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Keep up to date on Megan Reitenour 2009-2010
Nascar Drive For Diversity driver in the Nascar
Whelen Late Model Series.
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Contact: eMail | www.meganreitenour.com
Three female racers left their
mark on history July 23rd competing together in
NASCAR Camping World Truck
Series
Megan Reitenour Season
Ending Update
Profile
Megan Reitenour, 18, hails from Miamisburg,
Ohio. She is part of a third generation of racers
in her family. Reitenour began her career racing
Quarter Midgets at the age of five years old. To
date, Megan has over 200 wins and seven
championships.\
In 2008, Megan was selected as a development
driver for Nesbitt Racing Enterprises, in the Super
Cup Stock Car Series. Reitenour finished second in
the series points standings, missing the
championship by seven points, and was named Rookie
of the Year. She was the only driver in the series
to post three victories for the season.
Reitenour continued her success in 2008 when she
was selected for the first time to participate in
the 2008 Drive for Diversity Testing &
Evaluation Combine. Her performance at the Combine
earned her position as a 2009 NASCAR Drive for
Diversity Driver. She is only one of twelve drivers
in the nation selected to participate in the
program. Megan raced in the NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series, competing in the center of
NASCAR country at Tri-County Speedway in Hudson, NC
and continuing her ladder of success. Megan had an
impressive season with 7 top five finishes, 16 top
ten finishes in seventeen events and won Rookie of
the Year Honors. She was only one of two drivers in
the program to do so.
Megan is also very involved in her home
community and her race community. She hopes to
bring recognition by her on the track success and
off the track community service, to causes which
are near to her heart, including Multiple
Sclerosis, Melanoma Cancer, Eosinophllic Disease
and the well being and care of animals. Reitenour
attributes her success to her team, family, friends
and independent sponsorship; and is so grateful for
them. She gets great satisfaction from being part
of a group that represents young ladies in this
sport and looks forward to the goals and challenges
ahead of her.
Snippets
Reitenour Wins Dick Chrysler 100 @ Kil-Kare
Speedway, July 4, 2008. Xenia, OH - Due to the
inclement weather conditions, qualifying for the
Super Cup Stock Car Series was cancelled and the
starting grid of the field was determined by the
current point standings of the series.Reitenour
started on the pole and was challenged several
times but only relinquished the lead for 17 laps of
the 100 lap event. This win marks the second win of
the 2008 season for Reitenour and positions her in
first place of the point standings of the
series.
Three female racers left their
mark on history July 23rd competing together in
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Megan Reiteneour, a third generation racer
originally from Miamisburg, Ohio, began her racing
career in Quarter Midgets at the age of five. Now
living in Charlotte, NC, she holds numerous track
champions and state championship titles, charging
her way up the racing ladder to be chosen twice to
participate in NASCAR’s Driver Development
Program.
Along the way, Megan has captured not only the
respect of her peers, the attention of industry
leaders, but also the hearts of all she touches, as
she pushes that pedal to the metal in pursuit of
her ambitions.
We last spoke with Megan in November when she
had just earned the Rookie of the Year award at
Tri-County Speedway (one of only two in the NASCAR
Driver for Diversity/D4D Program to win Rookie of
the Year) and identified as a top talent to compete
in the program's 2010 season under Revolution
Racing's new "Driver Academy" format.
In addition to setting new records at Tri-County
Motor Speedway this season, continuing her college
education, re-locating to Charlotte, working to
fund her racing career, competing aggressively
on-track and continuously honing her skills, Megan
has also co-authored a new book and shares her
personal story of "Passion and Struggle - The Megan
Reitenour Story" with Track Chic.
What has this 2010 Season been like for you?
Compared to last year, does the new D4D format
bring new benefits and opportunities that weren't
available in the past?
Absolutely! I would not be where I am today
without the tremendous benefits, contacts, and
support and exposure of the Drive for Diversity
program!
What is the most important thing you have
learned and how have you improved as a driver under
this program?
I’ve learned so very much, but most
importantly, I think learning more of the
mechanical aspects of racing is most important. By
helping to understand exactly how everything
functions, I can not only help turn wrenches but
also better communicate with my crew team regarding
the car’s performance on track.
I’ve also gained a lot of confidence
passing, and exercising patience and identifying
the right moment to pass. That’s so important,
and it’s not easy – you naturally want to
run up front. But strategy is so important in
racing, and I am really seeing that patience and
planning are as important as speed.
How did it feel when you made history this July
as the first women to win the Firecracker 150 at
Tri-County Motor Speedway? You were competing
alongside some of the best drivers in the country
of the late model stock division. Were you
overwhelmed with emotion … “your passion
and your struggles” … when you took that
checkered flag?
It was the best ever. I was so proud, and so
overwhelmed with the reality that all the training,
all the sacrifice, everything I had worked so hard
for came together for me that night against some
fierce competition. It was very emotional. I have
to give credit to my team. The car was totally
hooked up, they did a tremendous job. It was such a
team effort, and it was so fantastic to win the
checkered flag for the entire team.
How and when did you know during that race that
it was going be your day to cross the finish line
first?
Well, you’re never 100% certain, but we all
knew we had a great car. My goal was to stay out of
trouble and finish top ten, top three. But the car
was awesome, and I stayed focused, patient,
competitive and confident to go for the win.
What is the hardest part about pursuing a career
as a professional race car driver?
Funding – no doubt. It’s so
challenging in this current economy, but I never
shy away from a challenge.
Tell us the inspiration for your new book being
released in September: Passion and Struggle –
The Megan Reitenour Story. The title certainly
tells the story perfectly! How did you meet your
co-Author, Greg Palmer, and what inspired you to
share your personal story of passion and
struggle?
It’s really a privilege to share my story
and particularly have the help of someone like Greg
Palmer. Greg is also the author of the book
Propology 101, a guide that helps you discover your
true passion is and living a more fulfilling life.
Friends of friends made the introduction and
thought it was a great opportunity to share an
accurate account of the passion and sacrifice of
someone like me giving it her all to pursue a
career as a competitive race car driver. We worked
together on my book to basically tell the story of
the struggle my family, and everything we have been
through in supporting my career in racing. It shows
that anything is possible -- no matter what your
situation is -- if you work hard and never, ever
give up.
You have always been very involved in charities
and serve as a strong champion for animal rights,
Multiple Sclerosis, and Melanoma Cancer Awareness.
Do you feel that racing gives you a platform you
would not otherwise have to help bring awareness to
these important issues?
Absolutely. With my racing career I am able to
interact and communicate with so many more people
and help promote awareness, educate and raise funds
for causes I care passionately about. I also
actively volunteer whenever I can to help make a
difference in my local community.
You’ve done a jillion interviews –
what is the one question no one has asked you that
you wish someone would?!
That’s a great question! For those who
don’t understand racing, I suppose it’s
an opportunity to explain that racing is so very
much more than going round and round in circles
very fast. I want them to understand the
adrenaline, the discipline, the athleticism
that’s involved on behalf of the driver as
well as the mechanical expertise and teamwork it
takes to be successful. There’s nothing else
like it!
What does the 2011 season look like for you
right now?
2011 is going to be phenomenal – I am so
excited! I have signed an agreement with Venturini
Motorsports, one of the most respected programs in
the ranks of NASCAR, to compete in the Pro Cup
Series – pending sponsorship of course. This
class of cars is much heavier and will give me the
opportunity to further develop my driver skills.
Venturini Motorsports also focuses on track
coaching, media training, sponsor relations and
core fitness levels. Their experience and expertise
will help prepare me both mentally and physically
as I continue to pursue my NASCAR ambitions, so I
am so very excited.
How will Megan Reitenour define success?
Competing in NASCAR’s Cup Series as a
contender for the Championship!
Source:
Results
Megan Reitenour Season
Ending Update
Megan Reitenour, first year driver for the NASCAR
Drive for Diversity Program completes her season
compiling a impressive record with 16 top tens,
seven top fives in seventeen events.
Reitenour also secured Rookie of the Year
honors, finishing a strong 4th place in the points
at Tri-County Speedway in Hudson, NC. She was also
honored as one of the top 500 drivers of the late
model stock division of more the 10,000 competitors
within the series.
Reitenour has been competing in the NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series in the heart of NASCAR
country, against some strong competition and
alongside some of the best drivers in the country
of the late model stock division. Reitenour thrives
on that caliber of competition and says she
wouldn't want it any other way.
Reitenour said, "I'm really glad how the season
turned out for us. I enjoyed racing in North
Carolina. It's so competitive and I've really
learned a lot racing with this caliber of drivers.
It only gets tougher as I move up the ladder in
racing. I feel this type of competition prepares me
for the challenges ahead and I want to be ready for
them. I would like to thank the NASCAR Drive for
Diversity for the opportunity they gave me and for
making it possible for me to compete this season. I
would also like to thank Leicht Motorsports for the
help they gave me. I want to also thank my
partners, Project Podium, Haus Builders, MPM
Marketing, Nestor Insurance, Fox Motors, PR Image
Design, Stuckey Motorsports, CompCal, Impact Racing
and all my family and fans for their help and
support this season."
Source: www.girlracer.co.uk
Schedule
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