Katie Hagar’s racing career is shifting gears this fall. Hagar recently wrapped up her third year with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity (D4D) program. She turns 25-years-old in March, the top age for D4D, so is following her dream in a different direction.
“After three years of development, I feel as if it’s time to move on. I am working with some great people right now for a possible three car, all girls ARCA team for Daytona in 2011,” Hagar said.
She has also been invited to participate in three endurance races in the Lemans series for Terry O’Connell and Dick Barbour. “I want to have fun next year with the goals of competing in some late model races and some possible super late model races, obtaining as much seat time as I can,” Hagar said.
Hagar participated in Black Entertainment’s reality TV show, “Changing Lanes,” highlighting D4D drivers this past year. In a surprise announcement, Hagar told the LCN that she will be participating in the filming of another reality television show. For now the name of the show and details are being kept a secret.
Of her “Changing Lanes” experience, Hagar wrote, “Participating in my first reality/documentary show was an experience of a lifetime for me. I learned a lot about myself as well as my teammates.
“We all were different in so many ways and all very competitive. Putting all of us in a house together, with only so many available spots on a race team, yeah things were (sic) tense at times. However, at the end of the day, all I can say is I did my best. (Hagar made the final six.) My next reality TV show, I will know what to expect and plan on playing my cards a little differently.”
Hagar grew up on the racetrack, following in her father Mark’s footsteps. Her life experiences on the track, have taught her a great deal. She is no longer the little blonde girl from Damariscotta who won trophies on the karting circuit. She has grown up and now walks with the swagger and confidence of John Wayne.
She lives and works in a man’s world of racecar driving, but does not seem phased by being a minority in the dog-eat-dog world. She once told a reporter that the car can’t tell the difference between a male and female driver. It’s not the kind of life most women would enjoy, but for Hagar, there is no better life for her.
Over the years, Hagar has proven time and time again that she can hold her own behind the wheel. In 1999 she earned Southern Maine Karting Inc. Rookie of the Year title at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough.
In 2003 she transitioned to the New Allison Legacy Series (NEALS) and was second in championship points (20 points out of first) with five wins, and was the first woman to win at Canaan (N.H.) Fair Speedway. In 2006 while racing in the New England Pro All Star Series, she was runner-up for Rookie of the Year at Oxford Plains Speedway, and in 2007 she was the only female competitor in the Pro All Star Series in New England.
She has spent the better part of the past 13 years behind the wheel, racing around an oval. “My father was the one that introduced me to racing, mostly because I needed some guidance and direction in my life at the time. My parents [Mark and Cindy] reached out to me when I needed them and it was racing that saved my life,” Hagar commented.
Over the years she has gotten inspiration from people who don’t believe in her. “Sometimes what inspires you the most are people who don’t think you can do it. Finding that inner fire in yourself, I believe is important. Aside from trying to prove myself, I turn to my friends and family for true inspiration.”
Hagar looks at her room full of trophies as mementos. “To me, the early rewards of racing while growing up wasn’t just the trophies, it was meeting new people and making new friends at the race track. Developing higher esteem and [a] confidence level for myself and also finding a new appreciation towards my family. The rewards as an adult aren’t as valuable, in my perspective,” Hagar added.
Hagar loves the thrill of competing, the thrill of the engine roaring to life, and the thrill of power in her hands as she negotiates around the turns.
Fiercely competitive, Hagar has held her own on the NASCAR circuit. She earned four top five and 13 top 10 finishes in her 16 starts with Revolution Racing in the 2010 D4D season.
She also placed seventh in the Bobby Isaac Memorial 150 at Hickory Ridge Speedway, driving number 97 for Tom Pistone, and had the opportunity to meet legendary driver and moonshine running Junior Johnson at a barbeque before the race. Johnson’s son was racing against Hagar later in the day.
“I stopped and introduced myself to him, including my parents. We talked racing talk for a few minutes, then he even gave me some pointers on the track [Hickory Motor Speedway]. It was really cool talking to him.”
Hagar spent the first two years of the D4D program in California racing in the NASCAR Whelan All-American Series Late Models at Stockton 99 Speedway.
She moved east to Revolution Racing for her third and final season with D4D this past year. Despite a clash of personalities, she found the year a rewarding experience.
“Every race shop is going to have an assortment of employees, at all types of levels with different experiences, in which no two people have the same personalities. As a driver you try and work with everyone there that believes in you and is willing to teach you the things that you are there for as a development driver. This year has been different from the past two years of my development. Moments of frustration were also moments of learning,” Hagar said.
Racecar drivers learn early that if they expect the unexpected, they won’t be disappointed. Hagar has had her share of crashes and breakdowns. She was run over in her tent in the pit by a runaway car and broke her ankle. A few short weeks later, she was back on the oval.
Her worst crash came “when I lost my brakes racing a Late Model at Motor Mile Speedway.” Her worst racing experience was in her “first race at Hickory Motor Speedway in my Allison Legacy Car. I had gotten turned around on the front stretch just before entering turn one, under caution and a car t-boned me.”
When Hagar was asked if it was hard to jump back behind the wheel after a big crash, she responded, “No it’s not hard and it can’t be, in fact that’s what you need to do.”
With Revolution Racing this past season, six drivers shared two to four cars at two different racetracks. The cars were constantly being re-fitted for individual drivers.
“It was difficult to keep up with the wear and tear that we were all putting on the race cars. When there was mechanical failures or motor problems, of course it was disappointing and frustrating, however that’s part of racing.”
The bad racing experiences are offset by the good. Hagar’s most thrilling racing adventure came in 2009 when she broke a track record at Stockton 99 Speedway in California. That experience gives her the confidence and determination to chase after her dream.
As a result of her success as a racecar driver, Hagar was named one of ‘Maine’s Most Inspiring People’ by Portland City Magazine. When they asked to do an “article on me for Maine’s Most Inspiring People, my mouth dropped. I wasn’t a politician or an actress; I was a race car driver. And that’s when I felt good about my career. It’s an honor to receive that kind of nomination from your home state.”
When living in Maine, Hagar was a big supporter of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides campaign. She has continued her charitable work in North Carolina. She was a model for the Black and Blue Store/Channel in Project Go’s charity fashion show in Charlotte.
“I recently met Patrick Dempsey and am going to make a donation from Katie Hagar Motorsports Inc. to the Dempsey Challenge. I am also putting together a program to help support Parents of Murdered Children; Make-A-Wish Foundation.”
Hagar will make a return appearance to Maine for the annual snowmobile fundraiser and auction in February.
