Sweeney shines in first racing season

Michelle Sweeney, a 17-year-old senior at Sahuarita, took the first step toward following her brother's success in drag racing by taking home the hardware last month in the high school class with her stock 85 Camero at Southwest International Raceway.

Brother Mike won the track championship last season, and Michelle grabbed 101 points toward that goal with this victory. Mike currently races in the Sportsman's class.

This is her second year with the high school's drag racing team, though she was kept out for most of last season due to a rollover accident she suffered with her '77 Nova.

She and her father built the Camero, and in its first three races, she managed to make it past the first round only once. But this time, it was different.

After four rounds with 16 competitors, she edged out Trevor Miller on March 18 by about two feet.

Estimated time

Drivers submit an estimated time prior to the race, and try to get as close to that time without going past it.

Mike agreed that it was pretty special for such an inexperienced driver as his sister is to win so quickly.

"Lots of the drivers have been in it for a long time," he said.

Mike won only one race in becoming the top point getter last year, although he did finish runner-up twice. There are generally eight races on different weekends throughout the summer and early fall.

He estimates that for her to win the championship, she'll need to score about 260 points.

"She needs to keep getting into the finals."

"I'll have to get better light times to do it," she said, referring to the ability to get the jump on the green light.

There are pre-stage lights, then a green, and if you go too soon, you get the red.

She and her brother agree that about .07 seconds is the goal.

Her reaction time (light time) was .101 on her winning run.

Will study business

Michelle will be pursuing a business degree at Pima in the fall, but wants to continue racing.

"I grew up around cars. I'd like to have several cars someday, maybe have my own racing team."

She's the only girl on the high school team, and admits that she could tell that she was perhaps taken lightly because of that.

"A lot of the guys, I think, underestimate you, but winning the first one says that I'm for real."

She prefers drag racing to oval track racing because, she says, "I like the immediate rush."

She figures she has to get to the finals three more times to have a shot at the title.

After this victory, the guys won't be taking her too lightly again

mtouzeau@gvnews.com 547-9747