When race fans think about NASCAR racing, images of Jeff Gordon, the Winston Cup and Daytona probably come to mind. But the Sunshine Coast? Probably not - that is until now.
The Sunshine Coast is now home to an up-and-coming driver from West Sechelt. She has dreams to one day make it to NASCAR and a professional career. Yes, you read right, she has the dreams.
Jessica Cyr, 18, won the 2004 Competitive Edge Championship Race Series last weekend in Post Falls, Idaho. Cyr is the youngest driver to win the series, the first female to win the series and the first rookie to win the series - quite the accomplishment from someone who only started racing competitively this year.
"I've been racing since I was 10," Cyr said. "My dad went to a 30th racing reunion and I watched him out there and it really stuck with me. I just have a passion for driving."
Once she got her driver's licence, Jessica's father Blake found the Competitive Edge Race School on the Internet and encouraged Jessica to sign up.
The school teaches drivers about cars, how to pick a proper racing line and the ins and outs of the racing series.
The race series itself runs from April to September and consists of 14 races over seven weekends.
"I owe it all to my dad. He's my back-up and he travels with me every weekend to go racing," Jessica said. "I've never raced at this level before, so to do this well in my first year is pretty amazing. I just love the speed and the competition. It's just you and your car against the track and the other drivers. It's really the whole thing, the atmosphere, the sounds, smells - it's really addicting."
Jessica raced against 26 other drivers in the series all male who were 24 or older. Some of the other drivers had more than five years of racing experience.
Jessica said a few of the drivers were a little shaken by her success, but overall, her experience was a positive one.
"It was mainly joking around and good natured ribbing," said Jessica. "A few guys had an attitude, but most of them were very supportive."
During the series, Jessica managed to secure four pole positions, had five first place finishes and five top five finishes. In the final race last weekend, she finished second in her heat, fourth in the main race and had the fastest qualifying time.
The car and crew that Jessica has are all rented and based in Idaho. The race series runs with late model Malibu stock cars, which Blake figures would run in the $600,000 range to have a properly maintained car, crew and parts.
"We're certainly hoping to secure more sponsorship for next year," he said. "It can be a pretty expensive hobby."
The Cyrs are hoping to get some more exposure in December when Jessica attends the Lynn St. James Driver Development program in Phoenix, Ariz.
St. James invited Jessica to the program based on her successful season in Idaho. St. James is famous for being the first female driver to race at the Indianapolis 500.
"The school involves lots of training, both physical and mental, and lots of on-track know-how," Blake said. "There are some teams associated with it. It's one of those things where once your name starts to get around, you can get noticed and the networking opportunities are huge."
Jessica has also applied for the Drive for Diversity program for next year. This program is sponsored by NASCAR and is made up of a group trying to get minorities and female drivers more established in racing. Blake admits it's a long shot, but it's again another great opportunity in Jessica's career.
"The first woman to make it big and succeed at high level racing like NASCAR will be remembered forever," Jessica said. "I want to be that driver - I want to go all the way."
