Driver Bio

Jessie Morrison
358 Sprint Driver

 

Birth Date: 10/30/1988 Crew Chief: Cody Fletcher Car Owner: Bill Morrison Crew: Don Kimmey, Casey Fletcher, Mike Mort Contact: info@JessieMorrison.com

Morrison first climbed behind the wheel of a 650 HP 358 Sprint Car in 2005 at Trail Way Speedway before she even had her driver’s license in 2005.

Jessies first time in a sprint car at Trailways Speedway Practice 2005

 She came to dirt track racing in a non-traditional route via pavement road racing Go Karts and not the more traditional Micro Sprints or Dirt Karting path.  Jessie notched her first heat race victory at Trail Way Speedway that first year.

Jessie in her first race at Trailways Speedway Photo: Lenny Cobosco

Trailways Speedway Race Action Photo: Lenny Cobosco

In 2006 and 2007, the Honor Roll Student at Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, MD raced at both Trail Way Speedway and Lincoln Speedway.  She had several heat wins at both tracks with several top tens too.  Her third place feature finish at Trail Way Speedway was her career best.  She set the 5 lap track record at Trail Way Speedway and added several heat race wins.  In 2007 Jessie won her first heat race at Lincoln Speedway, coming within 2 tenths of the track record in a 10 lap heat.  Her fifth place feature finish at the always tough Lincoln Speedway was the highlight of 2007.  In 2007 Lincoln Speedway averaged between 45 and a high of 51 cars racing for 24 starting spots each week sending Points leaders home without making the feature regularly.

Jessie at Lincoln Speedway 2006 Always with a smile Photo: Rick Mandelson

2007 Lincoln Speedway Race Action Photo: Rick Mandelson

Jessie Morrison takes her car to school

She competed in the All American Driver Challenge against over 110 drivers from all over the country in 2006 and finished in the top 10.  The finals were held at Hickory Speedway with a chance to drive on that historic track with some of the best.

Jessie with Brad Noffsinger at Hickory Photo: Rick Mandelson

In the 2006 off season she was invited to attend the Lyn St. James Driver Development Program and jumped at the chance.   The following summer, Morrison accepted the chance to attend Lyn St. James Women in the Winners Circle luncheon at the famed Indianapolis Speedway the week of the Brickyard 400 in the summer of 2007 with the same excitement.

2008 brought Jessie the chance to run her Sprint on a limited budget basis, finishing in the top 10 in six of 8 features she ran at Trail Way Speedway.  Three times she tied for hard charger starting 17^th, 22^nd and 24^th.  That was good enough to finish 17^th in points after running less than half the scheduled races.

She also ran a full sized fiberglass 1933 Ford Coupe replica with a V8 in the All American Outlaws traveling series finishing 5^th in points.  In addition, she was also able to get in a little road racing in a Mazda and spent a little track time in a Dirt Late Model. 

Jessie Morrison in the 358 Sprint at Trailways Speedway Photo: Greg Hines

Jessie Morrison in the All American Outlaw car at Trailways Speedway Photo: Lenny Cobosco

Jessie Morrison in the 358 Late Model at Susquehanna Speedway Photo: Rick Mandelson

Jessie Morrison in the Mazda at Summit Point Speedway Photo: Euroimage Photography

She is a University of Maryland Sophomore which fills her days and nights.  She has always been active.  Jessie was in the High School Student Government for four years, addressing the Senior Graduating Class as the Class Treasurer.  She was active in Varsity Field Hockey, Fast Pitch Softball and JV Basketball until required to cut back during her Junior Year because of her racing commitments.  She remained an honor student even with her busy schedule.  On a rare non-race night she was even crowned the Prom Queen at her Senior Prom.

Jessie’s first race experience came when she was about 12 years old in the Jr. Stock Go Kart ranks in 2001.  In 2002 she registered 24 wins in 74 features on a local, regional and national level.  In 2003 Jessie brought home her first Bridgestone Tire Series Championship in the Jr Stock Division. 2004 saw continued success with wins in the Daytona Speedway Jr. Enduro, MD Briggs Jr Divisionals and numerous top 5’s in the MD Divisionals and Nationals. Jessie is also proud of her 4 wins in the annual Milford, DE Grand Prix Street Race.   It’s her favorite Kart Race in which they close local roads and race through the streets right downtown. 

Daytona Jr Enduro - Car Owner: Dave Dahl Photo: David Newman

Milford Street Race Action Photo: Bruce Walls

Milford Grand Prix Victory Lane Photo: Bruce Walls

Jessie continues to be active in group events with local schools, community events and local and regional car shows.  She has also enjoyed her appearances on several TV and Radio shows. 

Jessie Morrison in the Race Night Studio with host Steve Miller

Jessie Morrison on the radio show In the Pits   2009 Washington, Dc. Area Car Show Photo: Don Hass

2009 brings new challenges.  Her lifetime career goal is to race.  Current plans are to race a full schedule in her 358 Sprint Car at Trail Way Speedway and in Daryl Winkler’s All American Outlaw car and maybe a lap or two in Mike Mort’s Dirt Late Model as well.  All this while attending the University of Maryland.  Her 358 Sprint Car is a 600 plus HP winged sprint car raced in Central PA.  The Outlaw car is a full sized 1933 fiberglass Ford Coupe replica with a big V8 on a metric frame.  They run a traveling circuit in the PA, MD, and VA area.

Yearly Accomplishments:

2008

Coming Soon

2007:

- Ran a budget limited schedule

Racing- 358 Winged Sprint Cars    

- Presented with the ARCH Junior Achievement Award for her on and off the track character 

- Ran a shortened schedule at Lincoln Speedway highlighted with several top tens and a fifth place finish in 11 races

- 45 to 50 cars were at each Saturday night race competing for 24 starting spots

- A fifth place feature finish and her first two heat wins in 11 races at Lincoln highlighted the year

- Also ran an All American Outlaw car twice with an 11^th place finish the first night out and a 7^th place the next race, both from the back as a rookie

Training-

- Spent a few days in a Skip Barber open wheel car at Homestead Speedway                                                  

News + TV + Appearances-

- Attended the Lyn St. James Women in the Winners Circle Luncheon

- 1 hr Guest on PAPosseRacing’s Open Wheel TV show

- 1 hr Guest on Steve Miller’s Race Night Cable TV Show to discuss the new year and goals for 2007

- Participated in three off season car shows: Dirt Trackin’, Motorama, and Motor Sports 2007; great fans and making new friends

- Brought her car to the Gohn Memorial Car Show in honor of Daryl Gohn and Glenn Gohn Sr.

- Participated in the Oval Track Day at the PA State Capital of Harrisburg meeting with local representatives and fans promoting racing in the state

- Brought her car to the Olney Days Car and Truck Show in Olney, MD, a weekend event benefiting the Joseph Patrick Sanford Foundation

- Race Driver/Story Reader at the annual Newberry Town Elementary School Bedtime Story Hour

  Kennedy High School Graduate;  maintained an A average throughout high school, taking advanced placement and college classes.  Participated in Junior Varsity and Varsity athletics (Fast Pitch Softball, Field Hockey and Basketball).  Also active in the Student Government as an officer in the SGA and was elected Prom Queen at her Senior Prom.

2006:

Racing- 358 Winged Sprint Cars    

- Finished 11^th  out of  about 50 in the 358 Sprint Car season points at Trail Way Speedway, PA

- Also raced a partial 358 Sprint Car schedule at Lincoln Speedway, PA.

Best finish: 3^rd at Trail Way Speedway

7 top 10’s at Trail Way Speedway

Won one Heat and two Consi’s at Trail Way Speedway

- Established a 5 lap track record for 358 Sprint Cars at Trail Way Speedway

- Finished in the Top Ten in the nationwide Ford Focus All American Driver Challenge

Training-

- Trained with Brad Noffsinger, in his Ford Focus Midget at Hickory, NC

- Attended the Lyn St. James Driver Development Training in Arizona and worked with several top specialists    Lyn brought in to promote the total driver package                                                  

News + TV + Appearances-

- 1 hr Guest on Steve Miller’s Race Night Cable TV Show to discuss the Driver Challenge and goals for 2006

- Represented Trail Way Speedway and sponsors personally displaying our Sprint Car at the Dirt Trackin’, Motorama, and Motor Sports 2006 Car Shows in PA

- Guest speaker at the York County Racing Club

- Guest speaker at the Latimore Valley Fair

- Interviewed on PaPosseRacing.com

2005:
- Rookie season in 358 Sprint
- Raced weekly at Trail Way Speedway with 1 heat race victory
- After receiving her license, Jessie competed at Lincoln Speedway   in 3 events and 1 at Selinsgrove Speedway

Media Notes:
- Jessie visited with Steve Miller on Race Night
- 4 minute segment on NBC4 produced by the Sports Machine
- Featured in an article written in the Montgomery County Gazette

2004:
- 2 time Daytona Jr Enduro winner - event with speeds over 105mph!
- WKA Stats - Class Briggs Jr
   3rd, 5th and 6th (Charlotte Motor Speedway)
   6 Top Ten's
- Maryland Briggs Jr Divisionals
   4 Wins
   3 Runner Up's (2nd)
   14 Top 5's

2003:
- Winner of the Briggs Jr Stock Bridgestone Tire Series Championship at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ

2002:
- Monrovia Speedway Champion - Jr Restricted
- Monrovia Speedway 2nd Place Points- Jr Stock
- 24 WINS in 74 feature events (Club, Regional, and National)