4/13/2010
Sprint Source
Amanda Ferguson Makes History with Top Gun Sprint Series Win at Ocala Speedway
Orlando, FL – Friday at Ocala Speedway history was once again rewritten by Amanda Ferguson as she took the checkered flags with the Top Gun Sprint Series, thus becoming the first female in the state of Florida to ever win a feature race with a dirt sprint car touring series.
“This is a tremendous honor to win a feature race with the Top Gun Sprint Series,” stated Amanda. “We’re continuing to run sprint cars on both asphalt and pavement this year and the Top Gun Sprint Series is the toughest dirt series in Florida. To beat the guys I beat tonight is really amazing and it’s a testimony to working hard and just never giving up.”
The night got off to an alright start for Amanda as she struggled with the car in her heat race. “I didn’t really have any brakes for my heat race,” continued Amanda. “But I did move up two spots, which is critical because passing points help determine the start of the feature. But I had some help from Stan and Shane Butler with fixing my brakes enough to get some pressure back into the pedal so I wouldn’t have to pump the brakes down the straightaway.”
Amanda lined up in the outside position of the front row for the feature, alongside veteran Tim George. “I knew I had to go for the lead as fast as possible because Tim is tough to pass and the track had slicked off a lot,” continued Amanda. “I also knew Gene Lasker and Danny Martin Jr. were lurking back there. On the second restart Tim slid up in turn three and I got a run on him, we touched a little, but I made my way through. After I got in the lead I never looked back. After I took the white flag, as I was coming to the checkers another car wrecked right in front of me at the start/finish line. This meant a green, white, checkers finish, but I just kept hitting my marks and finally got to see the checkers.”
Little did Amanda know, she had a broken shock for almost the entire race. “After the race I was talking to Tim George and he pointed out to me my left rear shock had been flopping around unattached since the second caution. My team and I just never give up, no matter what. We don’t have the biggest hauler, the fastest engine and can’t bolt on new tires for every session, but what we do have is heart and a good work ethic. Tonight it all paid off and I can’t thank my family and crew enough.”
[b About Amanda Ferguson:]
Racing since the age of seven, Amanda Ferguson has been re-writing sprint car history in the state of Florida since she turned sixteen last year. Amanda won her first regional racing championship at the age of eight in 2001 and won six championships in the following five years. After becoming the youngest female in the state of Florida to race and win with the Florida Mini Sprint Association, Amanda graduated to running sprint cars. In 2009 Amanda became the first female to win a wingless sprint car race in the state of Florida. In 2010 Amanda became the first female to win a feature race in the state of Florida with a major dirt sprint car touring series.