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Legend Driver Chelsea Schillig Makes Nationwide Publication
Racing
By Greg Zyla
12/26/2007
Future racing stars are hard to find, and although Chelsea Schillig isn't yet a household name in motorsports, we're betting one day, this 16-year-old from Apopka, Florida, will be.
Specifically, at the recent PRI MOPAR Sprint & Midget Classic at Orlando Speedworld, Schillig took part in a 20-lap feature race for Legends division racecars.
Not aware of age or gender, I watched her No. 75 Yamaha-powered Legend Sedan the entire race, and commented to a nearby photographer "whoever's driving the 75 is either going places or is one heck of an older driver." The 75 finished a creditable sixth on a tough track that didn't offer much passing after posting the quickest qualifying time for the event and starting fifth.
After the race, we decided to stop by the pits and meet the driver. To my surprise, out of the cockpit came young Chelsea Schillig, the only female in the field.
A Lyman High School student and the daughter of Randi and Jeff Schillig, Chelsea has done well in academics, takes part in Junior ROTC, and has racing and engineering as a career goal. Although she may be involved in a sport dominated by the male presence, she's played lots of sports, too, and also studied tap and ballet. She also won a well-deserved ?Disney Dreamer And Doer? award in 2005, which honors the top 100 students in Florida and honors them at an awards ceremony at Epcot?s World Show Place Events pavilion.
"I'm currently learning about Electrical Engineering at my high school because this program will help me achieve my goal of becoming a Mechanical Engineer. I plan on moving up to ARCA or the Hooter's Pro Cup (stock cars) depending on sponsorship, and hope someday to drive in NASCAR in one of the three big series, Trucks, Nationwide (formerly Busch) or Sprint Cup."
On track, Chelsea started in Quarter Midgets at the age of 7, moved up to Senior Honda and then Bandoleros, where she raced for two years. At her home track Orlando Speedworld, she finished second and third in overall points and won many races.
Currently, Chelsea campaigns her No. 75 Semi-Pro Legend regularly at Orlando Speedworld, where she completed a fine 2007 winning the Semi-Pro track championship and finishing third in the track's total overall points (all divisions). On the national scene, she finished in the Top 20 of more than 400 drivers.
"None of this would be possible without the help of my sponsors Kendirk Performance (whom she also credits as a mentor), PBG (Palm Beach Grading), RWB Cleanup Inc., Fluid Power of Florida, and Castrol. I also wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for my parents, my friends at the track, and everyone that has helped me in along the way," said a thankful Chelsea.
Chelsea received national publicity recently as she was one of just 16 female drivers chosen nationally from hundreds of others to participate in the Lyn St. James Driver Development Program in Arizona. St. James is one of the nation's top female drivers/instructors/motivational and development personalities and has competed in the Indy 500.
"Thanks to Lyn St. James, we were taught by the best instructors and professionals. I stayed in Arizona a total of four days and on the third day we had the chance to drive Mustang Cobras and race Karts."
As the script would have it, and even though Chelsea had never driven a Kart, she won the feature race at the Lyn St. James experience, and did so by half-a-lap over second place.
"I learned many things at the Lyn St. James Driver Development Program, like interviewing skills, focusing, and physical fitness, and, just as important, met so many great people," she concluded.
Keep an eye out for Chelsea Schillig. She's going to be a star someday be it behind a dynamometer building a racing engine or behind the wheel of a racecar.
And as for you "development driver" scouts, take note.
I think it will be from behind the wheel of a racecar.
(Greg Zyla is a syndicated motorsports columnist)
By Greg Zyla
12/26/2007
Future racing stars are hard to find, and although Chelsea Schillig isn't yet a household name in motorsports, we're betting one day, this 16-year-old from Apopka, Florida, will be.
Specifically, at the recent PRI MOPAR Sprint & Midget Classic at Orlando Speedworld, Schillig took part in a 20-lap feature race for Legends division racecars.
Not aware of age or gender, I watched her No. 75 Yamaha-powered Legend Sedan the entire race, and commented to a nearby photographer "whoever's driving the 75 is either going places or is one heck of an older driver." The 75 finished a creditable sixth on a tough track that didn't offer much passing after posting the quickest qualifying time for the event and starting fifth.
After the race, we decided to stop by the pits and meet the driver. To my surprise, out of the cockpit came young Chelsea Schillig, the only female in the field.
A Lyman High School student and the daughter of Randi and Jeff Schillig, Chelsea has done well in academics, takes part in Junior ROTC, and has racing and engineering as a career goal. Although she may be involved in a sport dominated by the male presence, she's played lots of sports, too, and also studied tap and ballet. She also won a well-deserved ?Disney Dreamer And Doer? award in 2005, which honors the top 100 students in Florida and honors them at an awards ceremony at Epcot?s World Show Place Events pavilion.
"I'm currently learning about Electrical Engineering at my high school because this program will help me achieve my goal of becoming a Mechanical Engineer. I plan on moving up to ARCA or the Hooter's Pro Cup (stock cars) depending on sponsorship, and hope someday to drive in NASCAR in one of the three big series, Trucks, Nationwide (formerly Busch) or Sprint Cup."
On track, Chelsea started in Quarter Midgets at the age of 7, moved up to Senior Honda and then Bandoleros, where she raced for two years. At her home track Orlando Speedworld, she finished second and third in overall points and won many races.
Currently, Chelsea campaigns her No. 75 Semi-Pro Legend regularly at Orlando Speedworld, where she completed a fine 2007 winning the Semi-Pro track championship and finishing third in the track's total overall points (all divisions). On the national scene, she finished in the Top 20 of more than 400 drivers.
"None of this would be possible without the help of my sponsors Kendirk Performance (whom she also credits as a mentor), PBG (Palm Beach Grading), RWB Cleanup Inc., Fluid Power of Florida, and Castrol. I also wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for my parents, my friends at the track, and everyone that has helped me in along the way," said a thankful Chelsea.
Chelsea received national publicity recently as she was one of just 16 female drivers chosen nationally from hundreds of others to participate in the Lyn St. James Driver Development Program in Arizona. St. James is one of the nation's top female drivers/instructors/motivational and development personalities and has competed in the Indy 500.
"Thanks to Lyn St. James, we were taught by the best instructors and professionals. I stayed in Arizona a total of four days and on the third day we had the chance to drive Mustang Cobras and race Karts."
As the script would have it, and even though Chelsea had never driven a Kart, she won the feature race at the Lyn St. James experience, and did so by half-a-lap over second place.
"I learned many things at the Lyn St. James Driver Development Program, like interviewing skills, focusing, and physical fitness, and, just as important, met so many great people," she concluded.
Keep an eye out for Chelsea Schillig. She's going to be a star someday be it behind a dynamometer building a racing engine or behind the wheel of a racecar.
And as for you "development driver" scouts, take note.
I think it will be from behind the wheel of a racecar.
(Greg Zyla is a syndicated motorsports columnist)