"It's rewarding to
work with young racers," said program founder and instructor Tony
Blanchard. "The level of ambition among these racers is hard to measure.
They definitely are eager to learn and put their knowledge to use."
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| Mahaney stunned the field at Fonda |
Mike Mahaney, who
graduated in the RACE 101 Class of 2011, set the bar high in March, winning the
Ice Jam at the famed Fonda Speedway in New York. Mahaney races dirt modified,
and continues to turn heads in the northeast with his consistency. The
university graduate races an average of three nights per week.
On Tuesday night, the
Summer Shootout Series kicked off at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with current
RACE 101 students Trey Jarrell and Tyler Lester winning their respective
divisions.
"It's great to see
our students succeed," said RACE 101 media and public relations instructor
Adam Ross. "The classes seem to sponge from each other as well. Success is
contagious, and they all get excited when another student does well."
While success in racing
is often measured in wins, the RACE 101 curriculum covers a broader scope,
since students need to find and create opportunities before they can capitalize
on them.
"It's great to hear
about wins, but it's even better when we hear of a student getting a new
opportunity to go racing," said Blanchard. "This spring, Derek Robbie
announced he will be racing for a new team this year, as well as campaigning
his family-owned car. That's a huge step for a young racer."
Robbie, a 16-year old racer
from Bellingham, Massachusetts graduated with the RACE 101 class of 2011, and credits
his new ride with accelerating his learning curve, saying more racing gives him
more opportunities to test, tune and develop.
Graduates from RACE
101's initial group in 2010 continue to influence the newer classes. Ryley
Seibert races in the ARCA OK Tire Series out of Williams Lake, British Columbia. He holds two
track records in the series, and will soon make his season debut with the
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, competing in five events this year.
"Our main goal is
to help young racers achieve greater success in racing," said Ross.
"Some students come with goals of racing at NASCAR's highest level, while
others want to make the most of their opportunities on a local scale. Every
situation is different and we're excited about the prospects for each of our
graduates. They work hard, and it pays off."
 |
| Trey Jarrell scored at Charlotte |
Later this month, Class
of 2011 graduate Luke Whitteker is scheduled to test the RACE 101 Super Late
Model in preparation for action in North Carolina. The three-race deal is a
coveted prize for Whitteker, after being named Premier Driver among his graduating
class. For the young man from Iroquois, Ontario, the experience will be his
first behind the wheel of a super late model and his first on asphalt. He
normally competes in dirt modifieds in Eastern Ontario and New York.
"A good racer
adapts to his situation," said Blanchard. "We teach fundamentals that
apply to dirt racing or asphalt racing, and they work with any type of car. I
have no doubt Luke will get a feel for his new ride very quickly."
For more information on
RACE 101, and its current and past students, visit www.race101.net. The school
will soon accept applications potential members of the class of 2013. For
interview requests or further information on the program, send email inquiries
to adam@race101.net.
Photo Credits: dirttrackdigest.com, RACE101
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