First, we spent a lot of time at the beginning of the week working on the car. We had problems with the starter. We decided to go to Columbus to test on Thursday. The test went very well. Our Dodge track started making a new noise but we had to go on.
We spent the night in Columbus. I got up early and went to the track to do a morning show program in conjunction with Columbus Motor Speedway on Columbus ABC Channel 45. I mean I got up really early!! I had a great time doing a teaser and then several short interviews during the morning news. They also did an interview to air during the noon news.
Click here to read article of Sloan in Columbus on NASCAR.com
We then headed to Sidney to Sonic to do an autograph signing. I was supposed to be there from 5pm to 7pm. We had a great turn out. The fans there were great! At 745pm people was still coming in to meet me.
After we were finished at Sonic, we had to get the Koehlke components car back to the shop in Spring Valley. The guys needed to make the necessary adjustments and fix a issue with the panhard bar for Saturday’s race in Columbus. The guys are the best. They told me to go on home and get some rest. It was a long time to get home. The transmission in dad’s truck went out so we had to call mom to come get us. It was a late night. Hopefully Aamco will stand behind it. We called and got a truck from GreenPro Landscaping, one of our sponsor, to get my car to Kroger and then on to Columbus.
Saturday, I needed to be at Kroger in Middletown at 1pm. The Rebel 105.9 was doing a live broadcast as well. It was amazing the amount of fans that were there. Unfortunately, I could only stay a short time because I needed to head to Columbus. We even ran out of hero cards. We then started to head to the shop to get the guys and the car we had a blow out!
See Sloan on WDTN Channel 2 by clicking here.
Columbus Motor Speedway had also called. Another Columbus news station, ABC 4, had called and wanted to do an interview. They asked if I could get to the track early to meet with that reporter.
We got to Columbus Motor Speedway just in time, the reporter was waiting on me and I did an hour interview with him. We then went out for practice. Finally, I got to get in my car!! Practice went well and we made just a few adjustments.
Qualifying time came and I was ready to get out on the track! I qualified fast time in the GreenPro Landscaping NASCAR Whelen LM! I was really excited to get the evening off to a good start. I was beyond happy when I won the fast car dash. I won it a few week ago but this time I started in last place and had the lead by lap two. Columbus has some great drivers and more car to race against.
The feature race line up call finally came. I started on the third row outside. I didn’t think the line I was in was going to move so I was a little concerned. The race started and my line moved. I was ready to make my move. I worked my way up to first place by the 10th lap. We had three cautions. I was able to maintain my lead to the finish line! It was beyond awesome. It was my 18th birthday. My family, friends, and crew were all there. It was the most amazing thing to have the fans in the stands break out into the “Happy Birthday” song! After pictures and my victory lap, the track asked me pull my car behind the stands so all the fans could come down and get autographs. I spent an hour and couldn’t get to everyone who wanted to meet me but track security said we needed to cut it short because the last race almost over.
I have to admit the busy last couple of weeks have been very stressful with the engine problems. I haven’t had any free time and not a lot of sleep. However, we have been working a long time to get the interview and appearances with Kroger. The stations and track in Columbus asked us so we had to fit it in and it went well. I really had wanted to have a big party for my 18th birthday. However, God planned a much bigger and better party than we could have ever put together. It was a day I will never forget. I got fast time, won the dash, and then won the feature. It was the first time in Columbus Motor Speedway’s history that a female had accomplished all three and maybe in America? If you like the opportunity to support Sloan racing call 937 533-6271 or steve@sloanhenderson.com
Sloan and Crew.
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