Alli Owens LATEST SNIPPET Alli Owens Returns to Racing and Will Participate in ARCA Test at Daytona   Direct access to this web page: http://bit.ly/9F3dNU Bio Results Snippets History News At Daytona, these women show plenty of drive Owens Overcomes Two Lap Deficit to Finish 14th Owens Out to Make Lasting Impression at Chicagoland Alli Owens: Danica Mania!!! A comes before D at Daytona - 2010 Owens Fastest Female in Daytona Test Owens Comments on Danica's Announcement Alli Owens to start 29th in Saturday's ARCA 200 Alli Owens to join in Volusia County's NGWSD Celebration Schedule Contact: www.alliowens.com or E-Mail Related Issue: Women Racers Directory, Women in Racing, Women Racers, More Women in Racing, Race Schedules, Notable Women Bio DOB: September 2, 1988 Hometown: Daytona Beach, Florida Race Driver Single Type of Racing: Stock Car Race Series: NASCAR Whelen All American Series – Hickory Motor Speedway, NC Introduction: This young racer grew up racing BMX bicycles and Quarter Midget cars. With the help from her family and some close racing friends, she started racing stock cars on the half-mile dirt track in Barberville, Florida. Alli finished the 2003 season 6th in championship points out of a field of 27 cars. Alli compiled of pretty impressive list of statistics logging 2 wins, 6 top fives and 8 top ten finishes. On May 10, 2003 she won the heat race and feature race all in the same night. Alli has also battled her way from 25th position to 3rd that had the fans on their feet cheering for her. To win at this level so fast is not a common occurrence. But Alli has already proven that she is anything but common. All this was accomplished while she was thirteen and fourteen year’s old racing against adult men. Racing Goals: After spending some time in the Whelen Series and getting seat time in the Hooters Pro Cup series, Alli would like to move into the Craftsman Truck Series. Has 12 career ARCA RE/MAX Series starts in 2008. Career-best finish 15th at Rockingham Speedway, Kentucky Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway. Also finished 18th at Kansas Speedway, 22nd at Toledo Speedway, 24th at Michigan Int'l Speedway & Pocono Raceway, 27th at Iowa Speedway & New Jersey Motorsports Park, 29th at Nashville Superspeedway and 41st at Daytona Int'l Speedway & Talladega Superspeedway. Career-best qualifying run 11th at Chicagoland. Also qualified 14th at Kentucky and Kansas. Finished 24th in ARCA RE/MAX Series driver points '08. Veteran of NASCAR-sanctioned late models, FASCAR Late Model Series, mini stocks, pure stocks, quarter midgets and BMX competition. Had 6 top-5 finishes and 9 top-10 finishes in NASCAR-sanctioned late models in 2007 with best finish of 3rd at Hickory Motor Speedway after qualifying outside pole. 2005 Late Model Rookie of the Year at New Smyrna Speedway. Also finished 3rd in overall track points at New Smyrna in 2005. 2004 mini stock Rookie of the Year at New Smyrna and finished 3rd in overall points. Graduate of Finishline Racing School "Race to Win" advanced course in 2004. Started racing BMX when she was 8 years old. Spokesperson for Race Against Drugs in 2003. Volunteer motivational speaker at public schools and rehab centers for the National Crime Prevention. Graduated with honors from Atlantic High School in 2006. History  In 2004 she moved up to racing Mini Stocks on asphalt and went on to finish 3rd in championship points and took “Rookie of the Year” honors. In 2005 Alli moved up to asphalt Late Models and raced on a ½ mile asphalt track. She finished the year, 3rd in points and was again awarded the “Rookie of the Year” title. In 2006 she ran several races in the Florida Goodyear Challenge series while preparing for her move to North Carolina. At the end of 2006 The National Labor Management Cooperation Committee (NLMCC), The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have signed on to be the sole sponsor for Alli Owens Racing. Current Season: Alli will be racing a full season in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series at Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina and possibly a few Hooters Pro Cup races. Snippets This was February 16th during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice. Alli was the fastest Ford and the fastest female there. A change in restrictor plate on qualifying day because NASCAR said the trucks were going too fast, killed her chance to get in the race. She missed qualifying by two positions. Too bad. She would have done well. * * * Owens Poised for First NASCAR Start * * * Alli Owens raises enough funds to make NASCAR debut: Gets help from fans and local businesses. * * * Alli Owens, who lost primary sponsorship at the end of the 2010 season, is looking to make her NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut this February at her home track, the Daytona International Speedway during Speedweeks. Owens currently has a commitment from one team owner to race if she can raise $35,000.   * * * Owens Overcomes Two Lap Deficit to Finish 14th * * * Alli Owens started the ARCA Daytona 200 in 19th and worked her way up to 3rd for a number of laps near the end, then it looked like she dropped power significantly and finished in 23rd. * * * Alli's 2-lap Qualifying for the 2010 ARCA Racing Series at Daytona February 6th, placed her 19th out of 47 and 2nd out of 6 women. * * * "A" comes before "D" at Daytona. Alli tested for the 2010 ARCA Racing Series at Daytona. She was the fastest woman and 3rd out of 60 drivers. * * * Alli Signs with D'Hondt for 2009 ARCA RE/MAX series. * * * The ARCA 200 on Feb. 9, 2007 at Daytona International Speedway will be Owens' first race with equipment out of the DGM stable. * * * Alli took 3rd at Hickory Motor Speedwya on July 28, 2007. News Alli Owens Returns to Racing and Will Participate in ARCA Test at Daytona Alli Owens is back. The new mother will return behind the wheel of Andy Belmont's No. 1 BABY JOCK-sponsored car for ARCA Series testing at Daytona International Speedway December 16-18. The session will mark Owens' first time on a race track since February 2011. Owens decided to take the 2011 season off to get married and start a family. In October she gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Braelynn and is anxious to get back in the seat of a competitive race car for 2012. "I can't put into words how great it feels to know that I'll be testing at Daytona," Owens said. "I've been so anxious to return to the track. Now that I'm settled in with being a wife and mother, it's time for me to go racing again. I'm so excited to be a mom and get back in the driver's seat. "While I was away, I did everything I possibly could to prepare for my return. I've been exercising and working on my fitness so that I'll be at the top of my game. I've been calling on companies and organizations to secure a sponsorship. Hopefully it will all come together." Owens' plans beyond Daytona are not complete. She is still seeking sponsorship support in hopes of running the 2012 season in one of racing's top national touring series. Owens anticipates that motherhood will be appealing to potential sponsors and that it will open new doors to the sport. "I know there are a lot of companies out there that have wanted to get involved in racing, but didn't have the right fit for a driver. Now they have the right outlet," Owens said. "There are so many companies that are relevant to women, especially mothers, that would be perfect for the sport. This is a great opportunity for them to share their brand with a whole new audience." Owens has three partial seasons of ARCA competition under her belt, having driven for Mario Gosselin in 2008, D'Hondt Motorsports in 2009, and Venturini Motorsports in 2010. In 2009 Owens captured the outside pole at Daytona International Speedway for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. At Daytona, these women show plenty of drive Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted in one moment would you capture it? Or just let it slip? -- Eminem, "Lose Yourself" After three top-10 finishes in 32 ARCA races over three seasons and getting dropped by her sponsor, Port Orange's Alli Owens made a huge leap of faith, in fact several huge leaps of faith. Faith that her fundraising will shake loose enough money for her to make a serious run at Friday night's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season-opener at Daytona. It has raised $27,5000 -- crumbs compared to the $100,000-plus bankrolls enjoyed by some of her well-heeled competitors. Faith in her ability to qualify on speed for the race. She's got the faith. Whether her cobbled together and serviced by crew members working for next to nothing Ford has the speed to make the field remains to be seen. Faith that she's going to be able to withstand the disappointment of not making the race, something she didn't soft pedal. "It would be catastrophic," she said. Across the row of haulers in the makeshift truck garage, Jennifer Jo Cobb, carrying a tray of coffee cups and food, was spending time with one of the two teams she hopes to race for this week and in the process become part of history on the big track. If she qualifies Friday for Saturday's Nationwide Series race -- she's locked into the truck race -- Cobb will become the first woman to run two NASCAR races on the same weekend at Daytona. Also, making the Nationwide race would jump-start Cobb's drive to compete in the series fulltime and make a run at rookie of the year honors. Cobb, 37, is the more experienced of the two, having run five Nationwide races, 29 in the trucks and nine in ARCA dating back to 2002. Her only top 10s (three) came in ARCA in 2004. And experience is second only to results when it comes to cutting it in the top levels of stock car racing. And the only way to get experience is to race and that's what Owens and Cobb will be seeking to do this week. How much they want to race is personified by the tremendous lengths the 22-year-old Owens has gone to since losing her ARCA sponsorship last December and how she has rallied from the bitter disappointment of being cast adrift. Cobb, too, is well scarred in that vein and summed up her feelings bluntly. "Success is the best revenge," she said with a smile. That success -- or better yet that opportunity -- is something Owens wants so bad it is driving her as hard as she has driven her race cars in the past. And once Owens' fans became aware of her plight, they raised about $7,500 and she took if from there, using her marketing skills and her intense desire to race to raise the money she needed. You better lose yourself . . . the moment you own it, you better never let it go. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow This opportunity comes once in a lifetime. Once she realized that the chance at a NASCAR ride was in front of her, she seized it and has lived it. "Determination, it was more like here's my one shot that I have," she said. "I had to be at the shop (Ray Hackett Racing in North Carolina) with these guys, I was running to give them parts, I was turning wrenches on it. This is my effort. "Ray Hackett has been awesome. He has the trailer, the truck and the motor. Other than that, I had to assemble these guys, put them together, get them coordinated to work (all) out of my own pocket. "It's been hard work. And I think that it's this effort that really showed myself and my family and my fans that this is for real, this is what I want and this is how bad I want it." You can do anything you set your mind to, man Yet the specter of failure cannot be ignored. Even though Owens has qualified for the outside of the front row at Daytona in ARCA and even though she knows she can handle Daytona, racing is racing and anything can happen. And as much as she would prefer it not be, the possibility of not making the race has been on her mind. "I've thought about that," she said. "I've never had to be the back runner that had to worry about making the show. "It's hard not to think about that. I've got to think about it. (Tuesday) night when I did I just envisioned myself hearing over the radio 'OK, you just got bumped, we've got to go home.' It will destroy me as a person because I've never not made a race." And should she make it? "Maybe it will hit then," she said. "It hasn't hit me now because I haven't had enough time to sit and be a driver. I've been all aspects of this besides an owner." Thanks to her perseverance and her pluck, Owens has the support. "A whole bunch are doing this because how cool and powerful this story is," she said. "I'm just the one that's lucky enough to be the person that they're all rallying behind. "It's the story and the fact that we all got into this sport because we love it and here's the true time to show that." This soul's escaping, through this hole that is gaping This world is mine for the taking. That's Cobb's thinking as well. Her time is at hand and so very close -- she only needs to out-qualify one car to make the Nationwide race -- and she plans to grasp it and use it as a stepping stone to bigger things: racing in the 2012 Daytona 500. That would certainly be a high point for Cobb, who began racing at the bottom of the totem pole in local racing in 1991 and experienced all the lows that racers do. "I have always said . . . God planted a seed in my heart when I was a young girl that this is what I was meant to do. Through all those times, trust me I had those moments where I'm like 'are you sure this is what you want me to do?' "I had that moment, that phase where I had to make sure, I had to give it up, I guess. I had to tell myself that it was over, that's it, I'm quitting. "When the next opportunity came along that showed me, no, you're not meant to quit, you're meant to persevere. I have learned to look at the times that I fail as building points. I've learned to look at them as that I can be a good example for people who are struggling at something else in life. So that's what I really want my career to show, that I wasn't handed it on a silver platter . . . that you still can earn and work hard for stuff and make your dreams come true." Just as the young woman across the row of haulers, who is attempting to do just that. Owens Poised for First NASCAR Start Social media, grassroots effort raised sponsorship funding If anyone doubts that Alli Owens has some of the most dedicated fans in racing, the evidence can be seen on her race truck. After losing her primary sponsor at the conclusion of last season, Owens faced the daunting task of finding the funds to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). Owens turned to her social media resources, which proved to be a winning move. The support of her fans has afforded Owens the opportunity to make her first NASCAR start in this week's NextEra Energy Resources 250. Owens' grassroots effort rallied her fans and local sponsors to contribute to her cause. Within weeks, Owens raised enough money to subsidize her No. 76 Ray Hackett Racing Ford F-150 at the famed Florida race track. Local Daytona establishments Mullinax Ford, Rue and Ziffra, P.A., Giles Electric Company, AXA, Miller Electric Company, NECA North Florida, Bob Evans of Port Orange, IBEW Local Chapters 756, 915, 1205, 613 and 222 all contributed to the cause. She has rewarded her supporters by placing their indivdual names on her truck. "It has been overwhelming to see the support of my fans," Owens said. "When I lost my primary sponsor during the off season, I didn't know if I'd be able to race at all this year. I'm so fortunate for my fans. They're truly the best. I can't thank them enough for all of their dedication. It means the world to me. I've had kids, adults, friends, strangers and everyone in between donate money for me to race. Their names will all be on my truck and I'm going to do everything I can to bring them a win." No stranger to DIS or restrictor plate racing, Owens sat on the outside pole in 2009 for the ARCA event at DIS. In 2010 at DIS, she ran inside the top five for the majority of the ARCA race before being shuffled out of the draft in the closing stages of the event. Owens recorded her best ARCA finish at Talladega Superspeedway in 2009, finishing in the top-10. With sponsorship in place, Owens is ready to focus on the task at hand. "I'm so excited to make my first NASCAR start," Owens said. "Growing up in Daytona, I've dreamed of this since I was a kid. It took a lot of hard work and effort to get to this point and I can't wait to hit the track." Alli Owens Raises Enough Funds to Make NASCAR Debut: Gets Help from Fans, Local Businesses A little over a week ago, Alli Owens announced on her social media channels that she intended to make her NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series at her home track, the Daytona International Speedway. To do so, Owens asked her fans to raise the additional capital needed to fulfill the monetary commitment to run the race. With the help of those fans, a few local businesses and a new website, Owens announced today she will indeed make her debut in NASCAR during the NextEra Energy Resources 250 driving for Ray Hackett Racing, an experienced team based out of Salisbury, N.C. Owens was able to raise the funds after getting support from Mullinax Ford, a dealership from New Smyrna, Fla.; local Daytona Beach area chapters of the IBEW and NECA to promote www.thequalityconnection.org, a website dedicated to the National Labor-Management Cooperation Committee of the Electrical Construction Industry; and also her fans, who helped her raise enough funds to complete the sponsorship needed. "It's amazing that in such a short period of time everything has come together like it has," said Owens. "I went to Twitter and Facebook and put the word out there that we needed help. Almost immediately we had people jumping on board. It's been humbling, and I'm so truly grateful for the businesses and fans who have helped me." Owens has three top-10 finishes in the ARCA Series and started on the outside pole at Daytona in the series in 2009. Owens will be the only female competitor from Daytona Beach competing at Speedweeks in 2011. "I'm really honored to race for the city of Daytona Beach, the local IBEW and NECA chapters, Mullinax Ford and my family in the area," said Owens. "Growing up, the Daytona International Speedway meant everything to me. It still does, and I'm ready to make a successful NASCAR debut there. It's going to be a special day." Owens will stay in North Carolina to help with the team the remainder of this month and into February. She will travel with the team to Daytona, where their first practice is scheduled for Wednesday, February 16. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available for Owens in 2011. For more information, please visit www.AlliOwens.com Alli Owens Goes to Social Media to Help Race Daytona Even Reaches Into Own Wedding Fund Alli Owens, with a little help from her friends, is looking to make her NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut this February at her home track, the Daytona International Speedway during Speedweeks. Owens, who lost primary sponsorship at the end of the 2010 season, has asked local companies and her friends, via Facebook and Twitter, to help raise the $35,000 needed to compete in the event. Owens currently has a commitment from one team owner to race if the funds can be collected. Owens has also dedicated her website to her fans to help donate and show them what they will receive in return for different levels of sponsorship. So far, Owens has collected over $3,000, and has even taken $1,000 from her own wedding fund to help her race. Owens plans to get married this spring in victory lane at the Daytona International Speedway. "I'm just really grateful for all my fans right now," said Owens. "We have some support from some local businesses, but we need to raise a little bit more to make this happen. My fans have been such great supporters of mine throughout my career that we decided to reach out to them and communicate with them every day using Facebook and Twitter. It's been great. Every day, almost every hour I can update everyone on our progress. It's been a great tool and something the fans have been excited about. Owens has three top-10 finishes in the ARCA Series and started on the outside pole at Daytona in the series in 2009. She's looking to make her first NASCAR start in Daytona, no matter at what cost, including dipping into her wedding fund. "Yeah, maybe our honeymoon will be cut a bit short," said Owens. "But, my husband-to-be has been very supportive of my efforts. He knows how much this means to me to race at Daytona and make my first NASCAR start." Fans who are interested in helping Owens reach her goal may log onto www.alliowens.com where they can donate via paypal. Owens Overcomes Two Lap Deficit to Finish 14th Alli Owens drove the wheels off her ElectrifyingCareers.com Chevrolet in Friday night's Ansell Protective Gloves 150 at Chicagoland Speedway. Owens was on her way to a top-10 finish when her No. 15 Venturini Motorsports-fielded Monte Carlo snapped loose and spun out on Lap 59. The incident sent her two laps down to the field, but Owens wasn't about to give up. She demonstrated her trademark determination and earned her way back on the lead lap. The team rallied to take the checkered flag in 14th-place. Owens started the race out like a ball of fire. After qualifying in 16th-place, she pedaled her way into the 13th position before making her first pit stop, Lap 33. The ElectrifyingCareers.com crew took advantage of the yellow flag to change Owens' tires and top off the fuel cell. The No. 15 machine was too free for Owens' liking, so the crew made a track bar adjustment to tighten up the car. The crew bolted off a lightning fast stop and returned Owens to the track in 11th-place. The race returned to green on Lap 44. Owens was knocking on the door of the top-10 and drew alongside of the No. 36 car. The 36 car drove to Owens' outside and loosened up her car, causing it to loop around. Owens managed to keep it off the wall and not hit anything. Other than flat-spotting the Hoosiers, the ElectrifyingCareers.com Chevy was unscathed. Owens brought her car to the attention of her team. The crew changed her tires and made another track bar adjustment to tighten up the car. Owens returned to the track in 19th-place, two laps down to the field. Owens was down, but definitely not out. She took the green flag on Lap 64 and raced into position to receive the Lucky Dog pass. A fortuitous caution flag waved on Lap 67 and allowed Owens to get one of her laps back. Green flag action returned on Lap 71 with Owens in 18th-place. As per the ARCA rulebook, she had to start at the tail-end of the longest line. No matter, Owens made up the deficit and once again raced into position to receive the Lucky Dog pass. Another caution flag waved on Lap 87 and gave Owens the break she was looking for. Owens returned to the lead lap in 16th-place. Owens took the green flag on Lap 91 with nine laps remaining. Track position was her enemy, as she restarted from the tail-end of the longest line again. Although she was a straightaway behind the cars ahead of her on the leader board, Owens caught the field and picked up two positions before taking the checkered flag. "It was a great effort by our team tonight," said Owens. "Our ElectrifyingCareers.com Chevy was a little bit free when the race started. We made an adjustment in the pits and it seemed to help. We were working our way through the field and it looked like we had a top-10 in the bag. When the 36 car drove along my outside, it just sucked my car around. I just spun out without warning. We had a really good car though, and we were able to get back on the lead lap. I wish the race was a little longer because we were hauling the mail when it ended. We were running down the cars in front of us and just ran out of time. I think we had a seventh or eighth-place car, but just didn't have enough laps to catch them." Owens Out to Make Lasting Impression at Chicagoland Ready for Return After Watching Races from Couch The Ansell Protective Gloves 150 at Chicagoland Speedway is the final race planned for Alli Owens on the 2010 ARCA Series schedule. Owens, along with the No. 15 ElectrifyingCareers.com team, is looking to make a lasting impression, one that she hopes can extend her season. Driving for Venturini Motorsports, Owens has competed in eight previous ARCA events this season. Her best finish came at Salem Speedway, where she finished ninth. She has recorded two top-15 finishes and four top-20s. Owens has two ARCA Series races under her belt at Chicagoland Speedway. Owens drove to a 15th-place finish in 2008 and a 19th-place finish in 2009. Owens Comments on Chicagoland Speedway: "Being out of the seat for a while has been really challenging. I hate watching races from the couch. I'm really looking forward to this week, especially being at Chicago. It's a mile-and-a-half, which Venturini Motorsports has been really strong at. We're going to have a lot of support from the crowd there. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Locals 134 and 176 with the Local JATC and NECA contractors are big backers of our program and they come out every year. It's one of those tracks that we really look forward to, not just because we're fast, but because of the great support, too. "Mile-and-a-half tracks have been a strong point for us, mainly because it's all about the car and the aero package. Here at Venturini Motorsports, they have the ElectrifyingCareers.com Chevrolet hooked up. I'm really excited about it. I've been working on my consistency this season. I've run well at Chicago before. I've qualified well there. Hopefully my past experience at the track, and what I've learned this year, will pay off. "My last race was at Pocono. We had a great showing during practice. Unfortunately we didn't have the car for the race to seal the deal. Hopefully we'll be strong throughout the week and I'll be running up front with my teammates and battling for the win. "This is the last race we have sponsorship for this season. I'd love to find an organization that can help us compete in some more races this year. We've got five more races, ones that are really strong tracks for this team. Hopefully we'll make a statement at Chicagoland that will catch someone's eye." Heartbreaking Finish for Owens at Daytona Alli Owens put on an outstanding performance in the season-opening Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway, unfortunately the record books won't reflect it. In front of her hometown, and on racing's grandest stage, Owens ran her No. 15 ElectrifyingCareers.com Chevrolet in the top-three for the majority of the event and was poised for a career-best finish. However, Owens' promising run came to an end when she was shuffled out of the draft in the final ten laps and spun out after driving through fluid on the track. Owens and her Venturini Motorsports crew settled for a 23rd-place finish. Owens started the race from the inside of row 10. Not wanting to force the issue too early, Owens settled into the 25th position after the green flag waved. She was content clicking off laps before she found a partner to draft with to the front. Things took an interesting turn on lap five. Owens reported that her seatbelt had become loose and she needed to make an unscheduled pit stop for the team to re-secure it. Owens went one lap down as her team fixed the problem, but an auspicious yellow flag waved while the No. 15 car was on pit lane. Owens was awarded the "Lucky Dog" pass and returned to the field on the lead lap. Owens lined up in 28th-place for the ensuing restart. The race went green on lap 16. A wreck brought out the caution flag before the field completed one circuit. TheElectrifyingCareers.com Chevy moved up three positions prior to the yellow halting the race. The No. 15 team decided to make Owens' one scheduled pit stop during caution period, so the ElectrifyingCareers.com Chevy came down pit lane for service. The crew changed four tires and topped off the fuel cell. Owens returned to the track in 28th-place. Green flag action resumed on lap 24. Another caution flag waved on lap 26, with Owens holding down 23rd-place. The majority of the field chose this caution period to make pit stops, but Owens stayed on the track and moved up to 3rd place. On lap 31, the race returned to green. With Owens sniffing the lead, the No. 15 car held strong in the third position. Owens' spotter issued constant reminders for Owens to hold the No. 15 machine on the yellow line, and Owens followed instructions to the tee. Owens fended off several challenges from other cars who aimed to pass her on the outside. Owens remained in the top-five for the next 40 laps and appeared ready to top her previous best finish of sixth-place. On lap 71, with nine laps remaining, Owens was bumped from behind and knocked out of the bottom groove. Owens was passed by several competitors before she could settle back in line. As she was fighting to rejoin the leaders, the car in front of Owens dropped fluid on the track and the No. 15 car ran through it. Owens spun out and blew a tire in the process. She was forced to make a trip down pit lane for her crew to change her tires. She rejoined the field on the final lap of the event. After a hopeful start, Owens crossed the finish line in 23rd-place. "We had an amazing car today," said Owens after the race. "I was biding my time in third-place. I was just waiting for the final few laps to make a move for the lead. I had no doubt that the ElectrifyingCareers.com car was going to win the race today. Everything was shaping up for us. Unfortunately I got knocked out of the bottom groove in the final 10 laps. I was trying to work my way back into the lead draft when I ran through some fluid that another car dropped on the track. I spun out and that took away any chance of a decent finish. "My team did an awesome job today. I wish we had a finish that reflected the hard work and effort that they put into my car. If we keep this up, I know that it won't be long before the ElectrifyingCareers.com car lands a win." Alli Owens: Danica Mania!!! I can't believe Daytona has come and gone already. I know things have been crazy over the off season around the shop, but nothing compares to the unbelievably hectic Daytona ARCA week. Last year was stressful with all the normal daily activities, but this year after adding on all the "Danica Mania" frenzy it was double the head ache. Don't judge this weeks column already and think I'm Anti-Danica, because I'm not, in fact after meeting her she is a very nice person and we get along fine. Since my whole race week was filled with "DANICA" questions, I feel like I really need to get it all off my chest and move forward. As soon as I heard that she was thinking about crossing over to stock cars, I was pretty unsure of my feelings towards it. I mean lets face it there are more female drivers who struggle to find half decent opportunities vs. Danica's fortunate partnership with GoDaddy.com. I didn't want the under dog stories of women racers to be over looked by a commercialized figure. I hoped she was doing this because she had a love for NASCAR and wasn't just doing it because she could and knew she would get a lot of media from it. With all those emotions I realized that it was making me a better racer. I spent more time at the shop studying these cars and learning to read wind tunnel notes, chassis dyno numbers, and pull down rig notes. I wanted to be the "the racer" not "the girl". When It came time for the test and I saw all the cameras, TV crews, newspapers, and magazines I knew that we were in for a long drawn out Daytona race event. Everyone on my team kept a level head and made sure we focused 100% on us and our goal. The hype was around the #7 garage and left the #15 garage working hard. We were the black horse. When it came time for practice we jumped inside the top 10 quickly and maintained a good time all throughout the testing session. The hype was still around the GoDaddy pits. It was about that time when I realized that it didn't matter how well we did, we will not be able to get the spotlight shed on our team, which my guys deserved. It made me think, there were five other women in the field, and we all are hanging on shoe strings to make it in this sport financially. Take me out of the picture and look at Leilani Munter. She has struggle for the past three years to get in a car and race competitively. She found a sponsor and got in a good piece of equipment and not once did she get acknowledge about it. It just bothers me that so many people asked us women what it is going to take for women to be successful in this sport and it's simple, let the rest of the world know that there are more women out there capable of being great drivers. I noticed I had an anger being built up toward Danica and was totally frustrated about her being there. I felt like I was racing in the DANICA 200 instead of the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. We have struggled for 3 years to run a full season in ARCA and finally are with a good time and was a threat all week long and never once got good recognition for it. For a struggling driver it truly hurt my feelings. It wasn't until after the race and talking to Danica that I realized I liked her as a person and it was the media that I was unhappy with. The whole DANICA MANIA was influencing my opinion on her. For that I truly apologize, but as for the media and everyone else, please realize that she is the same as the rest of us out there under a helmet and strapped into a car. I think her off track brand and image is speaking louder than her on track performance, but let it stay off track people. Open your eyes and realize for the majority of the ARCA race TWO women were proving a point. WE DESERVED TO BE HERE! For myself and the whole Venturini Motorsports team I want to thank everyone who support the #15 ElectrifyingCareers.com Chevy on Saturday. I also want to thank a broadcaster that referred to me as "Ol' what's her name" because he helped make my skin a little thicker and now pushed me harder to make sure that he and everyone else will NOT forget my name! To all the girls out there who are trying to make it in this world of racing, all I can say is dig deep and keep on keepin' on! I want to thank Tony Eury Jr, Kelly Earnhardt, and Danica Patrick for taking the time after the race to invite me into their hauler and talk about the race. I grew a new respect for that whole program. That right there meant a lot to me and I won't ever forget it. Can't wait to race against you all again! Source: www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=326082510265 Owens Fastest Female in Daytona Test (12-26-09) The recent ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards open test at Daytona Int'l Speedway put a big spotlight on Danica Patrick. Arguably, and moreover, it was Patrick who put the spotlight on ARCA. In addition to the Danica Mania, the test also revealed the fastest female among the nine gals that tested - that being Daytona Beach, Florida's Alli Owens, who was third quickest overall in the draft. In fact, Owens, in her Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet, was consistently in the top-three on the tower all weekend among the 60 men and women that took part in the high-profile extravaganza. Owens Comments on Danica's Announcement Alli Owens is entering her third consecutive year of ARCA racing in 2010. She also commented on Danica Patrick's announcement today. "I'm thrilled that another woman will be racing stock cars," said Owens, who is planning a partial ARCA Series schedule in 2010 driving for Venturini Motorsports. "Someone of Danica's popularity and talent will no doubt be a great addition to NASCAR and ARCA. I think Danica will show girls that the door is wide open for them to pursue opportunities in motorsports. Lots of kids think that racing isn't for girls, but Danica and I are proving that we have what it takes to mix it up with the boys. It's great for racing and great for women everywhere. "Almost all of the top (Sprint) Cup Series teams have entries in the ARCA Daytona race. It will be a proving ground for Danica for sure. Here first taste of stock car racing won't be easy. She's going to have to learn the ins and outs of stock car drafting. So much of her success will come down to who's willing to race with her, and that's a matter of earning her competitors' respect. She'll need to show them that she can push them to the front and they'll be happy to return the favor. Once you put your helmet on, it doesn't matter if you're a girl or a boy. It only matters if you can draft with the cars around you. "Stock cars don't have near the downforce that IndyCars do. The toughest obstacle for Danica will be learning how far she can push her car and what its limits are. It seems like even the most talented open wheel drivers have a hard time adjusting to stock cars. Most of the guys that come from the IndyCar Series take a few spins because they're used to a car with much more control. I think Danica has a ton of talent and is obviously a great driver, but it's probably going to take more than a season before she feels comfortable wheeling a stock car. If Danica comes into stock car racing committed to learning the cars and what it takes to make them competitive, and is committed to learning how to communicate with her crew, she'll persevere. It will be a long road, but she can do it." Source: images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.arcaracing.com/images/stories/Drivers/Driver_Candids/owenscandid09.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.arcaracing.com/news.php%3Fcontentid%3D9106&usg=__HLV8FEJeU_Q-b0bAqMl5-yhfSJA=&h=372&w=345&sz=28&hl=en&start=55&tbnid=qAvECN6t0JVjOM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=113&prev=/images%3Fq%3DARCA%2Bracing%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D40 Alli Signs with D'Hondt for 2009 ARCA RE/MAX series D’Hondt Motorsports (DMS) has signed twenty year old Alli Owens to drive in the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series. Her ARCA sponsors National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) are also making the move and will sponsor the #19 Toyota Camry. “We are proud to have Alli join D’Hondt Motorsports” said team owner Eddie D’Hondt. “This is a great opportunity for all of us. We are all looking forward to representing and promoting ElectrifyingCareers.com and helping Alli reach the next steps of her own career goals.” “I am excited about advancing my career with D’Hondt Motorsports,” said Owens. “This organization puts first class race cars on the track and they race to win. With the years of experience they have in NASCAR racing, I look forward to my first opportunity to get behind the wheel of the #19 ElectrifyingCareers.com car at Daytona International Speedway.” Look for Alli Owens and the DMS team to make its debut in testing sessions at Daytona International Speedway December 19th thru 21st, 2008. Kyle Busch drove the D’Hondt Motorsports #29 Camry to a second place behind Marcos Ambrose in the teams only Nationwide appearance this year. For more information please visit www.alliowens.com Owens has good reason to smile Alli Owens has been smiling so much since Friday that her cheeks hurt. "After this is over, I'm going to have to get a massage," the South Daytonan said as she gently rubbed each side of her face. It's been that kind of weekend for Owens, who said her first smile was cracked Friday while on Daytona International Speedway's superstretch during her first lap of ARCA testing. The smile has been a fixture since. "On my first lap, by the time I got to the backstretch, I already knew my car was the best stock car I'd ever driven," she said. "My crew had told me to go out and take it easy, shake the car down for the first couple of laps, but it felt so good I had my foot in it by the end of the backstretch." Running a Chevrolet prepared by Lake Wales-based DGM Racing, the Atlantic High grad posted top-16 times in the 178-180 mph range through the weekend. She clocked the 16th best (178.359 mph) speed of the 38 cars testing Sunday -- bettering nine-time and defending ARCA champion Frank Kimmel's 25th-fastest time. Sunday afternoon was devoted to drafting. "I've been as high as fourth or so at one point during the weekend," Owens said. "It just feels so good to be able to run so well here. I've dreamed about being at Daytona for longer than I can remember." At DGM's helm is three-time ARCA race winner and occasional NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Mario Gosselin. Gosselin finished 13th in the 2007 ARCA 200 after a Lap 60 spin following a battle with eventual race-winner Bobby Gerhart. The ARCA 200 on Feb. 9 will be Owens' first race with equipment out of the DGM stable, which brought four cars to the weekend test. "I knew she was gonna be just fine after her first run Friday," Gosselin said. "After that, Alli came in wanting to know how soon she could get back out. If she had've come in ghost-white and had a death-grip on the steering wheel, then I would've known we'd need to work on her skills a little more. She's a racer, that one." A crowd of family and friends were on hand Sunday to cheer Owens on. "Like most racers, Alli's had her share of ups and downs," father Mike Owens said. "It's just good to see her have such a really great weekend." Inspired by the successful test, Owens has started looking to February's Speed Weeks. "It's nice to know we'll be coming here for Speed Weeks with top equipment," Owens said. "I'm very grateful for my sponsors, family and friends for their support. From racing at New Smyrna Speedway to going to school here -- even while just driving down Interstate 95 -- I can't tell you how many times I've thought and dreamed about running right here at Daytona." Alli Owens to start 29th in Saturday's ARCA 200 After a nail biting qualifying session for Saturday’s ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway, Alli Owens breathed a sigh of relief. Driving her No. 12 ElectrifyingCareers.com Chevrolet, Owens turned a lap of 178.137 mph, which translates to a 29th starting spot. “We made it in and that’s the most important thing,” said Owens. “I’ve been dreaming of this day for a long time. This is awesome. My phone has been blowing up with so many people calling to congratulate me.” Owens, a rookie in the ARCA RE/MAX, will line up behind her teammate and team owner Mario Gosselin. “The lap was very good,” added the 19-year-old. “I’m starting behind Mario so we are going to be doing a lot of drafting together. I have faith in him, my team and the car. I know we are capable of making it to the front.” The race will be broadcast live on SPEED at 4:00 p.m. ET. Alli Owens to join in Volusia County's NGWSD Celebration A strong supporter of women in sports, ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Alli Owens will join in the Volusia County School District’s National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) Celebration. The second annual event will be held at DeLand High School on February 6, from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Nearly 600 middle and high school girls will join in the celebration which offers recognition of college-bound student athletes and awards for extraordinary Volusia County girls. Owens, a professional race car driver and native of Daytona Beach, will be an award presenter. “As a female in a very male dominated sport, I understand to challenges faced by women in sports,” said Owens, a 2006 graduate of Port Orange High School. “I work hard to be a positive role model. I hope, through my example, I can help others reach their dreams.” Owens is living her dream. The 19-year-old, who has always aspired to race at Daytona International Speedway, is entered in the February 9 running of the ARCA 200. Driving the No. 12 ElectrifyingCareers.com Chevrolet, she will compete in her first race on the famed 2.5 mile superspeedway. “I hope by competing at Daytona I can offer inspiration to these outstanding girls,” added Owens. The Volusia County School District’s NGWSD Celebration is one of more than 1,000 events taking place across the country for NGWSD. Congress has proclaimed this national day each year since 1987. It recognizes the progress of girls and women in sports and the benefits that sports and fitness activities can bring to the lives of all girls and women. The day is organized nationally by the Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated, National Association for Girls and Women in Sports, Women’s Sports Foundation and the YWCA of the USA. For more information on this event, visit www.volusia.k12.fl.us/equity/ngwsd.htm A (Allie) comes before D (Danica) at Daytona The recent ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards open test at Daytona Int'l Speedway put a big spotlight on Danica Patrick. Arguably, and moreover, it was Patrick who put the spotlight on ARCA. In addition to the Danica Mania, the test also revealed the fastest female among the nine gals that tested - that being Daytona Beach, Florida's Alli Owens, who was third quickest overall in the draft. In fact, Owens, in her Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet, was consistently in the top-three on the tower all weekend among the 80-plus men and women that took part in the high-profile extravaganza. Owens's top speed of 182.957 mph certainly bested every other gal in the garage including Patrick, Milka Duno, Leilani Munter, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Ashley Parlett, Jill George and Angela and Amber Cope. "I really felt we were pretty much the fastest car overall," Owens said. "And that was pretty awesome. It was exciting to see how strong my car is. I drafted with my teammates most of the time and we were the class of the field. Mikey (Kile), Steve (Arpin) and I are going to be a force to reckon with in this race. My car is really good when it's pulling other cars along. I have no doubt that we'll be the ones to beat when February rolls around. "The best part of the whole test was after Steve, Mikey and I went out and drafted and put up the top three numbers on the board; it was right then when the team really all came together." Despite Danica being the majority of the focus during the Daytona test, Owens was also determined not to let that distract her from doing her job. "I was there before Danica decided to make the switch to stock cars," Owens said. "She carries the hype with the media and brings a lot of eyeballs that were never around racing before. She's going to be the platform that I either have to follow or I have to over-accomplish or live up to. "I wasn't used to seeing all the hair blowing in the pit area," Owens added with a laugh. Owens, who drove Eddie D'Hondt's Toyota in last year's race, qualified second at Daytona, but was eliminated early on in a multi-car pile-up. Owens also admitted that switching from Toyota to Chevy for 2010 was a little nerve-wracking, considering her teammates were in Toyotas. "I was really nervous about bringing the Chevrolet out; especially since the Toyotas were the fastest on the speed charts." Owens was racing a Chevy rather than a Toyota because having an American manufacturer was important/paramount to her primary, long-standing sponsor, ElectrifyingCareers.com. "We never fell out of the top five the entire test. It was huge for us; not just for me, but for all of us. It's so awesome. I've never had teammates before." Although making the change was stressful, Owens has no regrets with the move to her new team. "It's just good being with a family-oriented and family-based race team. "They get down to business and they are racers," Owens added. "It was such an easy transition, and I couldn't have picked a better team to race with. "There is no doubt that they (Billy Venturini and the team) believed in me from day one." Owens's plan is to run full-time in the ARCA Racing Series in 2010. She currently has confirmed sponsorship with ElectrifyingCareers.com for six races and her team is working hard to secure funding for the rest of the season. "I want to run the full season of ARCA. I've had a couple of opportunities in Truck and Nationwide but I want to run a full season of something, and that's ARCA." Owens's first race will be the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona February 6, 2010, LIVE on SPEED at 4:00 PM ET. One needs not tell Owens how important this race is, and what it could mean for the hometown driver. "I want to win so bad; Billy wants me to win. It's almost hard to imagine how big a win would be at Daytona. It's my hometown; it's Daytona, the crown jewel of stock car racing." And to add to the enormity that is Daytona, if Owens were to win at the "World Center of Racing", she'd officially become the first female winner in ARCA Racing Series history, all 58 years of it. In the offseason, she has been keeping busy with charitable work. This month, she is raffling off a custom-made motorcycle that she helped design, with the proceeds going to the ROAR Global Foundation to build a library for children in Sri Lanka. "I'm totally excited about this," Owens continued. "ROAR is all about empowering women to go out and do things and experience sports that are more male-dominated. So, it's a perfect connection." Owens is also involved with the Children's Sleep Apnea Foundation, as well as several other children's charities. "We're doing a lot with the children. This offseason is all about the kids." Prior to getting down to racing business in the New Year, Owens is looking forward to spending the holidays with her family. "I never get to go on family vacations because of my racing schedule. So me, my mom, my dad, and my brother are going to spend Christmas in New York City. We're going to ice skate, go to Central Park, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, and Ground Zero. We're going to do it all." Once Owens returns to the track in 2010, her goal is singular. "Realistically, we're going to win a race. Our cars are too good and our team is too good not to win. "I'm looking to break my own stats and break through my own way. "Those are my goals. I want to win." Source: www.arcaracing.com/news.php?contentid=9153 *    *    * WomenInRacing.org | Contact Us ©1996-2023 by Gordon Clay