Earlier this month when Taylor Jorgensen won her first VP Racing Fuels Pro Division race, it was an accomplishment that was 21 years in the making.

"I knew I wanted to race when I was 2 years old," Taylor said. "I grew up at Atlanta Motor Speedway watching my dad race the Legends cars - my very first Legend car was the same Legend car my dad raced."

She first started racing in Thursday Thunder presented by Papa John's 12 years ago. The next year, her brother Jensen found himself behind the wheel, too.

"I didn't take it too seriously at first," Jensen recalled. "Then she started winning races and I was running in the back and I wanted to start winning like she was. I started to take it more seriously and the wins started coming."

Entering the series at such a young age, the Jorgensens had a lot to learn.

"When I started I didn't realize how hard the sport actually was," Taylor said. "I thought, 'You're driving in circles - anyone can do it!' So I was humbled very quickly.

"Now after 12 years of racing, learning, growing, and maturing I take this very seriously."

Over the years the brother and sister duo have won dozens of races on the Thunder Ring as they've ascended to the premier division. Now each Thursday night the Jorgensens work together both on and off the track as they chase victories.

 "We've really been perfecting our teamwork out on the track and my dad has been working hard to get our cars as close as we can get them," Jensen said.

"There were times we each other too hard and cost ourselves a win because we were racing for second and the leader was pulling away," Taylor said. "It took us years to perfect that teamwork and I think this summer we've executed a great plan and worked well together as teammates on the racetrack."

"Now on the last lap it's fair game," Jensen added with a chuckle. "That's just how it is! If we're running 1^st and 2^nd and we see that white flag it's game on."

So far the 2019 Thursday Thunder season has been a good one for both of the Jorgensens. After Taylor's win in the third race of the season, Jensen found victory lane in the next race and jumped to the top of the championship standings. That level of success is something the Jorgensens are proud of, but more importantly they're grateful for the years they've been able to spend racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

"Thursday Thunder has been a part of my entire life," Taylor said. "I grew up at the track watching my dad race and I remember being a little kid sitting in the stands wanting to race so badly. I remember coming down here in the pits, being able to carry my dad's trophy home and feeling like that was the coolest thing to happen in my life.

"Then I remember going and getting my own car for the first time and being excited because that was my car. I still think of that at 23 years old - being that little kid. Yeah I want to race NASCAR, but back then this was my dream and now I'm living my dream."

"This is our home track," Jensen added. "This is what we do. We've done it for so long and we've enjoyed it so much."

Thursday Thunder presented by Papa John's continues with its fifth night of racing this week. Grandstand tickets for the affordable, family-friendly racing action on Thursday, June 20, cost just $5; children ages 5 and under are free.

For more information, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 770-946-4211, 877-9-AMS-TIX or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.