Driver Spotlight: Courtney Clark

Courtney Clark

2 years ago Courtney Clark caught the racing bug. She went to her first kart race. She was hooked she decided she wanted to experience it for herself. At first her parents weren't sure about it. Her dad wasn't excited about the idea and her mom was hesitant as well. Courtney decided to take it upon herself to do whatever she could to "get in that seat." She started off racing karts in the rental league at the local track. A few weeks in the rental league, her parents started to see her talent in the sport. At that point Courtney told her parents that she was going to make her dream happen and find a way to get her own kart. It took quite a bit of convincing to get her father to allow her to race and a lot of hard work to save up the money to purchase her kart and motor but she accomplished her goal. She was finally able to race!

Last year they started racing at a new track, Michiana Raceway Park in South Bend Indiana. She finished 3rd place in overall points for the season. This year she has been finishing in the top 3 spots. She was able to get a few sponsors however it was not enough to purchase a new kart and motor. She worked hard and again earned her way into a new kart.

Courtney has a few people she looks up to in the race world. "I look up to a close friend who also races, named Adam. He's helped me every step of the way on and off the track. Another would be my grandpa's friend named Donny. He's 70 years old, and still in a kart. I also look up to Jeff Gordon. I've been following him In NASCAR since I was old enough to know what was going on in a race." 

Everyone has challenges in life. Courtney's challenge has been, "I stutter when I talk, and have been since I was little. It makes it hard sometimes to talk with my tuners or other people in general. But I don't let it slow me down, I work through my challenges."

Racing is more than just a sport there are many more side benefits that are involved. For Courtney, "Racing has brought me close to a bunch of people I'm proud to have as my best friends. It's gotten me through some struggles of my life. My grandpas on both side are battling cancer, and it's caused some family problems. Racing has also helped me to be a better person. I've learned so much from being on and off the track. I honestly could not do it without the support of my friends I've meet through racing, and my parents. Most races last season I was tuning for myself, and working on my own kart and motor on race days."

Throughout her racing career Courtney has been very self-motivated and driven to accomplish her goals.  She is also developing her skills by taking a school course in welding and fabrication. Last year she was enrolled in small engine repair and a number of industrial tech classes. Her goal is to work her way up to stock cars.

You can follow Courtney's career on Facebook: Courtney Clark

Aubree Finally Worked up the Courage

Aubree's First Experience Driving a Kart

Last weekend we had our youngest daughter Aubree's kart all ready for practice. She was so excited to have her turn. Then the day finally came and she was on the grid all ready to go out on the track and then....freaked out and started crying. All day I tried to get her at least to give it a try. I tried every type of incentive I could think of. She just was NOT going out there.

All week we kept telling her that it wasn't a big deal and everyone started off slow. All along she's been telling her sister how FAST she was going to go, but when it came down to it she was so scared that she would be slow. We had a talk with her that everyone starts off slow and with practice they get faster. 

So today was the big day. She was still nervous and didn't want to get in the kart. I talked her into getting into the kart without the motor on and practicing using the gas and break pedals. Then we had her put her helmet on and practice. Then even though she was still nervous we turned on the motor and had her practice by driving 5 feet then using the break driving another 5 feet and using the break again. Finally she was getting the hang of it so we had her drive an oval around the parking lot.

The funny thing is that after being so scared and nervous about driving the kart, she didn't want to stop after she started. I think she would have been there for hours driving that same circle. We know it's safer to practice at a track so we plan to take her to the track possibly next weekend to practice. Hopefully she'll be comfortable driving again. She just needed a small victory to give her some courage.

Here is my YouTube link of her at the parking lot: http://youtu.be/TyguRmRp2Ns

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Driver Spotlight: Dominique VanWieringen

Dominique VanWieringen

Dominique got her start in racing early in life. She raced Motocross from age the age of 5 through 12. At the age of 12 she moved over to Kart racing. She made the big jump to racing full bodied cars at the age of 15. For the 2013 racing season her main focus will be the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Series as well as driving the Outlaw Super Late model and Open-Wheeled Modified cars. Her racing will take her from Michigan to Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri.

There are many aspects of racing that Dominique loves. "Racing has a lot of characteristics that make me really love it. The speed and G forces are adrenaline pumping and I love pushing to go faster. I also love that racing is always new and different and no race is ever the same," she stated."

Dominique's parents have both been very supportive of her career and she has accomplished many things that have made them very proud. The highlight of her racing career was winning the Outlaw Super Late Model championship at Springport Motor Speedway becoming the first woman to earn an Outlaw Super Late Model title.

Dominique has great admiration for Danica Patrick. She feels that Danica's achievements in the world of racing have opened many doors for girls and women aspiring to compete in the sport of racing. Dominique has high hopes for her racing career. "My ultimate goal is to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and be the first woman to win a race and championship in the highest level of stock car racing," she explained.

Every smart person has a plan "B" and Dominique is no different. After completing high school this year she will be heading down south this fall to begin her studies in Mechanical Engineering (with a minor in Motorsports Engineering) at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

To follow Dominique VanWieringen's career visit her website: http://www.dominiqueracing.com/ or Facebook Page

Driver Spotlight: McKenna Haase

McKenna Haase

McKenna Haase is 16 years old. She began her racing career in 2009 in an Outlaw Sprint Kart. This motivated young driver is going into her her 4th season of racing and is now racing a Micro Sprint Car. 

How did you get your start in racing?

McKenna: My cousin started racing at a young age in Oklahoma, and I fell in love with the sport when I went to watch him for the first time. When I went to my first NASCAR Nationwide race at Iowa Speedway in 2008, there was a display for a public sprint car styled go kart track in Knoxville, IA. I drove there in a league they had for two years before hearing about a race track similar to my cousin’s also in Knoxville. After watching for a few nights, I got the chance to climb in a car, and my dad decided it was time to get me one of my own.

What is your proudest moment in your racing career so far?

McKenna: My proudest moment in my racing career so far is picking up a feature win my first time at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex in my second micro sprint car race.

What is your goal for this season?

McKenna: My goal for this season is that I want to get more feature wins this year than I did last year.

What is your goal for your career in racing?

McKenna: My goal for my career is to race sprint cars at Knoxville Raceway and become the first female to win an A-Main at Knoxville. Beyond that I want to move on to race with the World of the Outlaws and NASCAR.

Who do you look up to/admire in racing?

McKenna: The three people I look up to in racing are Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, and Danica Patrick; all three have worked hard for what they’ve earned, and Kasey and Tony grew up racing micro/mini sprint cars (what I race now) and worked their way up to the top in sprint cars (what I hope to race someday). Danica has set a lot of records as a female in both Indy cars and NASCAR, and she’s showed that girls can do anything no matter what anyone says.

What challenges in your racing career have you faced? How did you overcome your challenge?

McKenna: One of the challenges I’ve faced is that I got started in racing a lot later than most of the people. I'm always trying my best to be as prepared and competitive as possible right out of the gate with every class I’ve moved up to.

Follow McKenna Haase on her website, www.mckennahaase.webs.com, Facebook-Team Haase Racing, Twitter: @THRroadgal, Youtube- THRroadgal

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Motivation for the Day!

First Race of 2013

1st Place What A Fun Way to Start a Season!

It was a cold start to the season. Ashlee and her cousin Kyle started off practice on Saturday. This was our first time at this track, Michiana Raceway Park. So getting "back on the bike" was even a little more challenging on an unfamiliar track. Ashlee's first practice day was rough. She started out really slow then once she got a little more comfortable she was sliding off the track. She spent quite a bit of time in the dirt (on a pavement road course track). 

She pulled it together on Sunday. She still has some bad habits to work through however she was running really well. She was even taking instructions from her father who was coaching her. This is a major improvement over last year where she really didn't want to listen much less apply corrections. Hopefully this year will bring more maturity. She was able to finish first in qualifying, first in pre-final and first in the final race. She was so proud and excited!

This past weekend we had off. We are hoping to head to East Lansing Kart Track this weekend for practice. Cross your fingers the weather cooperates!!

We're hoping that this season will bring many good things for Ashlee. She's started off well but as always there still things to work on and lessons to be learned.

Promote Yourself With Trading Cards

Promote Yourself With Trading Cards

Market yourself and support this great company. Get your very own Trading Cards. Get the price of your membership back by entering the coupon code "GTTC2013" when  you order your trading cards. Offer good through April 30th, 2013. Check out the website here Girls Torque

Marketing Ideas: Facebook Fan Page

Facebook Fan Page

Facebook has been out for a while now. It first started out with some college age kids and now the phenomenon has expanded to many different age groups. It seems like "everyone" is on Facebook. The marketing world in racing is no different. If you've ever considered creating a page for your child or team here is a YouTube video to show you how https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O45sta7_34. Don't be intimidated it's really quite easy.

If you already have a page created here are a few places that I've found that have some awesome tips on what you can/should do with your page.

7 Tips and Marketing Strategies for the new Facebok Fan Pages:
http://blog.kissmetrics.com/new-facebook-fan-pages/

Better Facebook Fan Page: Essential Tips, Apps And Examples:
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/facebook-fan-page-tips-apps-examples/

4 Tips To Increase Your Facebook Page Reach Without Paying:
http://blog.getpostrocket.com/2012/11/4-tips-to-increase-your-facebook-page-reach-without-paying/

Do you have some tips for marketing through Facebook? I'd love it if you could share!

Driver Spotlight: McKinzie Culbertson

McKinzie Culbertson

McKinzie 'Kinzie' Culbertson is 9 years old. She started racing 2 years ago at age 7. She has many accomplishments in her racing career so far. She won the Rookie Track Championship in 2011 and in 2012 season at Deleware Speedway.

This winter she started the Jr1 Class and has 3 wins in the class and has only had a handful of starts. She is looking forward to racing the Jr1 Class in the Burris Thunder Tour this year.

She enjoys racing because it's fun meeting new friends and likes the competition. Winning money and beating boys are two other reasons as well. She also enjoys playing club soccer for the Dubuque Soccer Club.

Follow Kinzie on Facebook at Kinzie Culbertson Racing

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