Phoenix, AZ (Nov. 11, 2008) |
Twelve young women drivers were invited by Lyn St. James to participate in the 15th class of the Women in the Winner’s Circle (WWC) Foundation Complete Driver Academy, which is a comprehensive educational and training program for talented women race drivers who aspire to the professional levels of motorsports. Entry into the Academy is highly competitive and all women drivers who want to be considered must have raced at least three years, complete the Academy application and provide a documented race resume. The first Academy session is Friday, November 14 – 16 at Athlete’s Performance Institute and Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.
The class members in the 2008/2009 WWC Foundation Complete Driver Academy include:
- Ciara Cass McCoy, 16 (Colebrook, NH)
- Kaley Engstrom, 13 (Rhome, TX)
- Courtney Hardin, 16 (Tarboro, NC)
- Shea Holbrook, 18 (Groveland, FL)
- Kim Hughes, 18 (Maybee, MI)
- Taryn Laskey, 22 (Tulsa, OK)
- Kayla Mincey, 17 (Lower Lake, CA)
- Sheila Nash, 30 (Yorba Linda, CA)
- Marisa Niederauer, 22 (Levitown, NY)
- Gabriella Robles, 16 (Nuevo, CA)
- Heidi Tresler, 18 (Victorville, CA)
- Kristina Vorndran, 14 (Charlton, MA)
In addition, drivers from the 2007-2008 class completed their on track program at the Bondurant School at Firebird Raceway. In October these drivers also attended Finish Line Racing School in Edgewater, FL, so they have now been able to have both oval track and road course training. The drivers completing their final phase are:
- 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)
Established in 1994, the Academy has a two-fold purpose: (1) identify potential champion women drivers who have demonstrated success on the track and have a desire to pursue a career in professional motorsports; and (2) create an experience that will provide the tools to further women drivers’ careers in motorsports as well as enhance their lives on and off the track.
“This year’s class continues to show me that there are many talented women drivers in all forms of motorsports,” said Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation and Driver Academy founder Lyn St. James. “Collectively, the drivers we selected this year have raced in karts, midgets, sprints, stock cars, sports cars and late models. My goal for these women is to get from the Academy and its resources all the tools they need to become successful in motorsports, no matter what Series they choose to race in.”
In 2008, the Foundation moved this ground breaking program from a four-day experience to a full year commitment including three onsite weekends: Weekend 1 – Physical and Mental Preparation; 2 – Business Seminars and Media Training; and 3 – On-track time and technical. Each participant leaves the weekend session with a series of assignments and deliverables that must be completed prior to be invited to the next session. Academy staff are available throughout the year to give counsel and support to the participants. |
