2008 Women in the Winner's Circle Driver Development Academy Graduates

Jessica Brunelli, 15 (Hayward, CA)
Kristin Bumbera, 19 (Sealy, TX)
Tiffany Daniels, 22 (Concord, NC)
Ashley Freiberg, 18 (Homer Glen, IL)
Brianna Hershey, 17 (Dillsburg, PA)
Kristy Kester, 20 (College Station, TX)
Molly Rhoads, 26 (Goodhue, MN)
Natalie Sather, 23 (Fargo, ND)
Trista Stevenson, 18 (Pocahontas, IL)

Comments from some of our Women in the Winner's Circle Driver Development Academy participants and graduates:

 Shea Holbrook (2009 Academy participant, Phase 1)

I'm taking advantage of MindShaper and the Performance and Nutrition Programs. I’m absolutely positive MindShaper prepared and helped me keep my focus for the 25 Hours of Thunderhill race. I drove for about 2-3 hours straight in the night with fog; but I was very calm, relaxed and focused. The Performance and Nutrition Programs have been so helpful because they give us specific guidelines on core fitness for a race car driver. And the food! The more colorful the better! I’ve actually lost weight, but in a good way. So understanding, using and staying faithful  to what we learned in Phase One will definitely make us girls better people, drivers and live a better life. I also came home and drove in a SCCA race ... which I normally qualify 15th ... I qualified 4th! And, I won a NASA race last weekend. If there’s one thing that really sticks in my brain, it was when Lyn said, “If you're thinking worried and focused on winning … you most likely won’t get the results you were expecting. But if you focus on the weekend, every lap and how to improve what you CAN control, work on that and you can always be pleased because you put in 110%.” The support from everyone in the program has been overwhelmingly helpful and I greatly appreciate it.

Kristy Kester (2008 graduate)

After completing this year’s WWC Driver Development Program, I now realize there are many parts to success. One of the best aspects of the Academy was the focus on the mental preparation for racing. This is something that I always knew was important, along with physical fitness, but never truly learned how to implement it. I learned it at the Academy with Dr. Dallaire and Lyn. After this program, I feel that I am a more complete driver.

Natalie Sather (2008 graduate)

The most important values that were instilled in me at the Academy were persistence and determination, which go hand in hand. You must have both in every aspect of racing. Working out to stay in shape takes persistence. It takes determination to find sponsorship and you have to be persistent when looking. Lyn St James has been determined and persistence in helping young women from all aspects of racing to achieve their dreams! Thank you Lyn and all the others involved in the program, it truly has been a privilege to work with you. As long as I am both determined and persist, I can be successful not only in racing but also in life!

Jessica Brunelli (2008 graduate)

The opportunities that the Academy provided me have been priceless and are a major part of the driver I am becoming. I believe that the most important thing I have learned this year at the Academy is that to become a great driver it takes more than just being able to perform on track. I learned that it takes of- track dedication to your health, your mind, and to your education of the sport and the people in it. Racing is a business and I am learning, because of this program, how to handle it like a business and shape myself to be a successful business woman in racing.

Molly Rhoads (2008 graduate)

Through the Women in the Winners Circle Driver Development Academy, I have learned a lot that will help me succeed in my racing career. One thing I learned during the year is the fact that you can not cut corners. Whether it is conditioning so that you are in the best physical and mental condition or making sure you have all the business aspects in order. Having the top of the line equipment and making sure that all your equipment is working properly is also key to success. When you know that you have prepared yourself and your equipment, you can concentrate on doing the best you can and winning races. Upon graduating from the Women in the Winners Circle Driver Academy, I know that I have started to get all the pieces in order and that I now have the resources to make my racing career and my life, be the best that it can.

Brie Hershey (2008 graduate)

There is a great deal of work that needs to take place behind the scenes, away from the race track, in order to be a successful race car driver. Since there are so many facets to the business side of racing that need attention and are too time consuming for a driver to do all on their own, a driver needs to surround themselves with good people -- people who can give vision to a driver and/or a teams goals, and are willing to work hard to help achieve them. The Driver Development Academy gave me insight not only as to how important this factor is, but how to seek and maintain such individuals dedicated to sharing your dream.

Tiffany Daniels (2008 graduate)

The most important I learned at the Academy was to never be afraid to 'go for it.' 'Go for it' was not a lesson specifically taught in any of the phases of the Academy, but it was the backbone of each one. It's the phrase I've seen many times on the pictures Lyn has autographed. It's the attitude you must have to be successful in the sport; and it's the foundation for the Academy. I learned to be fearless or face my fears and 'go for it,' whether I'm testing my abilities behind the wheel, searching for sponsor support, or facing any of the many challenges in racing or life in general. Lyn epitomizes this phrase, and as a result of her advice and support I am able to 'go for it' and take advantage of every opportunity presented to me, using everything I learned at the Academy.

Kristin Bumbera (2008 graduate)

The most important thing I had learned while being a part of the Academy was how to maintain mental and physical control. Racing for over an hour at times has proven to be challenging, but with the help of Dr. Dallaire, I have been able to fine tune this skill.