No Crashing, Just Crushing

No Crashing, Just Crushing
Thursday, June 01, 2006
By Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press

Exhaust isn't the only thing in the air this spring at Winston Motor Speedway in Rothbury. Love is in the air, too. Nate Walton and Sadie Klein view each other as just another driver when they put on their race uniforms, strap on their helmets, hop into their cars and fasten their seat belts. But once the race is over, don't be surprised to see the two teenagers hanging out together at the movies or the beach. Walton, of Hudsonville, and Klein, of Muskegon, have been going steady for three months now. Racing has brought the two lovebirds together. "We met at the race track," Walton said. "We would always talk, and this is something that just worked out." Walton, 16, is sophomore at Hudsonville High School, while Klein, 15, is a freshman at Oakridge.

The two have been racing together at Winston since 2004, and they have both enjoyed success in their young careers. The two have emerged as major factors in the Bomber class. Walton won the track's Mini-Stock championship a year ago, beating out Klein for the title. Both made the jump to the Bombers this spring, and each has one feature victory. Walton was fifth and Klein sixth in the most recent point standings. Both come from racing families. Walton's cousins, Andrew and Travis Nylaan, are teenage racers, who compete in Berlin Raceway's Pro Stock division. "My dad asked me if I wanted to race a car," Klein said. "He used to race Michigan Modifieds, and he gave up racing for me." Don't think just because the two are an item that they take it easy on each other once the green flag drops. "I love it when I beat him," Klein said. Both drivers started racing go-karts before moving to Winston's dirt track. The two never have had an on-track incident between each other, and Klein said she wouldn't dump her boyfriend if he ever took her out of a race. "I would be mad at him, but I wouldn't do that," she said.