Hagar Hangs Tough at Stockton

By Scott Linesburgh - Record Staff Writer - June 27, 2009 6:00 AM

STOCKTON - Katie Hagar traveled 2,500 miles from her home to advance her auto racing career. And it didn't take long before she proved to be as fast as anyone at the quarter-mile track in Stockton.

Hagar, a 23-year-old native of Damariscotta, Maine, and a member of NASCAR's Drive For Diversity program, set the Western Late Model qualifying record two weeks ago at Stockton 99 Speedway. She will go for her first win at 6 p.m. today when the track hosts twin 50-lap main events in the WLM division.
FULL STORY AT RECORDNET.COM

by Michelle Langley

Katie Hagar is focused. She’s focused on her racing career; she’s focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle; she’s focused on helping kids learn to believe in themselves.

Her focus is paying off, too. She’s a second year participant in the Drive for Diversity program, racing for Golden State Racing at Madera (Calif.) Speedway. She has two top fives and six top 10s in six starts this season.

The 22-year-old Hagar wasn’t always this driven, though.

Like many kids, Hagar went through some growing pains as she struggled to define herself as a pre-teen. She found her grades slipping and her attention in school diminishing. To add to her struggles, her sixth grade teacher died suddenly from a heart attack.

“I went through some challenging times,” says Hagar. “I was discouraged, unfocused and I wasn’t making the best decisions.”

That was before she climbed behind the wheel of a racecar.

“I was 11 years old… My dad pointed me towards racing as a way to refocus my life,” she says. “He knew he could connect with me if I had a way to focus.”

Motorsports wasn’t entirely new to Hagar, a native of Damariscotta, Maine. Her parents, Mark and Cindy, ran a race team, competing in the Charger Division at local tracks in New England. Hagar grew up around the track watching her dad’s team compete, but never took an interest in competing herself, instead playing soccer and basketball.

But when Hagar was struggling to find direction in her life, her dad knew that racing was exactly what his daughter needed.

And he was right.

When Hagar was 11, she began competing in go-karts. She transitioned to the Allison Legacy Series when she was 14. By the time she was 17 she was racing an Open Wheeled Modified and a Super Late Model in the Pro All Star Series in New England. She knew she wanted to make racing a career.

“My dad has always tried to be one step ahead of me,” says Hagar. “He knew that I needed something in my life that I could devote myself to 110 percent, and racing was it for me.”

Hagar did continue to play soccer and basketball as she honed her racing skills, and she graduated from Lincoln Academy High School in New Castle, Maine in 2004.

Today, as a participant in the Drive for Diversity program, Hagar’s life revolves around racing and doing everything she can to find a competitive edge. She’s at the gym first thing every morning. She handles her own public relations and marketing, and is always ready to make a pitch to a potential sponsor. On race day, you can find her in the grandstands, signing autographs before she climbs into her race car.

“It’s all about staying healthy, positive and determined,” she says.

Away from the race track, Hagar is using her experiences to help other kids who may be in the same place she was when she was 11-years-old. With the support of her father, she visits schools to with her youth program, Believe in Yourself 101. The program reaches different age groups, including elementary, middle and high school students.

“I use my story to show kids what you can achieve when you believe in yourself,” Hagar explains. “If you set a reachable goal and put your mind to it, you can achieve success in life. I went through some tough times, but I was able to mature and make the right choices. That’s what I try to instill in the kids I meet though Believe in Yourself 101.”

Hagar’s success story isn’t finished, though. She’s still determined to find success as a professional race car driver, but knows she hasn’t chosen the easy road.

“I’ll take it as far as it will go, but I know this is the path I was meant to take.”

We had a bitter sweet night of racing at Madera Speedway with Katie on May 2nd. The #14 ran third in both practice sessions and qualified 5th overall. Katie was running 2nd when on lap 35 a car turned her around, causing another to crash into her. She was able to continue and finish 6th in a very light field of cars.

We are off now for a few weeks…we’ll keep you posted.

Katie Hagar and the GS Racing Team put together another good effort Saturday night at Madera. Practice saw Katie 3rd on the board and she qualified 2nd fast in a solid field of cars. The 50 lap Feature had Katie racing in 3rd place much of the way. However late in the event, the #90 car blew-up as he and Katie entered turn three. With oil everywhere they both crashed.

While a major track clean up was going on, the GS crew patched up the car. Katie was able to make it back out on the track, finishing the race on the lead lap in 7th position. A good solid night with all that had happened.

We will be back at Madera next weekend for “Twin 50’s”…hope to see some of you there.

The GS Racing team put together a good night of racing with Katie Hagar in the
"HOTWOOD” 111 lap feature. She qualified 10th out of the 17 car field which had five NASCAR late model champions representing All American Speedway, Altamont Motorsports Park, and Stockton 99 Speedway plus the reigning Madera champion.

Katie raced in the lead pack all night holding 3rd position most of the way. With a few late cautions Katie brought the car home clean to a fifth place finish, tieing her previous best run of the year.

“We struggled a little bit throughout practice and qualifying. Once my crew chief and I talked about some changes to make before the main event, we were able to figure out one rockin' fast car! I really owe it to my guys tonight. I couldn’t have done it with them.”

Katie currently is fifth in the points at Madera Speedway. She is off next weekend and will return to action on April 25th.

Race Results -- 04/11/2009 - HOTWOOD 333 Series
Western Late Models - Main – 111 Laps - Madera Speedway
Fast Time – Kyle Gottula (Modesto) – 15.194 seconds

1 - Eric Schmidt (Roseville)
2 - Kyle Gottula (Modesto)
3 - Ross Strmiska (Stockton)
4 - Jeff Belletto (Modesto)
5 - Katie Hagar (Sacramento)
6 - Rick Thompson (Clovis)
7 - Jacob Gomes (Manteca)
8 - Bobby Hodges (Carson City, NV)
9 - Jonathan Gomez (Twin Falls, ID)
10 - Todd Corral (Oakdale)
11 - Matt Erickson (Lake Don Pedro)
12 - Carlos Vieira (Merced)
13 - Trevor Schlundt (Clovis)
14 - Harry Belletto (Modesto)
15 - Nic Belletto (Modesto)
16 - Mark Holeman (Los Altos)
17 - Ryan Philpott (Tracy)

SCHMIDT WINS WHILE HAGAR COMES HOME FIFTH FOR GOLDEN STATE RACING AT MADERA on 4/11

GSR PRESS RELEASE - ROSEVILLE, Calif - -  Eric Schmidt made his first win of the season a big win, claiming the win in the grueling Hotwood 111 for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Western Late Models at Madera Speedway in Madera, Calif.

Golden State Racing teammate Katie Hagar of Sacramento pulled in a strong fifth place finish for the team as well, in a hugely successful night for the Frank Jordan-owned outfit that competes full-time at Madera.

Schmidt, the 2007 All American Speedway and 2006 SRL champion, had been in an uncharacteristic slump while trying to figure out the one-third mile asphalt oval just north of Fresno.

But on Saturday, Schmidt proved to any doubters that he “still has it,” qualifying second and leading 88 laps for the victory. The field featured champions from every central valley NASCAR track, and was arguably the toughest Western Late Model field this season in the state of the California.

“I ran down there three or four times in the SRL,” Schmidt said. “I just needed some time to figure out the Late Model tires. Also, in the Late Model at Madera the top groove is preferred and that took some getting used to.”

Schmidt moved quickly from his ninth starting position to take the lead from Jeff Belletto on lap 23.

“Sometimes it seems like you have those races where you start in the back and it takes a long time to get to the front but it wasn’t that way on Saturday,” Schmidt said.

For Hagar, she rolled off the grid second and ran third for more than half of the race. Hagar was passed by Gottula on lap 58 and then went back-and-forth with Rick Thompson.

Hagar ended up finishing fifth in the final rundown.

“Its good for the whole team to have (Katie) finishing races,” Schmidt said. “That’s what’s important for her to learn. What’s great is Saturday night we didn’t tear up any equipment, which gives us time to improve our equipment back at the shop rather than spend the time to repair it.”

The incredible runs for the Golden State Racing team sees Schmidt just 15 points behind Gottula in the points chase, with Hagar fifth but building up momentum for a run to the front of the standings.

Golden State Racing will return to action April 25 with a 50 lap feature as part of the NASCAR Camping World Series West night of racing at Madera Speedway.

Race fans can learn more about the talented team at www.goldenstateracing.com

Golden State Racing is also sponsored by: AT&T, Yellowpages.com, Petron Plus Formula 7, Jilbrit Internet Dealership Systems, Long Engine Systems, Higgins Hardwood, Harris Industrial Gases, Holiday Inn Express of Madera, Gone Racin’, and Blakesley Sports Media.

March 28, 2009 - Katie Hagar qualified 4th but moved up to the 3rd position after officials sent one of the competitors to the rear. Hagar started 2nd after an invert of the field of eleven cars.

In the first 50 lap main event, Hagar held her own, staying in the top 5. She ran the outside line while battling West Coast competitors Ross Strmiska and Jacob Gomes for the first 15 laps. Crew Chief Frank Vincent coached Katie, while trying to get her down on the inside line to let her tires to cool down. The D4D Driver “stayed up on the wheel” bringing the #14 to a 5th place finish.

For the second 50 lap main event, Katie worked with her team to make changes to the “tight” race car.

“We were trying to get the car to rotate in the middle better, but I think it took all of our front bite away. We started in the rear and just couldn’t advance any. I tried racing the #51 car hard, but once I snuck under him, I knew I was going around and didn’t want to take him with me. So unfortunately we spun coming out of turn four. But my crew chief and I talked about it on the radio - let’s bring it home in one piece, especially after I told him I had a left rear going down. We’ll get ’em next time!”

Katie finished 8th earning another top ten finish.

Katie’s next race is Saturday April 11th again at Madera Speedway.

1 - Katie and her father Mark   2 - Katie with teammate Eric Schmidt 
3 - Crew chief Frank Vincent and Mark Hagar   4 - GSR Team members
5 - Rich working on the #05   6 - Katie and Her Dad.

Katie Qualifies 3rd and Runs 3rd for 48 Laps
Until Rain Hits First Madera Outing

The Race Season Begins at
Golden State Racing

Katie Interviewed on WCSH 6 TV
in Portland, ME on March 5th

Watch the Video Clip HERE

Hi everyone! Katie sends you an invitation to the official Nascar Drive for Diversity Group Web Page where you can check out the race schedules, pictures and even send messages! Check it out and Join!

Drive For Diversity Group Web Page HERE

D4D Introduces '09 Driver Lineup
Initiative expands to 12 drivers - Katie with Golden State Racing
Full Story at NASCAR Home Tracks - http://localracing.nascar.com

Getty Images

“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 NASCAR 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. Full Story

Katie Hager Joins JPM, Inc. Driver Development Program

Katie is a strong supporter of the American Cancer Society and the “Make A Wish” Foundation. Through her campaigning to raise thousands of dollars for these charities, Katie continues to set high goals and is working to race a full NASCAR Camping World Schedule and or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Schedule in the future.

Co-Ceos Diane and Rob Beasely of JPM, Inc. say, “Katie has everything it takes to be a professional race car driver. She is intensely competitive with a strong desire to win and she understands the business side of motorsports. More than this, we think she will be a great role model for other young racers around the world.”

The JPM Driver Development Program works with promising young drivers and builds a commercial framework around them that will aid in the development of their careers. The program provides sponsorship support, marketing training and involvement with top motorsports professionals to create a well-rounded athlete who can compete at the top levels. Assisting Katie’s team (Golden State Racing, Inc.) in sponsorship development will be Robert Villegas of New Century Marketing Concepts and his son Roberto of i-sponsor.com.

JPM, Inc. is a new marketing company whose Mission is to create innovative automotive products for the consumer. The company has developed a sales relationship with Petronomics, Inc., a Kansas City based automotive products company. The entire marketing program for the company will be based on developing relationships with third-party companies and promoting products through motorsports.

For information on the JPM, Inc. Driver Development Program contact Robert Villegas, 317-881-3826

HAGAR PARTICIPATES IN ANNUAL NASCAR
DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY COMBINE

"Flat Stanley's Adventures"

Katie received a Flat Stanley from a 3rd Grader in Virginia. When given a Flat Stanley you have to take him wherever you go so he can experience the same adventures as you! The pictures below show some of his adventures, including joining Katie at the Golden State Racing annual racing pre-season cookout on March 15th.
“This is what a team does, I’m happy to be a part of it all this year.” Katie stated after riding dirt bikes with roommate and fabricator Mellissa Hakes and Kerrie Jordan, Daughter of Frank Jordan, Golden State Racing Team Owner.
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Katie Re-Visits Her Grammar School