Champion Spark Plugs

Always a Champion Competition

Be sure to support Race 101 student Sarah Cornett-Ching in this competition by voting once a day and don't forget to leave a comment about her video!

http://contest.alwaysachampion.com/contests/showentry/1011998

RACE 101 kicks off third year announcing diverse group of students; New ‘Premier Driver’ to be named at inaugural Gala Awards Dinner

January 10, 2012, DENVER, NORTH CAROLINA – The inaugural RACE 101 Gala  Awards Dinner in February will feature graduation ceremonies for the class of 2011 along with the introduction of the 2012 class. Graduates are eager to learn who earned the vacant ride in the school’s Howe super late model with the title of Premier Driver.

Thirteen students completed the course in 2011, and they are being replaced by 18 eager racers from five states and two Canadian provinces.

“The selection process was harder this year than ever,” said RACE 101 co-founder and instructor Tony Blanchard. “We had more applicants than last year, and the overall quality of their resumes is impressive.”

RACE 101 welcomes its oldest student yet as 28-year-old Scott Wylie from Blasdell, New York, accepted his scholarship offer, and four female racers make this year’s group more diverse than years past.

“This will definitely be a competitive group,” said co-founder and instructor Anna Marie Strawhand. “We’ve all met online, and their enthusiasm to get started is overwhelming. I look forward to meeting them at our February class.”

The second weekend in February marks the first time two full classes converge. New students will spend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday learning while graduating students will arrive Saturday for the Gala Dinner and Graduation.

“We want an event that celebrates what we are,” said co-founder and instructor Adam Ross. “Our goal is for every class to network together. The program is one year, but we have made life-long friends. We’re so proud of the racers we’ve had the opportunity to work with. We’re excited for this event.”

The Gala Dinner will showcase various award recipients, and it will also feature a surprise announcement or two.

 “We welcome anyone interested in knowing more about the program to attend the Gala Dinner,” said Blanchard. “Tickets are $25, and you can find information at race101.net. Tickets are only available in advance.”

Graduating students include: Daniel Alvarez - Chappells, South Carolina; Brandon Atkinson – Statesville, North Carolina; Sulo Burbank – Gorham, Maine; Sarah Cornett-Ching – Summerland, British Columbia; Mike Mahaney – King Ferry, New York; Bryce Malcolm – Simpsonville, South Carolina; Anthony Perez – Suffolk, Virginia; Shayne Pierce – Welland, Ontario; Derek Robbie – Bellingham, Massachusetts; Trevor Sanborn - Limerick, ME; Tommy Stilphen- Kennebunk, ME; Jerry Tunney – Clark’s Summit, Pennsylvania; and Luke Whitteker – Iroquois, Ontario.

The new class features: Shane Billings – Carleton Place, Ontario; Jordan Gahan – Fredericton, New Brunswick; Ian Isringhausen – Mooresville, North Carolina; Trey Jarrell – Martinsville, Virginia; Kase Kallenbach – Charlotte, North Carolina; Katelyn Kane – Syracuse, New York; Zach Knowles -  Mooresville, North Carolina; Kameron Kocarik – Fonthill, Ontario; Austin Kochenash – Danielsville, Pennsylvania; John Lowinski – Milford, Massachusetts; Garrett Marchant – Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina; Ryan Morris – Honeybrook, Pennsylvania; Tabatha Murphy – Prescott, Ontario; Casey Pierce – Lenoir, North Carolina; Steven Shaw – Merlin, Ontario; Caley Weese – Carrying Place, Ontario; April Wilson – Joyceville, Ontario; and Scott Wylie – Blasdell, New York.

The Gala Dinner and Graduation will be streamed live online at www.race101.net , and the ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 11th.

For more information on RACE 101 or Gala tickets visit www.race101.net . Information on our students can be found on the website. For interview or ticket requests, or for any information not found on the website please send inquiries to pr101@race101.net .

Photo: The Class of 2011 poses in front of the RACE 101 Shop/School during classes held last November, in Denver ,NC. This class will be graduating on February 11^th 2012 at The RACE 101 Gala Awards Dinner. The event will be streamed live via Race101.net  that evening and showcase various award recipients, including the naming of the Premier Driver, as well as introduce the new students. (Photo By Pam Russ)

Mike Mahaney - Perseverance

In November, we held our last class for the 2011 students, and one of the things we did was hold 'mock' sponsorship interviews. When I asked the question from each student to say one word that describes them at the end of the interview, student Mike Mahaney said 'Perseverance'.

I asked him to elaborate a bit on that and later I thought it would be good for him to put this in writing and send it to me. I was very impressed, I think you will be too, so I will share it with you here---

FROM MIKE MAHANEY:

"More than half my life has been devoted to fulfilling my dream: to race for a living. I grew up helping my Dad, the "Workshoe," with his dirt modified, learning everything I could. For years I was his only pit crew while really wanting to get behind the wheel myself. At age 14 I started driving everything I could get into - sometimes three days a week in four different classes! I have raced over twelve diffent types of cars: sprint cars, late models, modifieds, you name it. I went to college for a degree in Motorsports just to get the advantage of knowing every aspect of the cars. I'm currently enrolled in RACE101 to learn all I can improve that edge. I am constantly thinking about ways to go faster in a race car. I have worked in race-related jobs - sometimes three at a time - on top of maintaining my own cars, to keep learning while earning money to race. I then even quit a job building race engines that I enjoyed, to work closer to my shop and make more money to keep racing.

Many have told me there is nothing wrong with getting a good job and racing for fun. They could be right but I want to give 100% focus on winning races. All I want to do is race; it's what I love. Now at 22 years old I have 8 years behind the wheel with tremendous improvement and much success, but still no full time ride. My parents have been fully supportive of my goal but they can't afford to fund my racing forever, and they can't sell their farm when Marcos Ambrose offers a ride saying I have heaps of talent...just bring heaps of money. I was praised throughout Richard Petty's Driver Search but came in second to a driver with more pavement experience. I could have given up right there and said maybe I'm just a weekend hobby racer, but I just can't let it go. I will never give up my dream. I will earn a living racing cars someday. That's Perseverance." 

Mike Mahaney is currently in the RACE 101 class of 2011 and will graduate from our program in February, when we hold our Graduation and Awards Ceremony.  Learn more about Mike Mahaney and all our students on our Class Roster: http://www.race101.net/roster2011.html