Campbell University Freshman on Track for Stardom
by Benny Pearce
Director of Public Information - Campbell University - Buies Creek, NC
Going around in circles does not
appear to be particularly exciting to some people, but if your dream is to one day become
a race car driver on the coveted NASCAR racing circuit then it can set your heart on fire.
Such is the excitement generated around current Campbell University freshman Katie Hagar,
who is from Maine and who is out to prove that there is room in the male-dominated sport
for women drivers.
Katie has been racing since she was 11 years old, starting with go-carts, moving up to
racing automobiles when she was 16. Katie has steadily moved up the ladder and now she is
competing and paying her dues in auto racing's minor league. This past summer she competed
in the New England Allison Legacy Series, which features three-quarter sized versions of
NASCAR stock cars and also in the Pro All Stars Sports Series, which is an open wheeled
modified series.
When asked how fast you go Katie quickly responds, "Generally, I am competing at
around 130 miles per hour." Katie selected Campbell University as her place to pursue
higher education because it was in the "heart of NASCAR country" and because she
found out quickly upon visiting Campbell in Buies Creek prior to enrolling that there is
very able assistance from the Campbell University academic professionals. She is pursuing
a physical education teaching career to fall back on if her plans for automobile racing do
not work out for her.
Upon meeting Katie, those racing buffs who are knowledgeable about the rough lifestyle on
the track might wonder what her parents think about her racing career. Katie quickly
replies, "My parents have been supportive of my racing career. My father is the one
who actually got me involved from the start in go-carts. I truly know they are my number
one fans. So many people ask them if they are scared or nervous while I am racing, but
they get more worried about me coming home late at night from a movie, getting into an
accident or being hit by a drunken driver than they do during my racing. In racing, I have
all the right safety equipment and I truly know what I am doing on the race track."
Katie has some sponsors for her racing career who help pay the bills, but she is always
looking for others. "Racing is expensive," she contends. "My Mom is my
bookkeeper and she keeps me informed regarding the costs. If everything goes right, with
no unforeseen costs popping up, a normal weekend race would cost us at least $1,540. This
includes four new tires, tickets, fuel, room and board, crew chief, and meals. Multiply
that by the 20 races we compete in and you have in excess of $30,000. It's like a lot of
sports. You have high costs you have to pay to get the progressive experience that you
need to, hopefully, have a future where you can begin to earn money from the sport. We
would welcome the opportunity to talk to sponsors willing to help us along the way."
Katie's most urgent need now is to find a sponsor to help with the airfare as Katie
commutes back and forth from Buies Creek to New England in April, May, and June, and then
again in September and October. There just might be a travel-related company that could
possibly use Katie in their ads and by so doing, could take advantage of her abundant
energy and enthusiastic personality to spur sales of their products. Any company
interested could get in touch with Katie by contacting her marketing agent, Bill Quirk at
MRIpub@aol.com.
You can easily sense Katie's excitement and her feelings for her sport when you talk with
her. She knows the thrill of a job done well on the race track when she competes. Her
biggest moment in racing, thus far, came the first time she raced in her Allison Legacy
car at Canaan, New Hampshire.
She had tested the car and knew the feel of it, but didn't know exactly what she could do
on the track as that knowledge comes only with actual competition. She arrived at the
Canaan track late because her family had difficulty finding the location. She missed the
heat race which would have qualified her starting position and therefore she had to start
at the back of the pack.
Katie drove through the pack to take the lead only to be spun out from behind by a
competitor only two laps from the finish line. Fans in the stands were quite upset with
the turn of events, however, and track officials quickly black-flagged (disqualified) the
competitor banishing him to the pits. Everyone in the stands started screaming Katie's
name to come out and take her victory lap. Receiving the coveted checkered flag of racing
the first time out was quite a thrill for this young lady who has a clear vision for her
racing career.
Katie's dream is to have a NASCAR ride by the time she is 21. Although much of her
fledgling racing career has been on tracks in New England and Canada, she has already
raced in Hickory, North Carolina. Since enrolling at Campbell in August of this school
year, Katie has flown back to New England to compete in several races.
Katie has met many of the NASCAR legends competing on the circuit
today, and even some past legends like Bobby Allison, but says she doesn't have a
favorite. "I like them all," she says, as she dreams about one day mixing paint
with the best of them on the track.
She is a young lady with a good head on her shoulders, and she is very aware that she will
have to manage a balancing act between her studies at Campbell and her time on the track.
Katie's new friends at Campbell wish her well as she pursues not only her higher education
in Buies Creek, NC, but her racing career wherever it takes her. |
