Sixteen-year-old lady racer set to bring her talents to 2008
Civil War series
by Bill Sullivan
Originally from
http://johnpadjenmotorsports.com/civilWar/2008/news/02/24.html
 Alissa
Geving, the 16-year-old sprint car driver from Penngrove will bring
her charm and talents to Placerville Speedway on March 15th to begin
her campaign in the 2008 Hoosier Tires Civil War Series.
Photo courtesy of Racing Imagery
The following is the third in a series of articles by Bill Sullivan
that will illustrate several of the highlights and expectations that
lie ahead in the 2008 California Sprint Car Civil War Race Series.
Be sure and visit johnpadjenmotorsports.com often over the next four
weeks to learn more about the latest version of California’s premier
series for winged 360 sprint cars.
ROSEVILLE, CA (2-24-08) - Alissa Geving is the first to admit she
was not an “ordinary” young girl. While most of her friends were
spending their childhood pastime riding horses and playing with
dolls, Geving was “building a great love of mud and grease,”
watching and helping her father, Gary compete in California’s sprint
car racing circuit during the early 90’s.
Now, the second generation Geving is one of California’s few female
competitors in the heavily male dominated sport of sprint car
racing. The 16-year old Penngrove native will soon bring her charm
and talents to the likes of Placerville Speedway to begin her first
ever full season campaign in the 2008 Hoosier Racing Tires
California Sprint Car Series.
The Civil War Sprint Car Series is promoted by John Padjen
Motorsports in conjunction with several California Racing Promoters.
The series, dedicated to 360 cubic inch powered sprint cars,
competes for more than $100,000 in combined winnings and
championship funds at six different tracks for a total of 15 events.
The series is designed to bring all of California’s talent together
to compete in different venues while still being permitted to
compete at their weekly home track events during the off weekends.
With drivers representing each participating track and a diverse
number of facilities the series is known for its exciting wheel to
wheel racing action with multiple winners each year and the season
title often coming down to the final event.
Geving will be one of more than 40 drivers heading to Placerville in
just four weeks to compete in California’s premier 360 sprint car
campaign. With limited appearances in the series last season, she
will be setting her sights on the Civil War Series Rookie honor, a
title that draws nearly as much attention as the series championship
annually.
“Battling against the top drivers in California for such a huge
title, if I could earn that…wow. That would be an incredible honor,”
says Geving. “This title is my ultimate goal for all of the Civil
War season. To do this, I need to finish all the races, which is
going to be a big stepping stone.”
Years ago, the phrase “Rookie” in sprint car racing was often
associated with drivers that had little experience and were
developing their skills. In the end, the young driver that outwitted
his or her counterparts in their first full season or series was
awarded the title. Today much of the talent at the entry level of
this sport is equivalent to the seasoned champions. Geving, recently
named the Motorsports Press Association’s Rising Star, is no
exception.
In 2007 Geving made her winged sprint car racing debut, graduating
from the smaller outlaw karts and taking to her hometown track of
Petaluma Speedway aboard her #3 Chick-O-Motor Sports sprint car,
with the assistance of her father, a well known seasoned veteran of
Petaluma Speedway. Geving credits her father’s influence on her
successful graduation to sprint car racing, a commencement that
includes two feature wins at Petaluma Speedway and two at Antioch
Speedway. Geving’s first year record is one that exceeds that of
many experienced champions. She is currently the youngest female
driver to ever win a sprint car feature event at 15 years of age.
“If my Dad wasn’t such a great influence and supporter in my life, I
probably wouldn’t have been able to pursue my dream of being a
sprint car driver,” said Geving. “He has been there at every single
race, driving all around California to hit every race possible and
don’t get me started on how he completely builds all my motors. His
life is basically dedicated to my racing and I am blessed to have
such a support system in my life.”
At a very young age, Geving began going to sprint car races with her
family, watching Gary race from the stands and helping him during
the week as he prepared for the next weekend. The family time Alissa
spent helping Gary was the training ground to prepare her for a
sport she surely hopes will grow into a fulltime opportunity one
day, with her sights set on every young drivers dream, the NASCAR
Nextel Cup.
“Watching my dad race my whole life built a great love for mud and
grease, while most of my friends were riding horses and combing
their doll’s hair,” said Geving. “I think that racing is second
nature to me because of all of the years of watching my dad, the
greatest sprint car driver alive.”
In 2007, Geving competed in a select few Civil War Sprint car
events, far less than half the series in an effort to remain
eligible for the Rookie title in 2008. This year will be the first
full season with the series for the Ursuline High School student,
who maintains an impressive 4.14 point grade average despite her
busy racing schedule.
In 2007, Alissa Geving became the youngest female driver to ever win
a sprint car feature event at just 15 years old aboard her
Chick-O-Motorsports #3 sprint car.
Photo by Graphx Design
One of the Civil War events in which Geving competed was the late
season Napa Valley Challenge at the famed Calistoga Speedway.
Nestled below the rugged Mt. St. Helena, the half mile track in the
wine country is the largest in California. Drivers with decades of
experience will talk about the intimidation and level of danger this
track has to offer with speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.
For Geving, the Calistoga visit was a highlight of her season. As a
rookie she managed to win the B-feature and finished 9th in the
A-feature. As the upcoming season approaches, she looks forward to
the two events on the 2008 tour.
“Calistoga was hands down one of the best highlights of the season
for me. I had so much fun, every bit of that night was a total
blast,” said Geving. ‘I got the biggest adrenaline rush I have ever
gotten and it felt great testing my luck on the high side. After the
A-main I had two flat and bald rear tires, so lets just say I tried
to push the car to its limits. It was a blast doing so and it gave
me great experience for the rest of the season.”
With the Civil War Series opening in just a few weeks at Placerville
Speedway, Geving looks forward to starting her chase for the Rookie
title on the quarter-mile El Dorado County Fairgrounds track that is
known for its tight bullring geography and close racing action. She
made one appearance at Placerville last year, it was a hot summer
night that had its share of ups and downs and concluded with Geving
wearing her trademark smile and greeting the many fans who flocked
to the pit area to meet the newest lead foot lady of sprint car
racing.
“Placerville was a great track to race last year,” said Geving. “I
flipped in hot laps which didn’t kick off our day in the heat very
nicely. But all in all, it was a super fun weekend. It was a big
challenge at first because I was used to flat tracks like Petaluma.
I was intimated at first but I got used to it. Plus the fans made me
feel at home. I am very excited to be coming there again with my
added knowledge and experience from the end of the season.”
Regardless of gender, a race car driver in any division must first
earn respect from their counterparts. Competing in this male
dominated form of racing, Geving has found that respect early in her
career. With four feature victories, five heat race wins and top
five placements in the season point standings at both Petaluma and
Antioch she is undoubtedly made a name for herself throughout
California.
“It’s funny to see people’s reaction when I tell them that I race
with all males,” she said. “But I’m used to it by now. I just feel
like one of the guys on and off the track and I’ve developed some
very valuable friendships with the guys I race with. Most people
treat me the same; I think everyone is used to it. We all have the
same respect for each other.”
With multiple victories to her name in her first full season many
eyes will be watching Geving in the year to come to see if she can
become the third lady racer to win a Civil War feature event. Former
Fair Oaks driver Shauna Hogg and Destiny Hayes of Oroville are the
only former feature winners in the history of the series.
“A Civil War feature, wow, that would be an incredible blessing for
all of the team,” said Geving. “All we need to do is work together
as a team, concentrate on the big prize and see if grab one. I am
pumped to race this season and I have a great feeling about it. The
track I feel I would be most likely to get a win at would be
Petaluma, my home track.”
Race fans can see Alissa Geving in Civil War Sprint Car Series
action beginning Saturday, March 15th at Placerville Speedway along
with more than 40 of California top sprint car drivers. For
additional information on this upcoming event, log on to
www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com. For further information on Alissa
Geving and her Chick-O-Motorsports Race Team, visit her webstie at
www.chick-o-motorsports.com.
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