HIGH SCHOOL HONOR STUDENT CONTINUE TO RISE AND IMPRESS RACE CAR FANS AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS
Silver Spring MD -
Kennedy High School Junior Jessie Morrison is driving into race car history.
Morrison 16, has qualified to race the Semi-finals of the Ford Focus Midget
All-American Driver Challenge. Potential drivers ranging in age from 16
to 27 are competing for a sponsored ride in a Ford Focus Midget in the
Carolina USAC Ford Focus Midget Series. Candidates competed at 12 locations
around the country for the first cut of 100 drivers. These locations were
located in over 8 states from Texas, Maine, to California.
Morrison went to F1Boston in Braintree, Mass for her chance to make the
Semi-finals. She turned in some good lap times, even some within a tenth
of the track record, the cut was based on a drivers top 100 hundred laps.
Last night Morrison received her notice that she made the cut. "I
can't believe this is happening so fast," proclaimed Morrison.
The semi-final round of competition will be held on February 4th and 5th
in Atlanta, Georgia. The top 100 drivers will compete on February 4th
and then the top 25 from that group on the 5th, all hoping to make the
final 10 which go on to the final round. The All-American Driver Challenge
is geared toward fostering the best up-and-coming young race talent for
a future career in a professional American racing series.
Morrison who began her racing experience five years ago starting with
go-carts and then moving up to sprint cars has steadily risen in popularity
as being one the few female teenage race car drivers in the industry.
Her driving skills are impressive and methodic. Much like her intensity
in the classroom, Morrison brings that same raw energy and intellect to
the raceways which often translate into a winning evening for her and
racing crew.
The final driver will be selected based on their racing performance and
personal attributes. Over time, the Challenge winners will be developed
through a predetermined schedule of racing series beginning with the Carolina
Midget Series. Each driver will have the opportunity to advance to higher
levels of racing including the USACT™ National Midget, Silver Crown™,
Sprint and NASCAR® Late Model Weekly Racing Series.
This past year Morrison competed at Trail Way Speedway, Pa in a 358 Sprint
Car on dirt and in a car for the first time, finishing 20th in points
for the year. Prior to that Jessie had raced Go Karts Nationally, Regionally
and locally in Maryland for about four years on road race pavement circuits.
Morrison hopes to eventually become one of the Ford Focus Challenge Drivers.
"I would love to compete in both cars," Morrison concluded.
References
All-American
Driver Challenge
Brian Moates.Program Director.The All-American Driver Challenge.137 Cross
Center Rd, Suite 114.Denver, NC 28037.
o:(704)248-8470.f:(704)645-7315.c:(704)957-1165
Carolina USAC Ford Focus Midget Series
USAC
Ford Focus Midget
Ford Focus Midget