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LOS ANGELES - Action is
heating up in the International Kart Federation
(IKF) sprint division with over 300 entries expected
for the 2-Cycle Sprint and Shifter Grand Nationals
presented by King Taco at Buttonwillow Raceway in
Buttonwillow, Calif. For the June 19-23 event, 11-year-old
Raquel Martinez is one serious kart racer paving
her path on the road to a professional career in
Formula 1 or IndyCar racing.
“Rocky,” as nicknamed by her peers,
is recognized as one of the top contenders in the
cadet category, having achieved four grand national
wins and six regional championship titles in both
IKF and WKA competition last season. The momentum
continues for the fifth grade honor roll student
from Pico Rivera, Calif., as she attempts to earn
the prestigious “Duffy,” a bronze statue
considered as one of the most elite awards of karting
achievement.
Having accomplished 13 wins spread among five events
this season in the Rookie Sportsman, Junior 1, HPV
1 Cadet and 80cc Cadet Shifter classes, Rocky isn’t
letting her guard down. “I just need to stay
focused and find some more speed. Camden Giese has
been strong competition in Rookie Sportsman and
HPV 1 and he’s not out of the chase. Two of
our second place finishes were 0.003 and 0.007 margins
– that’s a blink of an eye,” she
stated. “I have a lot of respect for Camden.
Both of us have been racing against each other since
our kid kart days,” she added. She will also
attempt to defend her 80cc Cadet Shifter national
title.
With three women on the starting grid for the 2006
Indy 500, Rocky, is animate about her professional
driving aspirations. Starting in karts at age five,
she’s transformed over the winter into a mature
young lady who’s lean and physically fit.
She works out regularly, diets and continually educates
herself on what it takes to become a pro. That drive
has recently earned the respect and attention of
Lyn St. James, 1992 Indy 500 Rookie-of-the-Year,
with an invitation to the 2007 Women in the Winner’s
Circle, a charity luncheon honoring accomplished
women in motor racing.
“I don’t so much think about being a
girl racing against the guys, I just try to focus
on moving to the front and going as fast as I can,”
Rocky said. This will be her final season in the
Cadet category and she strives to close the door
and move into the junior league with a profound
record. In 2006, she was also awarded the prestigious
WKA Gold Crown award for having won three series
championships, a feat reserved for the karting elite
and seldom won by young drivers.
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