A FAMILY SPORT

Racing cars at the local track is a sport that the entire family can enjoy. With kids being able to begin racing Bandoleros as early as age eight, and with racers in Legend cars competing into their seventies, there is the opportunity for multiple generations to spend days together at the track. And as famous female racers such as Danica Patrick and Ashley Force have proven, racing isn't just for men either. Plenty of females from young girls to moms regularly get behind the wheel at the local tracks.

In fact, to appreciate the fun and thrill of racing that families enjoy at the track you don't need to look any further than the story of Danica Patrick – arguably the most popular driver in professional car racing.

Danica, the first woman to ever lead the Indy 500 (in her very first run in the legendary race), and who has recently begun to show her talents in NASCAR, was introduced to racing at age ten when her father was looking for an activity that the whole family could do together. Danica's sister Brooke suggested they race go-karts. Mr. Patrick agreed and they gave it a try. While Brooke enjoyed racing, it was Danica who became hooked instantly. Battling, and soon beating the boys, Danica began winning races and championships in her early teens. The Patricks became a racing family, and the rest is history.

And you don't have to be behind the wheel to play a part and enjoy being together. There are many ways for every family memeber to enjoy a day at the track from just watching and cheering your favorite drivers to helping your driver with timing and scoring, collecting data after on-track sessions, or even rolling up your sleeves and helping wrench on the car!

Danica Patrick's story is certainly not a guarantee that you or your child will become the most popular racecar driver in the world, but the Patricks' initial goal wasn't to produce America's most popular driver, it was to find a way to spend time together and have fun, which they did... and which your family can do as well!