Notes from our Community of Women in the Winner's Circle Drivers

Each week I receive many emails from our community of women drivers who want to share their stories about races, accomplishments and their thoughts about what's happening at the track. Many of these drivers have their own Web sites and I encourage you to follow their careers.  We'll be posting some of the stories I receive here.  We hope you'll visit regularly to see the updates.  Lyn St. James

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Driving Through the Glass Ceiling: Megan Reitenour

(April 8, 2009) | (BleacherReport.com story by Jen Preston) Hey, if Dale Earnhardt could drive a pink car, why can't she?  Seventeen-year-old third generation driver Megan Reitenour began her driving career at just two years old, with her dad propping her up with pillows in a pink Barbie Corvette.  After racing quad runners at age four, Reitenour moved to Quarter Midgets a year later. During her seven-year tenure in the series, she collected over 150 top three finishes and three championships before leaving for Badolero. Ranked fifth in the nation during her time in Badoleros, the Ohio native became the 2004-2005 Bandelero State Championship and won both the Buckeye Nationals and Great Lakes Nationals. Once again, it was time for Reitenour to move on with her racing career, which is exactly what she did in 2006 when she began racing Legend cars. Success also followed, when she finished with a top 10 in all but two races in her first season. In the semipro series of the division, she was ranked in the top 20 percent in the nation and won the Young Lions State of Ohio Championship. The KOIL (Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois Legends) saw Reitenour break two records; she became the first female to ever have a top five and a top finish in the series.  Reitenour would then go on to race in ARCA Lincoln Welders before jumping to the Super Cup Stock Car Series in 2008. Her rookie of the year award, along with three wins, nine top fives, and 10 top 10s got her recognized by the Drive for Diversity Testing & Evaluation Combine, where she became one of their development drivers. She also caught the eye of Lyn St. James and Project Podium, a group founded by St. James to help more women get into motorsports. Reitenour was selected to participate, and is currently racing in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series for Leicht Motorsports in North Carolina. To learn more about Megan and her career, including how you can help support the Megan Reitenour Racing Program, visit www.meganreitenour.com.

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Alli Owens Covered in NASCAR Illustrated

(April 2009) |Click here to see Alli Owens' story in the April issue of NASCAR Illustrated, Ben White's "Making Noise" column.

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Smithfield's Daniels works on Sprint Cup cars — now she wants to drive one

Newport News, VA (April 5, 2009) | (DailyPress.com story by Marty O'Brien) Tiffany Daniels is the rare female whose job is to help make a Sprint Cup car go fast. The 23-year-old Smithfield native is employed full-time by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing as a support engineer on Juan Pablo Montoya's Chevrolet. As happy as Daniels is running tests and collecting data on the multimillion-dollar machinery the No. 42 team uses to find the perfect setup for Montoya, it's not enough. She wants to race against Montoya and the rest of the boys in Cup. "I'm proud of what I accomplished with getting the job at Ganassi (now Earnhardt Ganassi) in the Sprint Cup Series," she said. "Until I made it as a driver, I wanted to work in racing in any capacity, and now I can check that off of my list. "But for me, the ultimate goal is to drive at that level." Daniels will chase the dream by commuting on weekends from Charlotte, N.C., to Langley Speedway, which opens its season April 11. She will run at least the first four races, possibly the entire season, making her the first female to race a Late Model regularly at Langley in three decades. An accomplished Legends Cars driver, Daniels faces a steep challenge entering her second full season in a stock car. She'll race several drivers — Danny Edwards Jr., Greg Edwards and Woody Howard — who had the talent to compete at NASCAR's highest level had they gotten a break. That makes Langley's four-tenths-of-a-mile flat oval even more attractive to her.  "There are lots of reasons for picking Langley Speedway, and one of them is that our race shop (near Smithfield) is so close," she said. "But I'm trying to go where the competition is tough and the car count is decent. "There are a lot of talented veterans like Danny and Greg, who evolved into racing in the ASA and (Nationwide) series. It's nice to come back here and get to know them on a driver basis." Daniels was a little girl running around Langley's pits when her father, Charlie Daniels, raced a Late Model against the Edwards boys in the late 1980s and early '90s. "The joke was that I was the back-window cleaner for my dad's Late Model," she said. "Nobody else could fit in, so he would stuff me up in there. I've always been around males at the track or the shop." She says she's one of only two females working in a race-related capacity at Earnhardt Ganassi. Her early experiences made the transition to the nearly all-male environment easy. "Now and then, guys will make a comment and then act like they shouldn't have said it because there's a girl around," she said. "I'll just pretend I didn't hear it. They're comfortable enough now to know I won't get offended by it." Team engineer Tim O'Brien said, "She's just one of the guys and blends in with the team. We don't look at her any different because she's a girl." Daniels makes so little fuss that many co-workers on the No. 42 team are unaware of her racing ambitions. "Wow, she races outside of what we do?" Brian Pattie, Montoya's crew chief, asked. "I never knew she raced. She is always focused on her job and very quiet about her outside world." Daniels was almost 15 when the racing bug bit her while she attended one of younger brother Cliff's Bandolero races. Until then, she focused on softball, a sport in which she excelled at Hampton Roads Academy. "It was super-competitive," she said. "The atmosphere was very cool and intense.  I realized my brother was having way too much fun without me." But her parents made her work on her brother's car for two years before letting her race to prove she was serious about the sport. She debuted in a Legends race at Langley in 2001 and won for the first time a year later. She's immersed herself increasingly in racing since. Daniels studied mechanical engineering with a racing concentration at UNC Charlotte, graduating magna cum laude in 2007. Then she turned up the heat on her racing career, landing the job with Earnhardt Ganassi and making her debut in the kind of Late Model Sportsman car she'll drive at Langley. She's adopted a role model and mentor, Lyn St. James, the 1992 Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year. Daniels attended St. James' Driving Academy, where aspiring females are tutored in racing's fitness, business and mental aspects. When things get rough, she turns to St. James for advice.  "She's always been honest with me," Daniels said. "I was frustrated with the workload (at Earnhardt Ganassi) and working on weekends. Lynn said: 'It's a tough sport, and either you can handle it or you can't. You have to figure it out.' " Already a rarity as a female working on Cup cars, if Daniels figures it out, she could become a rarity as a female to drive one at the Cup level. Daniels' good looks and sunny disposition will be a plus in the national spotlight, but she has no desire to become NASCAR's version of Danica Patrick. "Danica has done a great job of marketing herself," Daniels said of the IndyCar Series star. "She's a race winner and has proceeded to market herself at her comfort level. "My comfort level would not be posing in FHM or the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, but if that's what she's comfortable with, good for her. On the other hand, I can't ignore the fact that I'm female and can make a difference in a way male drivers can't."

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Hagar Scores Strong Finish in 2009 Madera Opener

Roseville, CA (March 26, 2009) | The 2009 season is underway for Golden State Racing driver Katie Hagar, finishing in the top-ten at Madera Speedway on Saturday night, March 21. Hagar ran in the top-five throughout the event before spinning in wet weather with just two laps to go in the 50 lap race. She was scored in 9th position on the tail-end of the lead lap. Hagar recently relocated from Maine to Sacramento for the 2009 campaign. Hagar will be looking to extend Golden State Racing’s impressive history with the Drive for Diversity program.

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Mackena Bell Gears Up for Toyota Speedway at Irwindale Debut

Carson City, NV (March 18, 2009) | NASCAR Drive for Diversity driver Mackena Bell, from Carson City, NV will begin her 2009 NASCAR Whelen All American Series - Super Late Model season this Saturday evening, March 21st at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California. In her rookie season as a Super Late Model Division driver, Bell will find herself behind the wheel of the No. 30 AC Delco ~ Position One Motorsports machine on the ½ mile asphalt oval. The 18-year old female driver has been answering the calls of the media and testing in the 500 horsepower ride since early February where she has already shown significant improvement according to Larry Nava, Bell's new crew chief under the Position One Motorsports banner. Bell is coming off a successful rookie season in the Late Model Division where she finished 9th overall at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif.  During the 08' season, Bell openly admitted that she felt held back on the race track because of her limited budget due to the economic decline and the impact it had in obtaining sponsorship support. This season however, Bell has the backing of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity (D4D) program (www.drivefordiversity.com) and the experience of an established race team with Position One Motorsports (www.position-onemotorsports.com).  Mackena Bell Motorsports, K. Dub Creative Web Design, K. Bell Tile & Marble, Sciarroni Bros Racing, McBride Machine, Bell Helmets and NGK Spark Plugs are also on board for the 2009 season. For more information, log on to:  www.MackenaBell.com

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Ashley Freiberg Captures First Win in BF Goodrich Skip Barber Race Series presented by MAZDA

Sebring, FL (Feb. 14, 2009) | Seventeen year old Ashley Freiberg of Homer Glen, Illinois arrived at the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida on Saturday, the 13th to race in the BF Goodrich Skip Barber Race Series presented by MAZDA. Ashley was paired up with Skip Barber instructor, professional race car driver and friend, Gerardo Bonilla, who had helped her throughout the entire weekend. Gerardo was at Ashley’s side to study track maps, review car data, in-car videos, and radio coaching. Ashley skipped the Thursday and Friday practice sessions so she wouldn't miss too much school. But on Sunday, she took her first checkered flag. “I would never be as far as I am right now without the help of my parents. They have supported me so incredibly much throughout my entire racing career; I don’t know what I’d do without them. Also, Gerardo had helped me out so much this weekend. He was really a great coach to keep me calm and focused through each of my sessions on the track, including the race. I’m just really thankful for all of the people that have helped given me the confidence to win this race, because without their support, I would probably still be a mid-pack runner!”This year Ashley is planning on racing in the BF Goodrich Skip Barber National Series presented by MAZDA at tracks around the country as a support race to the American LeMans Series. As the season is taking place, Ashley will also be testing in a Star Mazda car in between races to better prepare herself for next year’s season.

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WWC Driver Academy Alum Kristin Bumbera Honored at Second Annual NASCAR Diversity Luncheon

Daytona Beach, FL (Feb. 11, 2009) | (NASCAR press release) The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) today celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of pioneering individuals and organizations in the area of diversity at the second annual NASCAR Diversity Luncheon. "Teams, tracks, sponsors and other stakeholders play an integral role in our efforts to further diversify our sport," said Marcus Jadotte, Managing Director of Public Affairs. "The NASCAR Diversity Awards are a small way to say thank you and recognize just a few of those making a difference in creating awareness and opportunity." At a ceremony held at the Bill France Room at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR recognized the following individuals and organizations across the industry for their outstanding impact. Drive for Diversity Participant: Kristin Bumbera Bumbera, 21, of Sealy, Texas, was chosen as the driver or crew member who exemplifies outstanding performance on the track while also educating and exposing young people to NASCAR and motorsports. In addition to breaking two track records in different states, and winning five poles and numerous top fives and top 10s at All-American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., Kristin has found time to give back to the community. During the 2008 season, between a 25-race schedule, she counseled high school students on opportunities in NASCAR's Diversity program, shot a public service TV ad for SAFE-KIDS, and encouraged foster children at the Buckner Children's Home. Kristin graduated from the Lyn St. James Driver Development Program and was honored at the Annual Women in the Winner's Circle Luncheon. She did all of this while completing three semesters of college in pursuing a marketing degree at the University of Houston. Kristin will compete for Bobby Hamilton Jr. Racing in the NASCAR Camping World East Series in 2009 . Others honored include: -- Young Racer Award: Annabeth Barnes -- NASCAR Diversity Internship Program: Jaime Bowman and Kristopher Rincon -- Educational Institutional Award: Winston-Salem State University -- NASCAR Sponsor: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company -- Individual Recognition: Max Siegel

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High Point Racing Turns to Cassie Gannis to Bring Phoenix Sun to Toyota Speedway at Irwindale

Simi Valley, CA (Feb. 7, 2009) | High Point Racing has signed Cassie Gannis of Phoenix, AZ as driver of the #56 for the 2009 Auto Club Late Model Season at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. Cassie spent the 2008 season running races at Tuscon Raceway Park and The Bullring with her family owned Super Late Model. Cassie has been racing since she was 8 years old in everything from Bandolero’s to Super Late Model’s. In 2008 she had 4 top five and 8 top ten finishes at Tuscon. “As a team owner, Cassie is exactly what I’m looking for,” Tim Huddleston explained. “She is a tough driver on the track and she uses her skills and abilities off the track to mentor young teen drivers through Students Against Drunk Driving program as well as our division sponsor, Southern California Auto Club.” The season at Irwindale starts March 28, 2009.

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Drive for Diversity 2009 Driver Lineup Announced

Concord, NC (Jan. 22, 2009 | (NASCAR press release) The Drive for Diversity initiative continues to move forward in 2009 with an expanded driver lineup and a new management group. Twelve drivers will participate in the sixth season of Drive for Diversity -- four in the Camping World Series and eight in the Whelen All-American Series. In addition, former Dale Earnhardt Inc. president Max Siegel and his new marketing and entertainment company, 909 Group, will take over day-to-day management of the initiative. "We are proud of the progress this important initiative and its drivers have made over the past five years," said NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France. "The expansion to 12 drivers and 11 teams is a great sign of opportunities that continue to be created for young diverse drivers. We look forward to the leadership of Max Siegel and know he will help bring Drive for Diversity to the next level." Entering its sixth season, Drive for Diversity is NASCAR's leading on-track diversity initiative. The program is designed to give young minority and female drivers opportunities to compete with established NASCAR teams at the grassroots level. Since 2004, 22 drivers have competed in Drive for Diversity, winning 28 races. The 2009 expansion from eight to 12 drivers comes two years after the program expanded to include teams in the Camping World Series. This year's class represents drivers from across the country. Five drivers will return from 2008 and will be joined by seven new drivers. Last year, the eight drivers combined for 14 wins, 43 top-fives, 90 top-10s and a first-ever championship. Paul Harraka, who will return for his fourth year, earned the title at All-American Speedway in the Whelen All-American Series. Harraka will be staying with Bill McAnally Racing this season and will advance to the Camping World Series. More than 200 minority and female drivers applied to be part of the 2009 Drive for Diversity class. Twenty-five of those applicants were invited to tryout at the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine last October at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. Drivers were selected by their team owners based on their on-track performance and off-track interviews. The following 12 drivers were selected by their respective team owners to compete in the program in 2009 (Women in the Winner's Circle Driver Development Academy Alumni in bold): -- Mackena Bell of Carson City, Nev., will race in the Whelen All-American Series for Position One Motorsports at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. In 2005, Bell became the youngest driver to win a championship in the 42-year history at Champion Speedway in Carson City. -- Kristin Bumbera of Sealy, Texas, returns to the Drive for Diversity Program for the second season and will race in the Camping World Series East for Bobby Hamilton, Jr. Racing. Bumbera won two races last year at All American Speedway, is the first female to win a Late Model race at Houston Motorsports Park and the first female to lead the point standings in a Texas Late Model series. --Michael Cherry of Valrico, Fla., will race in the Whelen All-American Series for Addis Motorsports at Greenville-Pickens (S.C.) Speedway. Cherry was rookie of the year in 2008 at Motor Mile Speedway in the Late Model division and finished fourth in the point standings. -- Jonathon Gomez of Twin Falls, Idaho, will race in the Camping World Series West for RTD Motorsports. In 2008, Gomez won a championship, rookie of the year title and 13 races at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls. -- Katie Hagar of Nobleboro, Maine, returns to the Drive for Diversity program and will race in the Whelen All-American Series for Golden State Racing at Madera (Calif.) Speedway. Hagar was the first female to win a race at Canaan (N.H.) Fair Speedway. Paul Harraka of Fairlawn, N.J., returns to the Drive for Diversity program and will race in the Camping World Series West for Bill McAnally Racing. Harraka has 174 career wins, 13 national and six world karting championships and won the 2008 track championship at All American Speedway. -- Laura Hayes of Wilton, Calif., will race in the Whelen All-American Series for James Racing at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. Hayes has amassed 12 national, state and regional karting titles and more than 100 wins. -- Juan Pitta of Galt, Calif., will race for Bill McAnally Racing in the Whelen All-American Series at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. Pitta is a seven-time karting champion. -- Megan Reitenour of Miamisburg, Ohio, will race for Leicht Motorsports in the Whelen All-American Series at Tri-County Speedway in Hudson, N.C. Reitenour is a three-time Ohio state champion in the Bandolero and Legends series. -- Natalie Sather of Fargo, N.D., will race for Total Velocity Motorsports in the Whelen All-American Series at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash. Sather became the first woman to win a major ASCS trophy in 2007 when she won the Midwest points championship. Jonathan Smith of Beacon Falls, Conn., returns to the Drive for Diversity program for a third season and will race in the Camping World Series East for Fadden Racing, Inc. Last year, Smith finished 19th in the Camping World Series East point standings. -- Emily Sue Steck of Holmen, Wis., will race for DMT Motorsports in the Whelen All-American Series at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, Wis. Steck received 2007 rookie of the year honors at LaCrosse Fairgrounds along with the most popular driver award. Steck was also awarded the Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award.

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