TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) – Tucson Speedway is buzzing with energy and excitement in the midst of their racing season.
After winning the Desert Thunder race at Tucson Speedway on August 1st and another main event race, Vanessa Robinson, 25, and race car #14, has been chosen as the 2015 Tucson Speedway Rookie of the Year.
Vanessa has applied to NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program. The main purpose of the diversity program is to attract minorities, females and a more diverse audience to the sport of car racing. She also earned the opportunity to participate in the first-ever NAPA Filters Drivers Expo Powered by Toyota that will be conducted by Bill McAnally Racing in Northern California on August 27th and 28th.
Vanessa comes from a racing family! Her mother, Luz Robinson, was the first woman to win a championship at Southern New Mexico Speedway. Her father, Martin Robinson, was also one of the best racers in the southwest and best race car and engine builder. Her uncle, Manny Nunez, was also one the best drivers at SNMSpeedway.
No wonder Vanessa was born with the need for speed! She made her dirt racing debut at the age of 13. She started in the Street Stock Class and won numerous races and then, the championship.
It did not stop there. She moved to the Dirt Late Model class and won a Rookie of the Year title.
Vanessa also competes with the Dirt Modifieds in special races. Vanessa moved to Asphalt racing, competing in the Modified class and earned another Rookie of the Year.
She has traveled with the Lucas Oil Modified series and became the first woman to compete in the very tough class…the Lucas Oil Modifieds!
Last year, she was invited to participate in the Late Model class in California, running four races with car owner, Junior Roddy. She had a great race. That’s when Vanessa and her family decided to make Tucson Speedway their track for the 2015 season in the Super Late Model Class.
She learned what she knows about racing from her father…watching him and her uncle race and studying every lap they took. The advice she received from her father has been extremely valuable and has made her a great driver!
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