VOL. 51 ISSUE 23 JUNE 10, 2014 P143
it was weird they called us both
up for opening ceremonies, but
it wasn't that weird because they
sometimes do that. But then they
started asking about stuff they
don't normally ask me, and I real-
ized what was happening.
Jared: The Springfield Mile
was the perfect place to pro-
pose. We've been going there
all our lives and our family and
friends were there. Some people
hate on it a little bit, but I think
they're just jealous.
>>THE WEDDING
Nichole: At first I was against get-
ting married at the Springfield Mile.
I'm in my leathers every weekend,
and there was no way I was getting
married in my leathers. But then
we decided to do it the right way,
getting all dressed up.
Jared: Springfield was always
a special place for us. We first
met there, at Amateur Nation-
als. I proposed there. We both
race really well there. So why not
get married there? It seemed so
right.
Nichole: It turned out great. It
was really cool because racing is
what we love to do, and most of
our family and friends were there
to support us.
Jared: It could've gone really
bad if one of us got hurt in prac-
tice. Or the race rained out. But
in the end it worked out great.
Plus, it was really unique.
>>RACING LIFE
Nichole: I don't look at myself
any differently than the guys. I go
out to win races. And I don't think
the guys treat me any differently.
Since I've done it for so long and
raced with so many of the guys,
they treat me like anyone else on
the track.
Jared: On race day, I have a
job to do for myself and for my
sponsors, so I focus on what I
need to do and don't really worry
about Nichole. Her dad's there
for her. We've raced against each
other all our lives, so it's not like
it's her first time racing.
Nichole: I know we're both
there to do a job. We're very se-
rious. We don't communicate
a whole lot. We might ask each
other a question about gearing or
set up. But we have very different
riding styles so what works for
him might not work for me. But
I don't really think about him on
race day. I'm there to do my job
and that's what I focus on.
>>MARRIED LIFE
Jared: Nothing much has
changed since we got married,
since we've been together for so
long. Well maybe one thing has
changed. Since she's a school-
teacher, I have badass health in-
surance now.
Newlyweds Jared and Nich-
ole Mees race against each
other in the AMA Pro Flat Track
series. Jared was the 2012 AMA
Pro Flat Track Grand National
Champion. Nichole is the num-
ber one female flat track racer
in the world, having qualified for
25 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand
National Main events and
scored a career best seventh-
place finish in 2011 at Knoxville,
Iowa. You can follow Jared and
Nichole's quest for the 2014
Grand National Championship
at facebook.com/JaredMees-
Racing and facebook.com/
NicholeMeesRacing. CN
The family that races together… Jared (1) and Nicole (15).
