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Writer's pictureAlissa Grim

“Why do you race? What do you love about racing?”

Updated: Feb 7, 2022


I have been recently asked, why do I race and what do I love about it?

You think it would be a quick question to answer, it’s not that I don’t know why I race, it’s the many reasons why.

I could probably write a book on why I race and what I love about it, but I won’t go into all of that today.


First question is Why do I race? Well, the main reason is because I love it, plain and simple, but I won’t stop there. I race because it has always been a passion of mine to become a f1 driver. From the first day I went to Mid-Ohio with my dad to watch his driver he crewed for, Jack Ruscilli, who raced for the SCCA series, I knew racing was for me. All the different types or race cars, the smell of the gasoline when they were revving up the engines, the sound of the engines and how fast they go on the track, I just dreamed of one day that being me on the track someday.




Another reason I race is because I am an adrenaline junkie when it comes to going fast. When I was 2 years old my dad bought me my first 4-wheeler, I was on that thing every day. Over time my dad and I would buy more ATV’s and dirt bikes to fill our adrenaline fix.


That feeling when you are going as fast as 70+mph, the wind in your face down the straights or when your about to make a hard pass on someone, that feeling is the feeling I enjoy the most.





I love to race go karts because I like the different tracks, configurations and circuits that are ran. I raced quarter midgets at one point but going left all the time just wasn’t interesting to me. I am a circuit racing kind of kid. I like the change, the thinking you have to do, the passing you have to figure out and just in general the different tracks and different states I get to travel to with my family.



Being in the racing industry you get to also meet a lot of different types of drivers such as Indy car drivers and Nascar Drivers. This is a benefit of racing go karts because you get to meet famous drivers that just love doing what you love to do. So far I have got to meet Kyle Larson Racing, Kevin Harvick, Josef Newgarden, Jay Howard, Danica Patrick and Will Power.



Winning is another reason I love racing and why I do it, which I am pretty sure that is what everyone loves about racing. I have won my fair share of championships, pole awards and trophies that fill up my whole living room, literally. When I don’t win races, or know I am not doing my best, I do beat myself up about it and get upset, because I want it so bad. If I didn’t get upset about it then my passion really wouldn’t exist now, would it?



My dad being my #1 role model is another reason I love racing. Since I could talk, my dad taught me all about cars and race cars. There wasn’t a weekend that went by that we were not somewhere that involved a race car or a fast car of some sort. My dad used to race his STI when I was younger, but once I turned 4 he put his focus on me, which I appreciate every day for everything he has done for me to help me succeed. Without my dad guiding me on my way, I wouldn’t be where I am today in racing. Not that I don’t appreciate my mom, because I do. She supports my dream physically, emotionally, and financially. The moments we spend together at the racetrack as a family even if we are happy, upset, or arguing, they are still the moments I will cherish forever.


I want to be a good role model to others as my dad and Jack were for me, as a racer. I want to be able to help others become a good racer, and to show them the ropes on the track, that is what I enjoy most. There are some weekends that we will go to New Castle Motorsports Park and I will do a lead to follow with other young drivers. I help them learn their line, where to brake and not to brake,


Racing has always had a place in my heart because it has been something I enjoy doing. I look forward to racing my Miata once I turn 13 in June this year, where I will take the skills, I learned in go karting and transfer them to the race car. I am prepared to train and work hard each day to be the best racer I can be, so I can see myself at the Mid-Ohio track racing like my dad and Jack once did.




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