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About Laura:
Laura is an 18-year-old aspiring professional racecar driver and a recent graduate of Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove Ca. A third generation racer, (her mom and dad met at a race track during competition between their respective families), Laura was exposed to racing at an early age and soon developed an interest in the sport. After learning her early idol Jeff Gordon started racing as a child near her home in Northern California, she decided to try her hand at the sport.
Racing Accomplishments:
Laura started racing quarter midgets (1/4 size midget race cars running on both asphalt and dirt oval tracks) at the age of 8 and drove them through her 12th year. During that time she amassed 10 local, state and regional titles and won the prestigious Winter Nationals along with other special event titles. Multiple podium finishes at national events coupled with dozens upon dozens of victories and track records, including two Ernie Bose world records, capped her quarter midget career.
With a basis in the fundamentals of racing established in quarter midgets, Laura began looking for new challenges and growth experiences. Karting proved to be the medium for this growth. 2005 IRL Champion and Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon has called karting "the purest form of motorsport." He and many other top divers in all forms of racing, such as Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Valentino Rossi, Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Pruett, use karting to maintain their edge and hone their skills in the off season. With performance of a shifter kart being one of the closest things to a Formula 1 ride, its no wonder karting is considered an excellent training ground for future driving stars.
In 2003, Laura began racing karts and quickly moved to the ultra-fast shifter kart classes. She continued racing karts through 2005. Highlights of her first two years in karting included winning the 2004 Hot August Nights X-karts race in Reno Nv., while breaking the track record in qualifying and winning the Northern California Red Bull Driver Search qualifying event. At the Red Bull run offs at Infineon Raceway, competing against many of the best young racers from around the country, Laura caught the eye of Danny Sullivan, former Indy car and Indy 500 champion and Red Bull Race Program Director, who continued to follow Laura's progress through her karting career. 2004 also saw Laura race in the International Karting Federation (IKF) Region 11 series and the highly competitive ESPN Jim Russell Karting Championship at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Ca. At years end, Laura had recorded multiple wins and finished on the podium numerous times.
2005 again saw Laura competing in the shifter karts, concentrating on the IKF national championship and regional series, selected national level races and the Russell Series at Infineon. A close points battle with the 2004 IKF Regional Champion saw her finish 2nd in the regional series, winning multiple times, but missing the championship by a handful of points. Although she won a third of the races during the Russell series, conflict with the IKF Nationals kept her from winning the points championship.
The highlight of Laura's 2005 racing season came at the IKF Shifter Grand Nationals where she won her class, becoming the first female to win a coveted "Duffy" in shifter karts. Shortly there after, in a one-time effort in the national Stars of Karting series sponsored by the IRL and Snap-On, Laura had a 2nd fast qualifying time, a 2nd in the feature and fastest lap of the race. Her finish ranked as one of the highest ever achieved by a female in this super-competitive series. Laura again got to test herself against the best kart drivers in the Americas when she ran the SuperKarts USA Supernationals in Las Vegas in October 2005 where she had another impressive 2nd place finish. An additional highlight for 2005 came when Laura was named the inaugural recipient of the "Race for the Gold" junior driver of the year award sponsored by Gold's Gym and the Infineon Track, an award based on not only her on track performance but also her off-track professionalism and sportsmanship.
Laura's karting accomplishments pushed her career win total to over 100, her championship total to 12, including two national titles, and showed she was one of the best young driving talents in the country. These accomplishments landed her an invitation to an exclusive Formula TR series test at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in California. This invitation-only event was offered to the top 16 karters from the US and Canada.
Known for her calm demeanor, lightning like reflexes, smooth but aggressive, take-no-prisoners style of driving, Laura attracted the attention of some of the best drivers in the karting world including Ron White, international karting legend. In 2005 Ron began mentoring Laura, helping to improve her driving and chassis tuning skills. Ron stated that Laura was one of the best drivers he ever worked with for providing chassis feedback. Kart racing journalism magnate Rob Howden was dully impressed by Laura and her abilities and numerous times discussed her on his nationwide broadcast of "Happy Hour With Howden."
2006 saw Laura transition from road race karts back to oval track racing in the USAC Ford Focus Midget class, running full time in the highly competitive California paved track division. A slow start to the season, brought on by new car woes and an unfamiliarity with tuning the car on the part of her crew, had Laura 10th in points with a highest finish of 5th at mid season. As the season progressed, the car caught up with Laura's abilities and she was constantly a threat, ending the 11 race season with 10 top tens and 7 top fives to finish 4th overall in points.
The 2006 Labor Day weekend saw one of the high points of Laura's racing year. After timing in 1st and finishing a strong 4th at Altamont Raceway on Saturday the 2nd, on Monday the 4th, at Madera Raceway in Central California, she had a dominant win in the 40 lap Trigueiro Classic main event. Laura took the lead on the 16th circuit and at the checkered she was a full straightaway ahead of her closest rival. This win put Laura in a rather elite class, as she became only the 15th female in the 51 years of USAC to win a feature event and the youngest such victor.
Laura's 4th place regional points finish earned her an invitation to the 2006 USAC Focus Midget National Championship held at Irwindale Raceway during the famed Turkey Night Sprint and Midget Classic. In the championship race, Laura found herself racing with the top Focus drivers from across the country. Laura turned in a strong performance, turning the second fastest time in practice, qualifying 7th and ultimately finishing 6th, narrowly missing a top five at the flag. At year's end, Laura had won a feature in a major event, finished in the top 5 seven times and in the top 10 eleven times in her 12 starts.
Laura also attended the Cory Kruseman sprint car school in 2006, training in both a Focus midget and a 360 sprint car on dirt. Cory commented that he would put Laura in the top ten smoothest drivers to have ever attended his world-renowned school.
2007 saw Laura take a giant step forward, moving up two open wheel classes, running in the highly competitive USAC Western States Asphalt Sprint Series. Considered an excellent training ground and an extremely competitive series in its own right, the sprint cars in this series are 750 - 800 hp, 1325 pound fire breathing monsters that have vaulted such stars as Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne and JJ Yeley to Nationwide and Sprint Cup. Putting it in perspective, sprint cars have approximately the same horsepower at about a third of the weight, of a Sprint Cup stock car - no wonder the ability to drive a sprint portends ability in other forms of racing.
Missing the first two races of the 2007 season because her family owned and crewed car was not yet complete, Laura found herself playing catch up with the rest of the series' drivers when she made her debut at Roseville California's newly configured All American Speedway on Labor Day weekend. It turned out to be a tremendous debut that saw her lead 12 of the 50 laps of the race and finish a strong third, contending for second at the flag. At one point, Laura dueled with Jimmy Sills, three time USAC Silver Crown Champion and National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee. Jimmy threw everything he had at Laura for many laps, but she prevailed and won the battle.
Through the midpoint of the 2007 Western States Series, Laura managed three top tens in her first five starts with a 4th fast time at Madera Speedway and a highest finish of 3rd. Her consistency and tenacity had moved her to 8th in series points, again with having missed the first two races of the season. Issues brought on by a used and tired chassis kept Laura near the rear of the field in her next two starts and ultimately led to the decision to park the car for the remainder of the season while a new chassis was on order. Even though her 2007 racing season was relatively short, she did display the ability to run wheel-to-wheel with some of the best open wheel racers in the country and in so doing, earned their respect. Although at the time driving what was a drastically loose, ill handling high powered car, did not seem productive, it did provide Laura with valuable experience that she was able to carry into her subsequent racing.
Much like when she was in karting, Laura attracted the attention and interest of a number of heavy hitters in the sport. In 2007 she was fortunate to have Tony Hunt, five time USAC champion, mentor her driving. Tony helped Laura immeasurably and has been instrumental in the early success she enjoyed. Technical help from Tony, his championship crew and from other notables such as Larry Trigueiro Jr., nationally renowned open wheel crew chief, also helped get Laura and her crew on the right track.
Toward the end of the 2007 season, Laura tested in a late model stock car for one of the top California teams, Golden State Racing of Roseville, Ca. Impressed by her showing in this one-off test, Laura was offered a ride in one of Golden State's Late Models for the 2008 season. Laura also applied to the NASCAR sponsored Drive For Diversity Program for 2008. This program helps place minority and female drivers with various host teams across the country to further develop their racing skills and provides financial aid to the host team. While she apparently made it through numerous cuts from the initial 300+ applicants, ultimately Laura was not selected for the program. The Drive For Diversity administrators indicated that while they were impressed with Laura's resume' and background, her lack of stock car racing experience precluded her from final consideration.
Because the Drive For Diversity program was a program she was very much interested in and as stock cars were ultimately what she wanted to race, Laura heeded Drive For Diversity's comments and worked to secure a late model ride for 2008. This came in the form of the offer from Golden State Racing to lease a car to Laura and her family. She would be running as an associate team member, obtaining the car - an updated Howe chassied Monte Carlo, thought to be older than Laura herself - and technical advice from Golden State Racing with the maintenance, repairs and race day crewing being performed by Laura's family team.
At the beginning of 2008, the plan was to race both the family owned sprint car in the USAC Western Division and run the late model at All American Speedway (AAS) in Roseville, Caifornia. AAS is one of NASCAR's premier west coast short tracks and, at the time of this writing, was the home track of eight of the top 20 in California state Whelen All American series points. AAS also hosts three of the 2008 Drive For Diversity drivers and teams. With its historical significance as one of the oldest operating tracks in the west, it's recently reconfigured and lengthened layout and the stiff level of competition provided by the teams and drivers calling the track home, there was no better place for Laura to test and hone her talents in the full size stock car.
When final schedules came out for the two series Laura and her team were planning to run, it became apparent that there were significant conflicts. The decision was made to give priority to the stock car and run the sprinter when possible.
As it turned out, Laura was only able to run the sprint car on one occasion in regular 2008 season, finishing a respectable 8th in an 18 car field after having to pit for a flat tire. The long anticipated new chassis turned out to be a godsend; for the first time running the sprinter, the team found they had a car they could adjust and work with.
Laura's first late model main at AAS resulted in an incredible 5th place finish due largely to a determined effort on her part and fortunate luck. During her third main, after a motor change to the more competitive crate motor, Laura really began to really show her talent and abilities. She qualified 2nd fast and ran as high as second in the main, before an unfortunate accident forced her to pit for repairs. She would come back from dead last to 8th in the remaining laps. Laura would rise from this race to be a continuing threat for the rest of the season; finishing always in the top ten with the majority being top five finishes.
A highlight of Laura's 2008 season came on the 4th of July weekend when she bested the field of 20, winning her first late model event in an epic battle with her Golden State teammate and late model racing veteran John Moore.
The final 2008 season standings at AAS saw Laura finish 6th in points with 18 top tens, 12 top fives and 1 feature win in 21 main event starts. The 3 mains she placed out of the top ten were dnf's due to mechanical issues. Laura had fast time on one occasion and made the trophy dash seven times, winning one and finishing 2nd on three occasions. She continues to be the leading candidate for AAS rookie of the year honors - to be announced at the November awards. Laura would also finish 15th in California state Whelen series points.
2008 was to hold at least one more highlight as Laura got the word she'd been selected as one of the 26 finalists to compete for 14 positions in NASCARs 2009 Drive For Diversity program. At the time of this writing, she was preparing to attend the D4D Combine at South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Va 12th - 14th of October.
While she definitely is most at home inside the race car, Laura's dedication and skill extend beyond the cockpit as she not only helps prepare her race car and the family tow vehicles prior to race day, but also is intimately involved in the data acquisition and chassis and engine tuning aspects at the race track. Her ability to communicate what the vehicle is doing has proven to be a very valuable talent that she continues to hone.
Laura also works to further her personal growth away from the racetrack. For the past three years she has participated in the Tony Hunt Charity Event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation at the RPM Indoor Karting and Conference Center in Sacramento California. In 2007 and 2008 Laura was invited as one of the celebrity team captains; the captains included stars from many racing disciplines such as Memo Gidley and Joey Hand from road racing, and Hunt, Jason Meyers and Jimmy Sills from sprint cars. Laura's times turned on the track were the fastest of all the team captains in an event that raised significant money for a highly worthwhile charity.
In 2008 Laura began what she plans will become a continuing tradition of her racing career. In the spring of the year, she held an assembly for grammar school students at her former school in Wilton Ca. In full driver's suit and with her race car on display, Laura gave a speech on "Reaching For Your Dream". She was well received by the children and faculty and answered dozens of questions, signed many autographs, had pictures taken with all in attendance and inspired many of the children. A repeat of the program is planned for the fall of 2008.
In an effort to improve her overall communication skills and presence, Laura enrolled in and graduated from the Dale Carnegie Training Program. Laura was also invited to attend the 2004 Lyn St. James Driver Development Program as one of its youngest attendees ever. Upon completion of the course, Ms. St. James commented that Laura was "a very mature young woman" and that she "looked forward to seeing her progress in her career."
What does the future hold?
Laura's goal is to become a professional race driver, preferably in the highest levels of stock car racing. Currently she is gathering the experience to achieve that goal. Flexibility and real world racing experience will continue to be the keys to open whatever opportunities may come her way. The racing foundation obtained in quarter midgets, the road course racing experiences of karting, the open wheel circle track experiences of the Focus Midget and the high horsepower-to-weight Sprint car, and the full size, close quarter racing in the late model stock car, coupled with the off-track background Laura is establishing, are steps on the way to achieving her ambitions.
The end of the 2008 racing season will see Laura driving for Golden State Racing in the October 24 & 25 WestCar Open Competition Late Model Race at All American Speedway to be held in conjunction with the finale of the Camping World West Series. Talks are underway for running the Turkey Night Classic at Toyota Speedway/Irwindale Ca. in the sprint car and the late model division in the Toyota Showdown, also at the Irwindale track in January of 2009..
For 2009 and beyond, Laura is working to obtain support to be placed with a professional team to further her growth and development. Her focus will continue to be in the stock car world. While her basically family sponsored and crewed team has taken her to where she is today, both Laura and her family recognize that it is time for her to move on to further her career. To this end, Laura is working to obtain a position in the 2009 NASCAR Drive For Diversity program with one of the premier Late Model or Camping World teams in the country. Her invitation to the 2008 D4D Combine is the first step in this quest. Discussions are also underway to run a car in selected races in the 2009 SRL Southwest Tour as well as the possibility of testing cars for some of the upper division stock car classes.
Since graduating from high school in the spring, Laura has been working in the deli at a local super market. Working in the deli allows Laura to both meet and work with people, developing her social and interaction skills while earning money. Education will continue to be a major part of Laura's future with planned studies at Sacramento City College commencing in January of 2009. Grooming in all aspects necessary to become a professional driver will continue to be a priority in the coming years.
Other Hobbies:
While schooling and racing related activities have taken up the majority of Laura's time, she is like any typical teenager, spending her spare time with friends and family. Laura enjoys music and has an appreciation of most music genres. Classic rock is her favorite and Tom Petty her favorite artist; she attends his concerts whenever possible. Laura also likes riding dirt bikes and ATV's and riding mountain bikes and working out to keep herself in shape. As might be expected, she follows numerous forms of racing including Sprint Cup and Formula 1; Laura also enjoys playing video game versions of these racing series as well as other video games.
Miscellaneous Information:
Birth date: 15 Mar 1990
Height: 5 6
Weight: 125 lb
Hometown: Wilton, CA
Sponsors & Other Contributors To Laura's Racing Career:
Peoplefinders.com, K&N Filters, Golden State Racing, GoneRacin.com, PHI - Phil Hayes Inc., RPM - Race Place Motorsports, Northbay Welding, Team MMI, Outlaw Graphics, Gold's Gym, FRE - Finishline Racing Equipment, Scribner Plastics, VIP - Voris Investment Properties, Radial Tire of Elk Grove, Lee Power Steering, Davis Motorsports of Reno, Penny Racing Supply, Mirage Motorsports, Papa Dan Haulot, Phil Hayes, Mike "Magoo" Wooley (rip), Dennis McLean, Jay Almstrom, Charles Maier, Scott Conway, Frank Jordan, Eric Snyder, Terry Thomson, Larry Trigueiro, Tony Hunt, Ron White, Wesley Boswell, Gerald Herrera, Bill Mayer, Gary Hansen, Pete Hawkins
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