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Topic: Geving geared up for 2008 Civil War series run
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Page 1 of 1 of 4 replies
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February 19, 2008 at
10:34:12 PM
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This message was edited on
February 20, 2008 at
09:28:27 PM by pvvoice
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February 19, 2008 at
10:43:06 PM
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Joined:
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04/08/2005
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1001
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Nice picture! It's great that we have a lady racing sprint cars and she is very talented as well  I applaud everyone willing to get into a sprint car and race with the best of them. I really love to watch sprint cars, but there is no way I would have the guts to get in one and drive it. Good luck this year and I hope to meet you at Placerville for the first race of the season in March.
Looking forward to the new Golden State King of the
West series schedule!
Winged sprintcars = the fastest and most exciting
racecars on dirt!
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February 20, 2008 at
09:29:09 PM
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PRESS RELEASE, FROM THE OFFICE OF JOHN PADJEN MOTORSPORTS
PLACERVILLE SPEEDWAY/HOOSIER RACING TIRES CIVIL WAR SERIES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT: Bill Sullivan ([email protected])
Sixteen-year-old lady racer set to bring her talents to 2008 Civil War series
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 as it heads to Placerville Speedway next month.
By Bill Sullivan, John Padjen Motorsports
PLACERVILLE- 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.
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 http://www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com. For further information on Alissa Geving and her Chick-O-Motorsports Race Team, visit her webstie at http://www.chick-o-motorsports.com.
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February 20, 2008 at
09:52:25 PM
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Joined:
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11/26/2004
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1355
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Thanks for posting the press Bill. Good luck to Alissa
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February 20, 2008 at
10:18:49 PM
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Joined:
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12/03/2004
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7413
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No doubt, best of luck to Alissa and the 3x team this season. Look forward to seeing her run more tracks this year, especially Chico on some select Friday nights.
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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