Watch out, Boys Here Comes Sierra
I.C. Murrell
Idaho Press-Tribune June 26, 2008
MIDDLETON -- Sierra Jackson has been a winner in sprint cars, the most popular driver in Late Models at Meridian Speedway, and a "Woman of the New Millennium," her portrait part of an art gallery by New York painter Cathi Locati. And, she's only a 15-year-old rising junior at Middleton High School.
She’s got youth, she’s being a girl, she’s fast and skilled, and she’s not one of those people who just runs into other cars,” father and mechanic Mike Jackson said. “That makes her popular among the drivers. Just your results and your presentation to the drivers makes you popular with the fans.”
That would be presentation on and off the track.
“It’s funny how many of the parents are as big of fans as the little kids are,” Mike Jackson said. “Not just girls. It’s really funny how many 10-year-old boys you see with crushes.”
They cheer on a driver with 10 years of experience and a winner of two Non-Winged Sprint events in 2006 and a Winged Sprint race last year. She has yet to win this year, but she’s finished as high as fourth at Meridian this year.
She also set the fastest qualifying time for a June 14 Late Model race at 13.867 seconds on the quarter-mile track.
“My goals are to finish in the top three or top five every race, and finish top three both in NSRA (Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association) and at Meridian Speedway,” Sierra said. She’s fifth in Meridian Winged Sprints points standings and sixth in the NSRA.
She said she doesn’t really concentrate on trying to become a driver in the major circuits like the Indy Racing League or NASCAR. Meridian Speedway owner Kenny Hamilton, whose son Davey has raced in eight Indianapolis 500s, said Sierra has the potential to race in the World of Outlaws.
“No doubt about that,” he said.
Asked what her plans are after high school, Sierra said: “Racing is really unpredictable. Hopefully still racing, but after high school I definitely want to go to college.”
Sierra has a 3.4 grade-point average and wants to attend college in California or New York to become an anesthesiologist. Being a student of books and racing is a quality of hers that Kenny Hamilton often mentions.
“I think because she’s a very good learner in school, that helps her learn the racing well, and she’s able to tell her dad what’s going on in the vehicle,” Hamilton said. “She’s just very studious.”
At her age, Sierra hasn’t developed an attitude of a know-it-all for a driver, Hamilton added.
After all, she says she reads a lot of books on racing and has even played video games on racing to prepare for events.
June 21, 2008 - Douglas County Speedway, Roseburg, Oregon. Sierra brought out the back up car, sort of. Swapping out the new engine plant into last years frame, Top Wing and Tail Tank the old, new number 25 provided a familiar racing platform for Sierra. Sierra drove to a fourth place finish in her heat, and in the main, had made the pass for third just before one of the few cautions flew. The caution meant Sierra had to return back to the fourth position for the restart. Although she tried, she wasn't able to make the pass for third in the remaining laps and took a nice top five finish with taking fourth.
May 30th and 31st, Diamond Cup Meridian Speedway, Idaho. Twenty six cars contested the two day NSRA Diamond Cup. Sierra won heat races on both evenings, and took 8th in the main on Friday, coming back to take 3rd in the main on Saturday evening. The next NSRA event for Sierra is the June 21st race at Douglas County Speedway, Roseburg, Oregon. Sierra will race in late model action and another sprint race at Meridian leading up to the NSRA race on the 21st.
May 17th, 2008 - Wenatchee Valley Super Oval was the best race of the young season for Sierra. Sierra Qualified 11th, finished 2nd in her heat and finished 5th in the 22 car main. Next up for Sierra is the two NSRA Diamond Cup at Meridian Speedway, Idaho. Sierra's personal account of her day can be found in her Journal found in the media tab.
May 3rd, Meridian Speedway. Finally getting the tight condition out of the Sprinter in the early laps of the main Sierra and a competitor had side to side wheel impact that triggered a seven car wreck, severely damaging Sierra's car. See Sierra's own account of the day and wreck in her personal Journal found in media tab.
April 26th, Sierra raced her 360 Sprint Car at Douglas County Speedway Roseburg, Oregon in the first NSRA race of the Season. Running a very strong third in the initial stages of the race a faulty right front tire bleeder value caused a slow leak in air pressure. Eventually causing Sierra to fall back through the field taking an 11th place finish.
http://www.sierrajackson.com
Last edited on Saturday Jun 28th, 2008 12:55 AM by
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