|
By Michelle Langley, The 909 Group
July 29, 2009 - 1:32pm
Laura Hayes, 19, attended her first Drive for Diversity Testing & Evaluation Combine presented by Sunoco last October at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. Following the Combine, she had offers from three teams to drive a late model in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Two of those offers were from teams in her home state of California. The other was from Steve James Racing, located in Clarksville, Va., just 20 miles from the historic South Boston Speedway.
After careful deliberation, Hayes made the tough decision to leave her family in Wilton, Calif., and move 2,787 miles away to compete for James Racing and the Drive for Diversity program.
"It wasn't an easy decision, " says Hayes. "It's the first time I've been away from home, but to have the chance to come out here to the heart of stock car racing and compete at a track where so many talented drivers have raced & it's the opportunity of a lifetime. "
Find more videos like this on D4D.tv
Hayes says there's no doubt that South Boston is a lot different from California. Her hometown of Wilton, Calif., is a rural suburb of Sacramento - a city with over half-million people and a metro area of around 3 million. The closest big city to her new home in Clarksville, Va., is nearly an hour away.
Hayes misses city life. She misses her family. She misses her friends. And, of course, she misses In-N-Out Burger.
"That was actually my last meal before I came out here in February, " she says. "In-N-Out Burger has the best cheeseburgers& I wish there was one here on the East Coast. "
It's not just food that's different in Virginia. People sound a little bit different, too.
"I've been told I'm starting to get a little bit of an accent, but I don't think so," she says. "I have caught myself saying 'ya'll' or 'I reckon' a few times though!"
All kidding aside, Hayes is enjoying her time in Southern Virginia, and knows that this is where she needs to be to further her racing career. Up until this season, Hayes has always competed for a family-run team with her dad as her crew chief.
"I've been racing with my dad for 10 years and I miss having him around, " she says. "I know my dad can't be my crew chief forever, though, so this is a good experience for me. Last year it was just me, my dad, my uncle and my grandpa working on my late model. This is my first experience working with a full race team. "
While Hayes' results haven't been what she hoped for coming into the season - she's currently 12th in the late model standings - she understands the learning curve at South Boston Speedway is tough.
" I'm running with guys who have been competing here are long as I've been racing as well as the current national champion and numerous multi-time track champions," she explains. "But a lot of guys have stepped up to help us out - giving me pointers on my line or helping us with our setup. I'm learning a lot and having fun in the process.
Cathy Rice, General Manager of South Boston Speedway, has been impressed with Hayes this season.
"She's done really well coming from the West Coast to the East Coast like she has, " says Rice. "We're proud to have a Drive for Diversity driver competing here at South Boston Speedway again this season. "
With continued support from her sponsors Peoplefinders.com and K&N Engineering, and from her Steve James Racing team, Hayes is hoping to finish out her season strong and have the opportunity to continue racing on the East Coast in 2010. She misses her friends and family in California, but knows this is where she needs to be to reach her ultimate goal of competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
"Drive for Diversity gave me the opportunity to come out here to the East Coast," she says. "I'm willing to make the sacrifices to reach my goals. "
Laura Hayes is a first-year participant in the Drive for Diversity initiative, the industry's leading on-track development program for minority and female drivers and crew members. Follow Hayes all season long by visiting www.D4D.tv
|
