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Sather picked for ‘Drive for Diversity’ program
Natalie Sather is going to get her chance to drive a NASCAR ride for a whole season. The Fargo driver won’t be going up against Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon, but it could be a step in that direction. Sather was one of 12 drivers to be selected for the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program. She’ll compete this season in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series.
“It’s kind of a dream come true,” Sather said. “It’s something I’ve worked for since I was 9 years old. I never thought I could say that I was part of the NASCAR family. This is a big step.”
Sather will be racing with Total Velocity Motorsports out of Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash. The 23-year-old has been racing sprint cars since 2002, and became the first female driver to win a major American Sprint Car Series trophy when she won the Midwest Points title in 2007.
“Natalie is really the kind of person this initiative is focused on,” said Marcus Jadotte, managing director of public affairs for NASCAR. “She has clearly demonstrated that she has the talent to get to the next step.”
Sather found out about the program from a friend, and tried out for the program in mid-October. However, she had more than nerves to overcome once she got out there.
“I was already nervous because I had never driven on asphalt before,” Sather said. “But we were able to rent the track for a day, and I did some testing on it.”
The one day of testing must’ve worked. At the tryout, Sather was the only driver to get faster during her laps as her tires wore down. Add that performance in South Boston to an already impressive racing career, and Sather had a spot in the program locked up.
“Her resume and led her to this opportunity, and she became one of the more sought after drivers by the teams,” Jadotte said. “She certainly earned her way.”
Sather is set to move out to Washington next week, and will compete in a whole season in the Whelen Series beginning in March.
“All of this is just awesome,” Sather said. “I’ve got to go to a couple of NASCAR driver’s shops, and I’ve already got a lot of good things out of it. I hope you’ll see me in a Nationwide Series car or a Sprint Cup car someday.”
Natalie Sather is going to get her chance to drive a NASCAR ride for a whole season. The Fargo driver won’t be going up against Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon, but it could be a step in that direction. Sather was one of 12 drivers to be selected for the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program. She’ll compete this season in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series.
“It’s kind of a dream come true,” Sather said. “It’s something I’ve worked for since I was 9 years old. I never thought I could say that I was part of the NASCAR family. This is a big step.”
Sather will be racing with Total Velocity Motorsports out of Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash. The 23-year-old has been racing sprint cars since 2002, and became the first female driver to win a major American Sprint Car Series trophy when she won the Midwest Points title in 2007.
“Natalie is really the kind of person this initiative is focused on,” said Marcus Jadotte, managing director of public affairs for NASCAR. “She has clearly demonstrated that she has the talent to get to the next step.”
Sather found out about the program from a friend, and tried out for the program in mid-October. However, she had more than nerves to overcome once she got out there.
“I was already nervous because I had never driven on asphalt before,” Sather said. “But we were able to rent the track for a day, and I did some testing on it.”
The one day of testing must’ve worked. At the tryout, Sather was the only driver to get faster during her laps as her tires wore down. Add that performance in South Boston to an already impressive racing career, and Sather had a spot in the program locked up.
“Her resume and led her to this opportunity, and she became one of the more sought after drivers by the teams,” Jadotte said. “She certainly earned her way.”
Sather is set to move out to Washington next week, and will compete in a whole season in the Whelen Series beginning in March.
“All of this is just awesome,” Sather said. “I’ve got to go to a couple of NASCAR driver’s shops, and I’ve already got a lot of good things out of it. I hope you’ll see me in a Nationwide Series car or a Sprint Cup car someday.”
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