Warsaw Woman Fulfills Stock Car Racing Dream
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Siara [email protected]
Growing up, her father and brother were involved in the sport and it sparked her interest at such a young age.
Atkins is fulfilling her dream of driving a super streetcar at the Plymouth Speedway The Playground of Power on Saturday.
Atkins’ father was a spring car owner, and her brother, Bimbo, started racing when he was 15 years old. She remembers always wanting to race and idolizing her brother and father. She also remembers driving go-karts around her yard when she was just a child.
Many years later she had to opportunity at 22 years old to race in a powder-puff race, and she took advantage of it. She remembers her father telling her that if she raced again and won the following year, he would make her a full-time racer. Unfortunately, the car she was going to drive crashed before the race season so she had to be a spectator instead of a driver, but she never lost her passion for racing, even when the Warsaw Speedway was closed.
She started the Facebook group page “We Want Another Warsaw Speedway” in 2008 to try to stay involved in the racing community. To date, the group has more than 1,500 “likes.”
“I always wanted to do it,” Atkins said. “The right opportunity just never came along.”
Twenty-two years later, Atkins was given the opportunity to be a driver one more time. It is the 25th anniversary of the closure of the Warsaw Speedway, and she had a friend who needed a driver for his car.
“I decided I wanted to do this in honor of my dad and Bimbo,” Atkins said.
Her father passed away in 2013, and her brother passed away in December. She said that she hasn’t received a lot of support from her family because they are worried for her safety, but she knows that if her brother and father were still here, they both would be cheering for her from the pits.
Atkins decided in March she was going to race this year and hasn’t had much time to prepare. She will drive the racecar for the first time Saturday morning when she does her four practice laps around the track. Even though she hasn’t had much preparation, and she could be one of two women racing this weekend, she isn’t intimidated.
“I’ve come too far to chicken out,” she said. “I’m racing with the big boys.”
She will be racing every Saturday at the Plymouth Speedway. She will participate in the heat races, which are eight to 10 laps, and then drive in the feature race, which is 20 laps. There could be up to 20 other drivers competing against her in every race.
“I have co-pilots with me and they’re my Lord, brother and my dad, so I’m not worried,” she said. “I know they’re going to be there with me.”
This Saturday also starts the racing season, and Atkins will earn points for all of her races. The season lasts until September. She could potentially win Rookie of the Year at 54 years old.
“You’re never too old to get out there and say you have done it,” Atkins said. “Even if I don’t win, I’m going to have fun.”
The car Atkins will be driving this season has raced before but it hasn’t raced a full season for three years. Atkins also plans on racing in Kokomo and Montpelier once the season at Plymouth is over. She said Saturday will be different because even though she is used to the racing environment and being in the pits, being a driver is going to be a new experience.
“I’m sure it’s going to be different,” Atkins said. “It’s just going to bring back a lot of memories – good ones.”[[In-content Ad]]
Growing up, her father and brother were involved in the sport and it sparked her interest at such a young age.
Atkins is fulfilling her dream of driving a super streetcar at the Plymouth Speedway The Playground of Power on Saturday.
Atkins’ father was a spring car owner, and her brother, Bimbo, started racing when he was 15 years old. She remembers always wanting to race and idolizing her brother and father. She also remembers driving go-karts around her yard when she was just a child.
Many years later she had to opportunity at 22 years old to race in a powder-puff race, and she took advantage of it. She remembers her father telling her that if she raced again and won the following year, he would make her a full-time racer. Unfortunately, the car she was going to drive crashed before the race season so she had to be a spectator instead of a driver, but she never lost her passion for racing, even when the Warsaw Speedway was closed.
She started the Facebook group page “We Want Another Warsaw Speedway” in 2008 to try to stay involved in the racing community. To date, the group has more than 1,500 “likes.”
“I always wanted to do it,” Atkins said. “The right opportunity just never came along.”
Twenty-two years later, Atkins was given the opportunity to be a driver one more time. It is the 25th anniversary of the closure of the Warsaw Speedway, and she had a friend who needed a driver for his car.
“I decided I wanted to do this in honor of my dad and Bimbo,” Atkins said.
Her father passed away in 2013, and her brother passed away in December. She said that she hasn’t received a lot of support from her family because they are worried for her safety, but she knows that if her brother and father were still here, they both would be cheering for her from the pits.
Atkins decided in March she was going to race this year and hasn’t had much time to prepare. She will drive the racecar for the first time Saturday morning when she does her four practice laps around the track. Even though she hasn’t had much preparation, and she could be one of two women racing this weekend, she isn’t intimidated.
“I’ve come too far to chicken out,” she said. “I’m racing with the big boys.”
She will be racing every Saturday at the Plymouth Speedway. She will participate in the heat races, which are eight to 10 laps, and then drive in the feature race, which is 20 laps. There could be up to 20 other drivers competing against her in every race.
“I have co-pilots with me and they’re my Lord, brother and my dad, so I’m not worried,” she said. “I know they’re going to be there with me.”
This Saturday also starts the racing season, and Atkins will earn points for all of her races. The season lasts until September. She could potentially win Rookie of the Year at 54 years old.
“You’re never too old to get out there and say you have done it,” Atkins said. “Even if I don’t win, I’m going to have fun.”
The car Atkins will be driving this season has raced before but it hasn’t raced a full season for three years. Atkins also plans on racing in Kokomo and Montpelier once the season at Plymouth is over. She said Saturday will be different because even though she is used to the racing environment and being in the pits, being a driver is going to be a new experience.
“I’m sure it’s going to be different,” Atkins said. “It’s just going to bring back a lot of memories – good ones.”[[In-content Ad]]
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