Racing Her Own Way into History
By JANE GEELAN-SAYRES
Updated 3:01 AM EDT, Mon, Jul 27, 2009
Professional race car driver Sarah Fisher is used to blazing her own path.
"This year, pretty much our goal is to be in the game everywhere we go," said Fisher. "We're in the game in Indy. We're in the game in Kansas. We've got to stay in the game here in Texas."
Growing up, she wasn't interested in settling down and getting married. She was looking toward something bigger.
"I really wasn't focused on meeting guys, I guess. I was so intense and focused on my sport; that took first place, I guess," said Fisher. "The ones that came along were just, I don't know -- kind of intimidated, yeah, I guess. But Andy was the first one that really stood up to me, and I liked that."
So years later, with the help of her husband and friends, Fisher took a risk and became the youngest-ever woman to own her own IndyCar race team.
"Generally, everybody is really happy and kind of proud of what I'm doing," said Fisher "It's very difficult to start a business and run a business and then be the athlete that the business surrounds. And that's what I do, and I think they all respect that because they know how hard that is just to be the athlete part of it."
For Fisher, it wasn't an easy decision. She knew it would be a uphill battle.
"We put everything into the team -- the start-up, my retirement, everything we had ever earned," said Fisher. "Dollar General is on board with us now, and it's our second year. They believe in what we do."
But it wasn't something new for her. After all, she qualified for her first Indianapolis 500 when she was just 19 years old.
"It's a sport that I'm very passionate about. I love open wheel racing. I love the fans that support it," said Fisher. "You know they are really down-to-earth people."
"What I do, I'm just very happy. It makes me happy to be in a car," said Fisher. "And to take on being an owner and to have been here, my second year as an owner, I'm just really happy to work with the people. At the end of the day, that's what the fun is."
Fisher raced midgets and go-carts when she was a teenager, winning the World Karting Association Grand National Championship three times.
"I just had a huge break. I had an IndyCar driver that wanted to hire a midget driver, who was doing really well. And that year I won five out of 20-something events," said Fisher. "So I really captivated that audience, and so he gave me a rookie test, and I proved to be pretty good at it, so I just had the break."
And she loves spending time at Texas Motor Speedway.
"Texas was the first place I ever raced an IndyCar at, so for me this place has a lot of special meaning," said Fisher.
For more on James Chippendale, the host of "Last Call," and his Love, Hope, Strength Foundation, click here.
First Published: Jul 20, 2009 6:29 PM EDT on NBC Dallas-Fort Worth
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