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Sarah Cornett-Ching plans to race at Daytona in ARCA kickoff

Canadian driver tested last month.

Pit road action

Pit road action

ARCA

Sarah Cornett-Ching earned the racing opportunity of a lifetime this month in Daytona Beach, Florida. The witty stock car racer from Canada's west coast traveled to Daytona Speedway last week to participate in the ARCA racing series test session at the World Center of Speed. Her performance and aptitude impressed the right people, and she earned the chance to race in February for an established team.

The exuberant girl from Summerland, British Columbia, signed a contract with Tony Blanchard and Wayne Hixson to compete in the ARCA stock car race at Daytona Speedway during February's Speedweeks.

Sarah Cornett-Ching between test sessions at Daytona Speedway earlier in December
"I'm not sure I can put into words how exciting this is for me," said Cornett-Ching. "I tested last year with Tony's car in hopes to race, but things didn't come together. It might have been for the best because this time I felt really comfortable in the car. Now it's time to find funding."

Cornett-Ching funded the test out of her own pocket. The 23-year-old with 'girl next door' looks chooses to work in remote locations as a certified welder because it pays more. Everything she does is driven by her desire to race at the highest levels.

Needs sponsor

"For the last year I saved money to pay for this test, but now that I have the opportunity to race I have less than two months to find funding," she said. "It was all a dream until Saturday, but now it's reality."
Cornett-Ching will spend the next few weeks aggressively meeting with potential marketing partners, and she hopes a funding website will garner personal donations to help her achieve her dream. A donation website has been set up at www.gofundme.com/SarahatDaytona , and already people have stepped up to support a young lady well known in her part of British Columbia.

Sarah has nearly 10 years of experience behind the wheel of full-sized stock cars. Her father put her behind the wheel as soon as she was allowed by track rules, and it didn't take long for Sarah to excel. In her young racing career she has seen success in late models, and she competed with the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at her home track in Vernon, British Columbia.

The opportunity to race Daytona is one most racers dream of, but Cornett-Ching has her sights set even higher. "We discussed the possibility of doing multiple races," she said. "Tony Blanchard has great equipment, and I hope to find backing to compete as much as I can in 2014. I'm excited to drive the cars and work on them as well."

With her welding certifications Blanchard expects to put Sarah's technical skills to great use.

"Sarah is unique in the world of motorsports," said Blanchard. "There are plenty of good drivers, but Sarah's ability to race, fabricate components on the race car and stand in front of a camera and represent herself and her team as well as she does is rare. I want Daytona to be the start of something big for this young lady."

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