Jessie Morrison Competed in the All American Driver Challenge in Atlanta, Ga Last Weekend, Making the Cut to the Final 10 Headed to Hickory, NC Next Month.

Trail Way Speedway 358 Sprint Car Driver Jessie Morrison went to the Andretti Center in Atlanta last weekend to participate in the All American Driver Challenge Semi Finals. She was one of 108 drivers ranging in age from 16 to 27 from around the country invited to compete for the ride in next years' Calico Coatings Ford Focus Midget. It was quite a collection of talent from all over the country.

The drivers were evaluated on communications with the Crew Chief, an interview with a panel of Judges, 40 plus road course laps, a two lap road course qualifying run and some bull ring oval heats. Jessie ran the 8th fastest time in the road course laps and qualified 4th out of 108 in her two lap run. Her 8th fastest time was 14th fastest all time at the Andretti Center. Jessie did well enough in the road course, interview and communications to make the final ten and she's ecstatic.

Next she'll be at Hickory, NC where the Challenge will move from karts to a Ford Focus Midget for the final run off. She'll need a better pavement oval run to succeed in Hickory.

The seventeen year old Kennedy High School Junior from Silver Spring, MD would love to have the time management challenge of completing High School and driving in the Carolina Ford Focus USAC Midget series.

Morrison, who began her racing experience five years ago in go karts and moved up to 358 winged sprint cars, has steadily risen in popularity as being one of the few female teenage race car drivers in the region. Her driving skills are impressive and methodic. Much like her intensity in the classroom, Morrison brings that same raw energy and intellect to the racetrack.

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.

The final driver will be selected based on their racing performance and personal attributes. Over time, the Challenge winners will be developed through a pre-determined 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 USACTM National Midget, Silver CrownTM, 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.

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