felt like my normal self. I think we’ll be our normal selves and just see were we stack up.”
Sasselli is about to face the strongest field of sprints cars she has ever competed against.
“I’ve run big events before. I’ve run the Tulsa Shootout. I almost won it one year. I ran second there. I’ve also run the Chili Bowl,” Sasselli said. “This will definitely be the biggest money race I’ve run. At this stage, if I could sneak out a top 10, I’d be stoked about it. I’ll know right way in the first practice session, speed wise.
“I think there will be so many people at the same speed, that will make it tough. It’s gonna be who can nail the setup verses somebody who is normally your speed who misses it by a hair.”
The 47-year-old racer has one advantage. She has raced at The Bullring previously.
“I’ve raced there in a Focus midget, but it’s probably been 20 years ago,” Sasselli said. “I have my notes and still remember the lines. I don’t know how those transfer to a sprint car. I still remember things you can’t do. It’s always good having been there before. I can’t think of too many people who have run there. I’m excited to go back. I remember enjoying the track a lot.”
Sasselli will be one of only two female drivers competing in the sprint car portion of the Open Wheel Showdown, along with Natallie Waters.
Waters saw Sasselli race at Rocky Mountain Raceways near Salt Lake City, Utah as a youngster. Watching her compete inspired Waters. When Waters saw that Sasselli had entered, she reached out to her via social media.
“It’s funny because she did reach out to me,” Sasselli said. “I’m to that point in my career now, life, to think that for one person to be excited to race against you is a big deal. I think that’s something to not be overlooked. That’s special. I’m excited to race with her.
“She’s me. The younger version of me trying to forge her own path in this class,” Sasselli said. “There aren’t too many of us. It never mattered to me, and it shouldn’t matter to her. I’m excited to see her. I’m humbled and that’s another thing I’m excited for this weekend.”
The Open Wheel Showdown will be broadcast live by SPEEDSPORT.tv.