Women in Motorsports - Blog Carnival Feb. 14

Happy Valentine's Day! It's time to catch up with women in motorsports -- from Danica in her bathing suit to Ashley at NHRA Winter Nationals, AskPatty.com has trotted the globe to bring you all the news from around the world in auto racing.

Danica Patrick appears in the pages of Sports Illustrated’s annual Swimsuit Issue clad in an ecru bikini, showing off her considerable assets. 

"What an amazing honor to be asked to be in the SI Swimsuit issue," said Patrick, who will join other models and celebrities at a launch party Feb. 12 in New York City. "It's such an amazing publication and has such a following. I look at it and I like to see the pictures, and I'm a girl so I can't imagine how many people will see the issue." A four-page spread features photos of Patrick that were shot at Singer Island, Fla. by photographer Ben Watts last fall following the IndyCar Series Open Test at Barber Motorsports Park. Additionally, a 44-photo gallery is available on Sports Illustrated’s website.

In real life, her first car was a Volkswagen bug when she was 16. In her racing life, Stephanie Mockler was driving quarter midget cars, tiny racecars that children can drive, at the age of 6. Now at 20, she is a record-setting driver.

Mockler became the first female to win a USAC Ford Focus Midget Series when she finished at the Indianapolis Speedrome. She is also the eighth woman in the United States Auto Club’s history to win a feature race. And she is the youngest female to ever win a USAC main event.

NHRA has announced that the Youth & Education Services (Y.E.S) program presented by the U.S. Army is adding these program partners for 2008: the University of Northwestern Ohio, Valvoline, and Caterpillar (CAT).

Created in 1989 as a tool to connect education and drag racing, the Y.E.S program is a one day event held at 15 POWERade Series races. It is motorsports' first and only full-time program devoted exclusively to educational programming. The Y.E.S. program demonstrates to young men and women the variety of career opportunities within motorsports, the U.S. Army and the automotive industry.

The central themes of the Y.E.S. program are: the need for continued education; the value of job-specific training; the relevance of establishing clear, attainable goals; and awareness of the variety of career options surrounding motorsports.

"The Y.E.S. program has been an important tool for the NHRA that helps us reach out to today's youth," said Gary Darcy, senior vice president of sales and marketing, NHRA. "Having Valvoline, CAT and the University of Northwestern Ohio join the current partners gives us the chance to help those youth make choices to utilize their talents and choose a career path that makes the most of those talents. All of this can occur at the track against the backdrop of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing."

Track Chic’s Elegant Beaded Bra Straps with decorative charms sets the new standard for trackside fashion trends!   Sporting a winning checkered flag charm, Track Chic’s handcrafted original design is a stylish combination of sterling silver chains, Swarovski crystals and beaded charms.   

Fully adjustable, they work equally well with most bras and bathing suits with detachable straps. This chic, feminine blend of sterling and crystals looks equally great under causal tank tops or evening dresses and is perfect for everything from track-side barbecues to bridal gifts!



Even though Erin Crocker's NASCAR career has not been as successful on the track as she would have liked, she's still having a positive impact on young girls.

Crocker, a Wilbraham native, will be driving the No. 46 truck in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for the first two races of the 2008 season - Feb. 15 at Daytona and the following weekend at California - for Morgan-Dollar Motorsports. 

Erin will race in the Craftsman Truck Series race this week at Daytona International Speedway.

Melanie Troxel at the 48th Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Pomona Raceway, Troxel was No. 1 through three rounds of qualifying and finished No. 3 after the fourth round. She enters final eliminations slotted behind Tim Wilkerson (325.22 mph) and Jerry Toliver (320.51 mph). Both clocked 4.790 seconds, but Wilkerson is No. 1 based on speed.







Ever wanted Ashley Force to answer five of your questions? THis reporter caught up with her at NHRA WinterNationals. What's Ashley's favorite city to race in?

"Sonoma because it is held in the summer," says Forcce. "And we always got to go there as kids when my dad was racing. We have always had a lot of family and friends that came up to the race to see us. And then there are the rolling hills and the country feel to it. It’s always been good times up there. I just love Sonoma. It is such a beautiful town."

by Linda Przygodski
Contributing Editor
AskPatty.com