Michelle
Theriault

LATEST

Michelle started 8th in March at the USA International Speedway

Kentucky Speedway - 5/12/07
USA Intl. Speedway - 3/24/07
IPS: SSM enters Sarah McCune for Chicagoland event
Racin' for a Livin'
Bio
Results
Schedule

Contact:
www.michelletheriault.com or E-Mail
Related Issue:
Women Racers Directory, Women in Racing, Women Racers, More Women in Racing, Race Schedules, Notable Women

Kentucky Speedway - 5/12/07


Heading into Kentucky the team had hopes of qualifying and competing for Michelle's first mile and a half race track. Michelle accomplished the first goal by qualifying in the 16th position. The team worked together well, and Theriault was able to gain valuable experience on a mile and a half speedway. Up until the race, the largest track Michelle had ever raced on was seven-eighths of a mile at the Iowa Speedway. Although it was a big jump Michelle showed that with seat time it can only go up from here.

USA Intl. Speedway - 3/24/07


Overall it was a great night for the #37 Team GLOCK Chevrolet. During both hour and a half practice sessions, Michelle was in the top 10, and backed it up with an 8th place qualifying run out of the 40 or so cars that were entered for the race. Michelle did a great job holding her own in 8th place for a solid 50 laps. Around that time while trying to pass another car, the car in front of that one checked up causing a train reaction, resulting in Michelle bumping into the car that was right in front of her. Although it seemed minimal damage was done around 10 more laps went by and the team was forced to end the night early due to a damaged radiator. Although Theriault didn't complete the race, everyone by the end of the weekend knew who Team GLOCK Racing, and Spraker Racing Enterprises was. The team is looking forward to the next race, and hopefully be just as competitive as the last.

Racin' for a Livin'


Michelle Theriault has been selected as one of fifty race car driver's (including 10 other women) for an upcoming racing reality TV show - Racin' for a Livin'. The competition starts with fans voting online to select the top 12 drivers. Only these 12 drivers, selected solely by fan voting, progress to the TV show. Then they compete in race cars, on different courses, judged by top drivers, crew chiefs and broadcasters. The winner receives a fully-funded and sponsored ride for a limited number of races in the NASCAR Busch Series. Please go to www.racinforalivin.com and show your support! Vote and Vote Often - you can vote as often as you like! Michelle

IPS: SSM enters Sarah McCune for Chicagoland event


The Menards Infiniti Pro Series will host another bright, capable and promising race car driver this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Sarah McCune, a native of Perrysburg, Ohio, is the second woman to join the MIPS ranks this season. She will wheel the #8 Trick My Truck entry prepared by Sam Schmidt Motorsports on Sunday, Sept. 11, in the Chicagoland 100.

McCune, who moved to Los Angeles, Calif., after being a cast member on the 2004 CMT "The Drive" TV Series, is a 26 year-old Indiana University honors graduate with two Bachelor of Science degrees in Marketing and Public Affairs. Her racing accomplishments are as strong as her academic resume - McCune has titles, wins and numerous top-five and top-10 finishes in USAC, ARCA and NAMARS competition driving quarter midgets, midgets and sprint cars.

In her racing career that began with quarter midgets when she was just 11 years old, McCune has earned a lot of respect. Racing around the Midwest, she broke USAC track records formerly held by NASCAR greats such as Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. She is the only woman to set qualifying records on dirt and pavement in USAC National midget events and, in 1991, won a National Champion title. In 1997, she was the series runnerup in the NAMARS Championship. These are just a few of the titles she's earned along with her more than 50 race wins on dirt and paved tracks.

McCune's open-wheel credentials are very strong and she'll be looking for big results in Sunday's race at Chicagoland.

Here are some thoughts from Schmidt and McCune heading into the Chicagoland weekend:

SAM SCHMIDT, Owner, Sam Schmidt Motorsports:

"When I tested Sarah in 2003, I was very impressed with her smooth driving style and maturity level. What made her performance even more impressive was that she had never raced in an Infiniti Pro Series car before. We're looking forward to good things this weekend."

SARAH McCUNE, #8 Trick My Truck, Sam Schmidt Motorsports Entry:

"I'm really excited to be able to race in the Menards Infiniti Pro Series. It's a really good stepping stone to get into the IndyCar Series. Sam's team has had a lot of success in the series, so I'm looking forward to a good car and a great race.

"I've tested at Chicago, Kentucky and Texas, and I've proven that I can test fast. This weekend, I want to back it up by proving that I can race fast. I want to run full-time next year, and I need a sponsor to do so. This weekend is about turning heads and getting noticed.

"Chicagoland is a really smooth race track, and it's got some banking. I've always liked the tracks with more banking. I think it should be a good weekend."
Source: www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=199922&FS=IPS

Bio

Birthdate:.......................................... April 17, 1986
Hometown:............................... Bristol, Connecticut
Residence:.......................Mooresville, North Carolina
Years in Racing:....................................................14
Marital Status:................................................Single
Height:...............................................................5'4"
Weight:..............................................................125
Hair:...............................................................Brown
Eyes:................................................................Hazel
Parents:.............................................Dave & Denise
Siblings:.............................................................Tina
Pets:.............................Oakley-Minature Dachshund
Website:.........................www.MichelleTheriault.com
Heros:......................................Dad & Dale Earnhardt
Career Goal:.................................NASCAR Champion
Hobbies/Activities:.........Weight Training, Shopping, Soccer, Bowling
Favorite Foods:..............Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, Filet Mignon
Favorite Beverage:..............................................H2O
Favorite TV Channels:..............Speed, MTV, FOX, NBC

You would never look at Michelle Theriault and guess she is a racecar driver. But at 17, this bubbly, high school senior is poised to make her mark on the world of stock car racing. With 12 years of competitive racing already under her belt, Theriault’s family relocated from Bristol, Conn., to Atlanta to focus on her goal of being the first female NASCAR champion. The only female to win a championship in Legends racing history, she can also boast being the youngest female to have feature wins at both the Lowe’s Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway. She has competed at 24 racetracks all over the United States in both Quarter Midgets and Legend Cars. Now racing in the Pro-Late Model, Super Late Model stock car division at Lanier Speedway, this popular honor student is planning on attending the University of Georgia next fall. Watch out guys -- Michelle Theriault is about to change the face of racing.

"It's so hard to describe the feeling you get when you are in the race car. That's the greatest feeling in the world. And until that goes away, I'm racing." -- Michelle Theriault

Michelle Theriault Fun Facts

Favorite music, group: Blink 182

Favorite TV channels: MTV, SPEED

Favorite TV show: Friends

Favorite food: Grilled chicken caesar

Favorite movies: Days of Thunder and Happy Gilmore

Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii

Favorite cities on the race schedule: Nashville

Favorite restaurant on the race schedule: Ruby Tuesdays

What I admire most in others: Respect and honesty

First job: Internship at the Gem Group/CSS- Stellar

First street car: 93' Pontiac Grand Prix

What made you fall in love with racing: The adrenaline rush, always wanting to do better and go faster, can never get enough of it.

How did you get into racing: Would go watch some friends of the family race quarter midgets up in Connecticut. One day a car was for sale and I hopped in it and said, “Dad, I want this!”

Siblings: Tina

Favorite car: Corvette

Favorite things to do when not working: Working out, shopping, going to the movies

Favorite charity: American Cancer Society

Favorite song: "That’s Who I Am" by Jessica Andrews

Racecar driver you'd love to meet: I've met most of them, but I think Tony Stewart and Dale Jr. are pretty cool guys.

What I would like to do after I retire: Move to some island and relax. As long as I am with the people I love, I will be happy. New York City is pretty cool, too!

Pets: Miniature dachshund, Oakley

Childhood dream: To become a racecar driver, like Dale Earnhardt

Favorite superhero: Don't have one

Favorite non-racing sport: I love playing soccer but love watching hockey and football.

Speeding tickets in the last year: Never have had one; don’t plan on getting one.

Last concert attended: 98 degrees or Backstreet Boys

Favorite quote: "You never know!"

Schedule

ARCA RE/MAX SERIES
08-11 Nashville Superspeedway
08-31 Gateway Intl. Raceway
09-08 Chicagoland Speedway
10-05 Talladega Superspeedway

BUSCH EAST SERIES
06-02 South Boston Speedway
06-08 Stafford Motor Speedway
06-29 New Hampshire Intl. Speedway
07-14 Thompson Intl. Speedway
07-22 Music City Motorplex
07-28 Adirondack Intl. Speedway
08-18 Lime Rock Park
08-25 Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
09-14 New Hampshire Intl. Speedway
09-21 Dover Intl. Speedway
10-19-20 Toyota Showdown

Accreditations:

1992 Launched racing career in Quarter Midgets. Over the next seven seasons, scored more than 200 wins in 13 different states.

1999 Relocated from Bristol, Connecticut to Alpharetta, Georgia to focus on her stock car racing career.

2001 Won the Atlanta Motor Speedway Thunder Racing Legends Championship, Most Improved Driver Award at Senoia Motor Speedway and concluded the season with nine feature wins, six second place and 27 top five finishes. Lyn St. James Driver Development Program (2001). Finish Line Racing School (2001)

2002 Won the Georgia State Pro Series Legends Championship, Lanier National Speedway Pro Series Legends Championship and finished seventh in National Pro Series Legends Championship. Scored five wins, eight second place and 31 top five finishes.

2003 Competed in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Pro-Late Model Division at Lanier National Speedway. Finished 20 of 20 events, scored one top-five and eight top-10 finishes and finished sixth in the series points championship. Competed in two NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Super Late Model Division races.

2004 Competed in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series and qualified for the season ending National Championship. Participated in Ford Racing Driver Development program.

2005 Made NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series debut at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Ore. Qualified for the USAR Hooters ProCup Series National Championship for the second consecutive year.

NASCAR has a new girl


NASCAR has a new girl and her name is Michelle Theriault. The 19-year-old is following her dream, determined to make her mark on the world of stock car racing. Her goal is simple - to become a NASCAR champion.

As a young girl, Theriault and her father, David, watched friends race Quarter Midgets at local race tracks in Connecticut. When she was five, she saw a race car for sale and asked to sit in it. The moment she hopped in, the race car driver from within emerged.

She turned to her Dad and said, "I want this."

Theriault proved to be a natural. Seven years competing in Quarter Midgets delivered her more than 200 wins in 13 states. Five times she was a runner up in the Quarter Midgets of America National Championship.

In 2005, Theriault made her NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series debut at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Ore. She also qualified for the USAR Hooters ProCup Series National Championship for the second consecutive season.

In 2004, Theriault competed in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series in 2004 and became the first female competitor to qualify for the season ending National Championship. She was also the only female competitor in the series, but that didn’t bother her one bit.

During the 2004 season, she accepted an invitation from Ford Racing to participate in its Driver Development program in 2004. The comprehensive program evaluated and nurtured driver skills both on and off track.

Theriault added another dimension to her career when she was approached by a Hollywood production company about a reality-based TV series. After the meeting, she was immediately added to the cast. The Drive, which aired on Country Music Television (CMT) in 2004, was a series focusing on seven race car drivers, their daily lives and the rigors of stock car racing.

Theriault accepted Ford Racing’s invitation to participate in its Driver Development program in 2004. The comprehensive program evaluates and nurtures driver skills both on and off track.

In May 2004, Theriault graduated from Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia with a 4.0 GPA. She’s a member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club and the National Art Honor Society. Today, she attends the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

In 2003, Theriault completed a full season in Late Model competition. She finished 20 of 20 events, sixth in the series point championship and runner up in the Rookie of the Year battle. She also competed in two NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Super Late Model Division races (Lanier National Speedway and Music City Motorplex).

In 1999, her family relocated to Georgia to further nurture her budding career. She graduated from Quarter Midgets to Legends Cars and once again proved her abilities. She won Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Thunder Racing Legends Championship and earned the distinction of becoming the first female Legends Car Champion. She backed up her success with two more championships and more than 20 wins.

After three years of Legends Car success, Theriault moved up to the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Pro-Late Model Division at Lanier National Speedway. Before she made the jump, she attended Finish Line Racing School, one of America's best short track racing schools, to get a professional opinion on her skill and talent.

She received an outstanding review.

“My theory is,” explains Theriault, “When the helmet goes on we’re all equal. It doesn't matter whether you're a boy or a girl, 13 years old or 30. I’m a race car driver and that's it." 
Source: www.michelletheriault.com/index.html

Contact: www.michelletheriault.com/2006/Contact.html

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