Natalie wins Central States SKUSA TaG Jr. Championship for 2008
Natalie Fenaroli was able to pull a rabbit out of her helmet to win the SKUSA CSC TAG Jr. Championship for 2008.
After qualifying 5th on Saturday at the I-55 Raceway in Pevely, MO, Natalie knew she would need a great pre-final race to get in front of her main rival for the points championship who had qualified 4th. Fenaroli had the inside line into the first turn and was able to get in front of the 48 kart, as was another driver. Things went well for 4 of the 8 lap pre-final until the 48 kart made a poor move at the end of the straight-away, diving in on the kart behind Natalie, missing him but hitting her at a side angle in the rear wheel sending her spinning off the track. She was able to get going again finishing 7th while the 48 kart was black flagged and pulled from the heat for the incident.
With a bent axle and a chunk missing out of her brake rotor, Natalie went into the final race of the season ready to give it her all with what she had. Her PG Racing Wild Kart had time and again proved to be a great machine. This day would be no different. As the green flag dropped, Natalie dove to the left and passed a row of karts before they got to the first turn. As the karts sorted themselves out before turn 2, Natalie was able to establish herself in 4th place. Within 2 laps the 48 kart was on her bumper and the two racers battled for the next 16 laps. Though it was for the fourth or fifth position in this race, many knew this was the match-up to watch for the series Championship. Natalie was unable to shake him loose but she hit her marks every turn on every lap. The championship came down to the last corner of the last race. The two passed the start finish line nose to tail with Natalie holding him off and taking fourth in the race and the SKUSA Central States Challenge TAG Jr. Championship for 2008!
PG Racing.com, PremierCobras.com, QTM, GMC2racing.com, Project Podium, and Natalie's Aunt Andrea were all sponsors of her racing this year. Thanks Lyn, Andy, Kristin, Greg Y, Greg H, Bob the hat man, and Rick for your help and support. She had a great year; the title was a bonus.
Natalie Fenaroli is featured in AutoWeek article titled "Five of the Fastest Women You Will Ever Meet" with a picture of Natalie and her PG Racing Wild Kart! The story is written by automotive legend and journalist Denise McCluggage. Natalie got on Denise's radar several years ago after Bob Storck, a Kansas City based auto journalist, started sending Denise impressions and results of the young Miss Natalie. When Denise came to town in 2006 for the SCCA convention she brought Natalie her latest book By Brooks Too Broad for Leaping and joined Natalie and the Age and Treachery gang for breakfast. Denise was inducted into the "SCCA Hall of Fame" later that evening. Denise has been Natalie's champion ever since. We greatly appreciate the support of people like Denise and Bob. Inclusion on such a short elite list is a great honor and benefit for Natalie's rising star. Date on the magazine is July 21 and has Ashley Force on the cover. It is now online as well at the link below. http://tinyurl.com/6z6hm5
We are proud to announce two new associations for Natalie; PremierCobras.com and GMC2racing.com
Premier MotorSports LLC (www.premiercobras.com), is a Kansas City Kansas based maker of the legendary Shelby Cobra. Premier's Cobras are sold in kit form that marry the original form with modern materials giving the market a car that can interchange parts with the original, but is stronger, safer and affordable to automotive enthusiasts. The Director of Premier, Rick Fiske, also has several race cars that he is making available to Natalie as she transitions to cars over the next couple of years including a Prather prepared spec Mazda Miata. The support of Premier and access to safe, top of the line race cars that Natalie can school and test in will be of great benefit to her. Thanks to Rick and Chuck at Premier for helping our team move forward. We look forward to a long, mutualy-beneficial relationship with Premier MotorSports LLC.
GMC2racing.com is a developer of professional and affordable website designs who will be helping maintain and upgrade Natalie's web site www.fast33.com.
Greg Hughes the owner of GMC2racing.com, besides being a great website developer, is also a racer and the owner of one the nation's premier kart tracks, 61 Kartway in Delmar, IA. He has seen Natalie race first hand. Of Natalie, Greg said "I'm quite impressed with your attitude, your demeanor, and certainly, your driving ability. I'm quite proud to be able to associate with you and your family in your racing endeavors!" So is Natalie's family.
www.fast33.com
Natalie Awarded Project Podium Grant
Women in the Winner's Circle Foundation Matching-Grant Program Advances Careers
Indianapolis, IN (July 8, 2008) - Women in the Winner's Circle Foundation today announced the five young women drivers who received funding from the Foundation's new matching grant program, Project Podium. This inaugural funding cycle distributed grants totaling $28,900 to:
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Natalie Fenaroli, 12 years old, Raymore, MO, go kart racer
Brandie Jass, 15, Bryan, TX, mini sprint racer
Kristy Knoll, 13, Amherst, NY, go kart racer
Megan Reitenaur, 17, Miamisburg, OH, stock car racer
Miranda Throckmorton, 16, Coatesville, IN, sprint car racer
"Project Podium is designed to help young talent achieve racing and business success," said Lyn St. James, founder and director of the Women in the Winner's Circle Foundation. "The 17 young ladies who submitted applications for our first round of funding exemplified the future of women in motorsports. They represented many different race Series and all are dedicated to being successful on the track and in the motorsports business world."
In addition to St. James, the grant review committee consisted of: Vicki O'Connor, managing director of the Atlantic Championship; Linda Conti, financial advisor at David A. Noyes & Co.; Amy Rosewater, sports writer; and Erin Crocker, NASCAR driver & Women in the Winner's Circle Driver Academy graduate.
Current Project Podium partners are: Newman's Own, Grand-Am, NASCAR Foundation, NHRA, Indy Racing League/Firestone Indy Lights, Atlantic Championship, Mazda USA, Toyota, VW, Rolex, and Mike Helton.
Click here to read complete story
Natalie Wins SKUSA Central States Challenge Race 1!!! June 8th, 2008 - Raymore MO
In the brutally hot 20 lap main, she got the lead into the first turn and held it for 11 laps fending off the faster karts. She got passed on the back side of the track by Drake Ostrom but she was able to stay in second, and keep on the leader. She made her move two laps later going down the straight to get the lead back. Second and third started battling letting her get a gap but the pole kart Kaylee Grandberg made it to 2nd and she closed with 2 laps to go. Natalie was running a better line towards the end though, and was able hold off Kaylee to win the series opener!
She had her WildKart dialed in, including the right gearing. Fastest lap of the weekend on her micron was 18th of the main. The WildKart from PGRacing.com just got better and better as the race progressed.
She also got to meet the President of SKUSA Tom Kutscher who was in town from CA for the inaugural event. He told Natalie SKUSA has a good arrangement with the Jim Russell racing school which just bought all new full carbon Lola F3 cars which they can detune for school. She was very excited to hear this as she plans a path towards cars.
Julia also raced for the 5th time in kid karts. She started finding her groove and improved her times all weekend. A loose wheel ended her final a couple laps early.
