Team Calendar

March 19, 2025 

The Countdown to Hedge Hollow

The garage falls silent as the final bolt is tightened. 

For months, we've poured ourselves into this machine;  transforming our championship winning 350Z into something even more formidable. Now it sits before us, freshly detailed, gleaming under the garage lights, a predator waiting to be unleashed.

Just 72 hours remain.

In three days, the theoretical becomes reality. The dyno numbers, the simulation data, the countless hours of mechanical evolution;  all of it faces the ultimate judge: the unforgiving asphalt of Hedge Hollow Raceway.

There's a special kind of anticipation that every racer knows. That electric tension that builds as test day approaches. The questions that whisper in the back of your mind during quiet moments. Will the differential upgrades hold? Will the engine modifications translate to real world speed? Will all those late nights in the garage pay off when the rubber meets the road?

This isn't just another test day. This is the first chapter of our championship defense story.

Hedge Hollow isn't just a track, it's hallowed ground where speed meets truth. Nestled in the countryside south of Harrisonville in Adrian, MO, this private circuit offers something special: isolation, focus, and the pure expression of car and driver without distraction. No grandstands full of spectators. No pressure of points races. Just the raw conversation between machine and asphalt.

For those who truly understand racing, there's magic in these moments. The anticipation before the engine fires. The first tentative laps as driver and car reacquaint themselves. Then, as confidence builds, the progressive push toward the limit; that invisible boundary where glory and disaster live as nextdoor neighbors.

This Saturday, MO Bad News Racing begins the journey toward a second consecutive NASA MidAmerica championship. We're not just defending a title, we're hunting for evolution, for those precious tenths of a second that separate good from great, champions from legends.

For the true racing enthusiast, this is an invitation to witness something special. Not just a car being tested, but a championship philosophy in action. The meticulous preparation. The relentless pursuit of improvement. The unwavering refusal to rest on past achievements.

Come stand trackside at Hedge Hollow this Saturday. Feel the ground tremble as our enhanced 350Z thunders past. Breathe in the intoxicating mix of race fuel and ambition. Be part of the first chapter in what promises to be an extraordinary season.

Because in racing, as in life, the most powerful stories don't begin at the finish line with trophies raised high. They begin in moments like these, when potential energy transforms into kinetic reality, when theories become performance, when dreams transform into speed.

72 hours.
The countdown continues.
The pursuit of back to back championships awaits.

Will you be there when the story begins?

March 8, 2025 

From Hedge Hollow to the Championship Defense
Metal screams against metal as another component is removed from the 350Z's beating heart. The Dare 2 Dream Motorsports garage pulses with electric intensity; not just the whine of precision tools, but the almost palpable current of anticipation hanging in the air. Jeremy Salenius doesn't just work on this car; he communes with it, his hands moving with the reverence of a surgeon and the conviction of a warrior preparing for battle.

The partially disassembled machine sits like a predator being awakened, its potential for speed growing with each calculated modification. This is no mere vehicle; this is the physical embodiment of defiance, of victory snatched from the jaws of defeat at Cresson, of dominance asserted on Sebring's hallowed ground. And in just two weeks, it will become something even more lethal.

"Most people look at a car and see parts," Jeremy's voice cuts through the mechanical symphony around us, his eyes never leaving the precision measurements he's taking. "I see possibilities that others can't imagine."

The GTR front bearing conversion isn't just an upgrade; it's a fundamental reimagining of what this machine can become. The advanced brake pad materials being sourced won't merely stop the car; they'll harness forces that would shatter lesser components. Every modification, every enhancement, every evolution is another round of ammunition being loaded for the war that begins at Ozarks International Raceway on April 11th.

"Cresson taught us something invaluable," Jeremy says, finally looking up, his expression illuminated by the surgical light above. "It taught us where our limits were. And now..."

A smile spreads across his face; not the polite smile of casual conversation, but the knowing grin of a man who's about to unleash something extraordinary upon an unsuspecting world.

"Now we're obliterating those limits."

THE CRUCIBLE AWAITS

March 22nd. Hedge Hollow. The date burns in our minds like a brand, each passing day bringing us closer to the moment of truth. Not a points race, no... something far more intimate and revealing. The final proving ground where theory becomes reality, where engineering meets asphalt, where months of calculation and craftsmanship face their ultimate judgment.

The test day isn't merely about logging laps; it's about awakening a beast, feeling it stretch its newly enhanced muscles, hearing it roar with newfound power. It's about discovering whether the vision being meticulously constructed in this garage will translate into the kind of spine tingling performance that separates champions from merely skilled drivers.

"Hedge Hollow is where the whispers become screams," I explain to Stacee Cohn during our strategy call, her unwavering support through StaceeCohnLaw.com having built the foundation upon which our racing dreams stand. "It's where we'll know if we've created something truly special."

The anticipation is almost unbearable. Two weeks feels like an eternity when you can already taste the adrenaline, when you can close your eyes and feel the g-forces slamming you into the seat as the upgraded machine devours corners that once demanded respect but will soon surrender to domination.

For the crew: Andy, Roger, Dean, Richard these final days of preparation carry the electric charge of soldiers before battle. Every component checked, every system tested, every possibility accounted for. This isn't about hoping the car performs; this is about knowing, with bone deep certainty, that when the moment comes, MO Bad News will unleash something the racing world isn't prepared to witness.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP HORIZON

Beyond Hedge Hollow's proving ground looms the true objective, shimmering like a mirage that grows more vivid with each passing day: April 11-13 at NASA MidAmerica Race to the Champs! at Ozarks International Raceway. The official beginning of our championship defense. The moment when months of relentless innovation and borderline obsession will transform into pure domination.

The very mention of Ozarks sends electricity down the spine of everyone in the garage. Its challenging elevation changes and technical sections aren't just turns and straightaways, they're the canvas where MO Bad News will paint another masterpiece. Where championships aren't merely defended, they're reinforced. Where we'll announce to the world that last year's triumph wasn't the culmination of our story, it was merely the opening chapter.

"We're operating on a different level now," Jeremy's voice carries a confidence that transcends the ordinary, his hands continuing their mechanical ballet with unwavering precision. "While others have been planning their season, we've been executing ours since January."

His eyes lock with mine, a silent communication passing between us that speaks volumes about the storm we're about to unleash.

"They're not ready for what's coming."

There's no bravado in his words; only the cold, hard confidence that comes from knowing exactly what we've built, what we've overcome, and what we're capable of achieving. While others have been theorizing and iRacing, we've been in Florida and Texas, winning real races and overcoming real challenges, evolving with every lap, growing stronger with every obstacle conquered.

We don't focus on beating competitors; we focus on beating ourselves, on shattering our own previous limitations. That's the true measure of champions. Not looking sideways to see who's gaining, but looking straight ahead at the next level of excellence waiting to be claimed.

As the 350Z undergoes its metamorphosis, tension builds within the walls of Dare 2 Dream Motorsports. Not the anxious tension of uncertainty, but the coiled spring intensity of predators preparing to pounce. The air itself seems charged with potential energy, with the unspoken promise of speed so intoxicating it borders on dangerous.

THE INVISIBLE ADVANTAGE

The true edge MO Bad News brings to the 2025 season comes from our comprehensive approach to preparation; both on and off the track.

We've already felt the sting of Florida misty rain lashing against our visors at Sebring, battling limited visibility and treacherous conditions to stand atop the podium. We've already experienced the gut punch devastation of a failed differential at Cresson, followed by the transcendent triumph of engineering a solution when others would have surrendered.

But our preparation goes beyond just race weekends. The valuable sessions at World of Racing KC's professional simulator proved instrumental before Cresson; allowing me to master the track's most challenging corners before ever setting a wheel on the actual tarmac. Those two particularly difficult sections that showed up in the sim translated directly to real world advantage, keeping us firmly on track where others struggled to find their limits.

"That simulator work was invaluable," I reflect, remembering how the virtual practice converted seamlessly to real world performance. "Not once did I go off track in those trouble spots, even during my first laps at Cresson. That kind of preparation creates confidence you can't get any other way."

These aren't hypothetical scenarios or basic practice sessions. This is comprehensive preparation across every dimension of racing excellence. When the pressure mounts at Ozarks and the pressure of championship defense is like nothing else, we won't be experiencing that intensity for the first time. We'll recognize it like an old friend, having already conquered similar challenges through our multi-faceted preparation approach.

The calendar may show April 11th as the beginning of something. The officials may treat it as the season's first green flag. But in the reality that matters, the reality of preparation, experience, and battle hardened confidence, MO Bad News is already deep into our campaign, already carrying the momentum of victory and resilience that our competitors can only imagine.

THE BEATING HEART

As wrenches turn and components transform, the true power of MO Bad News reveals itself. Not in carbon fiber and aluminum, but in the human elements and partnerships that give this racing program its soul.

• Jeremy Salenius, whose hands don't just build race cars but create mechanical possibilities that defy conventional wisdom. Watching him work isn't witnessing mere maintenance; it's observing art being created through technical mastery, each modification backed by intuition that can't be taught or bought.
• Stacee Cohn, whose vision extends far beyond legal expertise to the fundamental architecture of a championship racing program. Her insights don't just support our efforts; they elevate them, transforming ambitious goals into achievable realities through strategic brilliance.
• WGT Money, whose 40+ years of financial expertise and unwavering commitment have provided the stability and resource foundation that allows true racing excellence to flourish. Their belief in our program doesn't just enable our on-track performance; it empowers our long-term vision, converting potential into championship reality through their steadfast support. 
• World Of Racing KC, whose professional simulator technology translates virtual practice into real world performance advantages. Their simulator provides the critical bridge between theory and practice, allowing us to arrive at new tracks with the confidence and muscle memory of drivers who've already conquered every corner.
• Andy Shultz and WJP Aerial, whose lenses capture moments of raw emotion and mechanical perfection that words alone could never convey. Their images don't just document our journey; they immortalize it, preserving the essence of what makes racing the most compelling drama in motorsport.
• The crew: those unsung heroes whose fingerprints are on every component, whose dedication transforms engineering theories into mechanical symphonies. They don't just prepare a car... they breathe life into it, ingraining metal and composite with something almost spiritual in its perfection.

This isn't just a collection of talented individuals and organizations. This is a racing ecosystem, each element vital, each contribution magnified by the others around it. When the 350Z roars to life at Hedge Hollow and later attacks Ozarks International Raceway, it will carry with it the collective passion, expertise, and determination of every person and partner who made this journey possible.

THE CHAMPION'S PULSE

Standing in the garage amid the controlled chaos of creation, I feel my heartbeat synchronize with the rhythm of preparation surrounding me. The 350Z, now in various states of disassembly, will soon coalesce into something more potent than it has ever been; a mechanical extension of our collective will to dominate.

Champions aren't created in the spotlight of victory lane. They're forged in moments precisely like these; in the fluorescent lit crucible of garage nights, in the meticulous details that spectators never see, in the thousands of decisions that separate the extraordinary from the merely good.

When Hedge Hollow arrives on March 22nd, followed by our championship defense at Ozarks International Raceway beginning April 11th, the world will see only the finished product; a driver and machine in perfect harmony, attacking corners with supernatural confidence, conquering straightaways with breathtaking velocity.

What they won't see is this; the sacred process of creation, the obsessive pursuit of perfection, the relentless refinement of every element that contributes to speed. They won't feel the electric anticipation that currently courses through our team, building day by day toward a crescendo that will be unleashed when the green flag drops.

• Sebring taught us we belong among racing's elite.
• Cresson proved we can overcome any obstacle.
• Hedge Hollow will confirm we're ready.
• Ozarks will be where we show the world that 2024's championship was just the beginning.

The garage lights cast long shadows as another day of preparation comes to an end, but the energy remains; pulsing, building, intensifying with each passing hour. The road ahead isn't just clear; it's calling to us, beckoning with the siren song of speed and the promise of glory yet to be claimed.

When the green flag drops at Ozarks International Raceway on April 11th, MO Bad News won't just be defending a championship.

We'll be unleashing a revolution.

"History remembers those who redefine what's possible."

March 6, 2025 

Behind every trophy, every checkered flag, and every victory lap is an untold story of the true champions who make it all possible. This isn't just about a driver named Steven Bright or a car numbered 350Z. This is about how American small businesses become the backbone of grassroots motorsports excellence. 

SEBRING WHERE LEGENDS ARE FORGED

The January Florida sun beat down on Sebring International Raceway's legendary 3.7 miles. In the paddock, Jeremy Salenius of Dare 2 Dream Motorsports hunched over the engine bay, making microscopic adjustments that only a mechanical savant would understand.

"It's not just about horsepower," Jeremy explained to a curious onlooker, his hands never pausing their practiced dance across the engine components. "It's about balance, reliability, and finding those thousandths of a second that add up over a race distance."

For three years, Dare 2 Dream Motorsports has transformed a street car into a championship machine through countless late nights, innumerable challenges, and the kind of mechanical intuition that can't be taught, only earned through decades of experience.

Meanwhile, across the paddock, a phone call was taking place. Stacee Cohn of Stacee Cohn Law wasn't just offering encouragement from afar; she was strategizing about the next phase of their racing program, ensuring that every legal and business aspect was as finely tuned as the race car itself.

"Racing isn't just about the driver and car," Stacee would later explain. "It's about creating the foundation that allows talent to flourish. That means everything from partnership agreements to business planning has to be bulletproof."

When the 350Z thundered to victory that weekend, crossing the finish line at one of racing's most storied venues, the spotlight shone on the driver. But the real story was in the paddock, where Dare 2 Dream's mechanical excellence made that victory possible and in the background, where Stacee Cohn Law's unwavering support created the platform for success. 

CRESSON: WHEN ADVERSITY REVEALS CHARACTER

If Sebring showed what happens when everything goes right, Motorsport Ranch Cresson revealed something even more valuable: what happens when small businesses face seemingly insurmountable challenges.

The diagnosis was grim: a failed differential seal during Friday testing at the technical 1.7-mile Texas circuit. For most teams, the weekend would be over. Pack up. Go home. Try again next time.

But Jeremy Salenius doesn't understand the concept of surrender. As the sun beat down on Cresson's paddock, he transformed into a battlefield surgeon, diagnosing, planning, and executing with the precision that has made Dare 2 Dream Motorsports synonymous with racing excellence.

When the differential needed complete replacement, Jeremy didn't just accept defeat; he orchestrated a parts hunt across Dallas-Fort Worth, leveraging connections and resources that only come from years of building relationships in the automotive world.

"This is where you see the difference between a business that sponsors a car and a business that lives for racing," one observer noted as Jeremy worked tirelessly through the night. "Dare 2 Dream doesn't just build race cars, they build solutions when others see only problems."

Throughout the crisis, Stacee Cohn remained in constant contact, not just as a sponsor but as a strategic partner. While many would see legal expertise as separate from racing success, Stacee's support extended far beyond financial backing. Her business acumen helped navigate the logistical challenges, her network provided additional resources, and her unwavering confidence reinforced the team's resolve.

The result? Against all odds, a podium finish that felt more satisfying than many victories. A testament not to luck, but to the extraordinary capabilities of small businesses that refuse to accept limitations. 

THE UNSEEN VICTORY LAP

When racing fans watch a championship team, they often see only the driver, the car, and the trophies. What remains invisible is the ecosystem of small business excellence that makes it all possible.

Dare 2 Dream Motorsports doesn't just prepare race cars, they engineer possibilities. From their garage in Kansas City off of I-35, they've turned mechanical challenges into opportunities, problems into solutions, and dreams into reality through a combination of expertise, determination, and pure passion for motorsport.

Stacee Cohn Law doesn't just provide sponsorship; they create the foundation upon which racing programs can build sustainable success. Through shrewd business guidance, unwavering support, and a genuine belief in the power of grassroots racing, they exemplify how professional services firms can impact worlds far beyond their immediate industry.

Together, these two small businesses have created something extraordinary: a championship racing program that competes and wins against teams with far greater resources. 

THE NEXT CHAPTER: HEDGE HOLLOW AND BEYOND

As MO Bad News prepares for their March 22nd test day at Hedge Hollow Raceway, the story isn't about a driver preparing to defend a championship. It's about how Dare 2 Dream Motorsports continues to evolve the 350Z with new brake systems and GTR front bearings. It's about how Stacee Cohn Law ensures that every aspect of the program remains on solid footing as they prepare for their championship defense.

This is the reality of grassroots motorsports excellence: behind every driver is an ecosystem of small businesses whose expertise, passion, and determination create the platform for victory.

For businesses considering involvement in motorsports, the lesson is clear: your contribution isn't just a logo on a car. It's the expertise you bring, the problems you solve, and the foundation you help build. It's the opportunity to showcase your business's very best qualities in an arena where excellence is the only acceptable standard.

On April 11-13, when MO Bad News begins their championship defense at Ozarks International Raceway, the spotlights will shine on the driver and car. But the true champions, Dare 2 Dream Motorsports and Stacee Cohn Law will continue doing what they've always done: turning possibilities into performance, challenges into triumphs, and small business excellence into racing glory.

That's not just good racing. That's good business.

"Behind every championship driver is a team of small business champions who make victory possible. They don't just sponsor dreams; they build them, part by part, step by step, victory by victory."

February 28th - March 2nd, 2025 

The darkness of Thursday night cloaked our arrival at Motorsport Ranch Cresson. As we dropped the car and trailer under the Texas stars, none of us could have predicted the battlefield that awaited. The lakehouse lights welcomed us, a calm before the storm.

Friday morning broke with promise. The 350Z sang its mechanical symphony through three glorious test sessions, devouring Cresson's technical 1.7 miles with hunger. Then, without warning... silence. The beast began to bleed its lifeblood onto the scorching Texas tarmac.

"Diff seal," Jeremy would later diagnose, but at that moment, we only knew we were wounded. The team sprang into action like combat medics in a war zone. Jeremy, Andy, and Roger became surgeons working against time, while I transformed into a supply runner, crisscrossing the DFW metroplex hunting parts like precious artifacts.

Melted ABS sensors. Damaged hoses. Each discovery another enemy to defeat. As darkness fell Friday, we retreated to regroup.

Saturday's dawn brought renewed hope, only to be crushed beneath the weight of reality after just two laps. The differential had spoken its final words. Lesser teams would have surrendered, packed their trailers, and disappeared into the Texas horizon.

Not us.

Jeremy's fingers flew across Facebook Marketplace, a digital field commander calling for reinforcements. And then, a miracle: a replacement differential, waiting on the other side of the urban sprawl.

The journey felt eternal, an hour through familiar territory being my hometown, to a Shell station at Stemmons and Mockingbird Lane. No fancy race shop, no professional transaction. Just two men at a gas station, tailgates aligned like a covert operation, exchanging parts and possibilities.

As I raced back to Cresson with our mechanical salvation, the clock ticked mercilessly. The first race had already slipped through our fingers. Would we make the second?

Hands blackened with oil, foreheads glistening with sweat, the team performed battlefield surgery on our wounded machine. When the green flag dropped for race two, MO Bad News rolled onto the grid, battered but unbroken.

The car held. The diff survived. And something electric passed through our team, the unspoken knowledge that we had already won something more valuable than any trophy.

Sunday morning greeted us with mercy, a 10:15 AM start time. Time to breathe. Time to prepare. The 350Z, resurrected from mechanical death, attacked Cresson's challenging corners with renewed ferocity. Corner One and Rattlesnake, once our nemeses, became conquered territory.

Then came the 40-minute trophy race. The final battle. Every corner, every straight, every shift became a declaration of defiance against fate. As the laps counted down, I could feel the brakes fading, the pads sacrificing themselves for our glory. The white flag appeared like a beacon of salvation.

When we pulled into impound, the heat of battle still radiating from our exhausted machines, they held the trophy ceremony right there; no delay, no formality. Just warriors acknowledging warriors in the Texas heat. And there it was, the sweet validation of our struggle... a 2ND PLACE TROPHY gleaming in the afternoon sun, proof that perseverance pays dividends.

We've returned to Kansas City now, bearing the scars and stories of Cresson. The 350Z sits in the shop, awaiting the next round of upgrades for its date with Hedge Hollow on March 22nd.

But something has changed. We're not just a team anymore. We're survivors. Veterans of the Battle of Cresson.

And we're just getting started.

Will you join us for the next chapter? Hedge Hollow awaits. March 22nd. Be there.

January 17th - 19th, 2025

Every racer dreams of those perfect moments when history, heart, and horsepower align on hallowed ground. This weekend at Sebring wasn't just about turning laps; it was about dancing with destiny on 3.7 miles of sacred asphalt that's witnessed seven decades of racing legends.

From Friday's first touch of the throttle to Saturday's fierce battles for P4, each session deepened our respect for this iconic track. They say Sebring's concrete holds the echoes of every race car that's ever roared across its surface. Sunday, in the heat of a Florida noon race, we added our own voice to that eternal chorus charging to P1 in the Thunder Race #3.

Making the podium where countless heroes have stood before, you can't help but feel the weight of the moment. This isn't just a victory; it's a connection to every dreamer who ever gripped a steering wheel and dared to push the limits.

To everyone who's ever felt the magnetic pull of a racetrack, who understands that racing isn't just a sport but a calling; this one's for you. MO Bad News didn't just race at Sebring this weekend; we lived it, breathed it, conquered it.

As the sun sets on this unforgettable weekend, we're reminded that racing is more than just chasing checkered flags. It's about chasing dreams, defying odds, and writing your own story in the endless book of speed.

The 2025 season has begun, and our hearts are full of racing glory. Keep dreaming. Keep pushing. Keep racing. 

October 21, 2024 

What a weekend! Still trying to process the surreal trifecta at Ozarks International Raceway; ST3 Championship Race victory, 2024 NASA MidAmerica ST3 Championship title, and the incredible honor of being named 2024 NASA MidAmerica Driver of the Year.

But racing isn't a solo sport, it's about the incredible people who make it possible.

To Donna, Randy, and Russ Lane; your dedication to NASA MidAmerica creates more than just races; you build dreams and forge champions. Your tireless work makes every weekend feel like family.

To my rock, Stacee Cohn Bright; you're not just my wife and legal eagle at Stacee Cohn Law, you're the heart behind every victory. Your support fuels more than just the car.

Jeremy Salenius, Dare 2 Dream Motorsports isn't just a name, it's a prophecy. Your expertise and vision turned our racing dreams into reality.

To my incredible crew; Roger Mixon, Dean Smith, and Richard Riepe; every fast lap, every perfect pit stop, every triumph belongs to you too. Your dedication and skill in the trenches made this championship possible.

And to everyone else who has been part of this journey; the countless hands that helped, the voices that cheered, the spirits that lifted us when we needed it most... thank you.

This isn't just my championship; it's ours. From rookie season to Driver of the Year, what a ride! And guess what? We're just getting started.

Finally, to the entire NASA MidAmerica Staff & Family; your passion for motorsport creates something truly special. You've built more than just a racing organization; you've created a community where dreams take flight and rookies can grow into champions. 

Your unwavering support, guidance, and encouragement from day one have been instrumental in this journey from newcomer to Driver of the Year. 

Every event runs like clockwork because of your dedication, and every racer feels like part of something bigger because of your leadership. Thank you for nurturing the sport we love and for believing in the potential of every driver who takes the grid.

With deep gratitude and a full heart, 

Steven Bright #mobadnews

PS. Thank you to Craving Cars for being part of this journey!