Staci Warrington in turn 4 battling 2008 Late Model DIS Champion Ray Davis, Jr. # 84 and Derrike Hill # 57
History Was Made This Year At Delaware International Speedway
October 31, 2008
Photos & Story By Bonnie Nibblett
Milton, DE…..History was made on June 7, 2008, when the first female to ever win a Super Late Model feature took place at DIS and an extra bonus; she was just a rookie at Delmar. Seventeen year old Staci Warrington, of Milton, DE powered to her first career late model win holding off a former champion Richard Jarvis, Jr. Warrington will graduate June 2, 2009 from Cape Henlopen High School; she only stands at 5’ tall.
Warrington won her heat in the Jim Warrington Construction # 20 Rocket, and started the 20 lap feature on the pole that night. Warrington’s capabilities proved she could run with the big dogs. She had a big lead, leading all the laps up to then, when the caution came out on lap 15.
When the feature was restarted Warrington had to hold off Jarvis, he was dead on her bumper. Jarvis went to the inside, to the outside, but Warrington had all her bases covered so he could not find a hole to pass her. Another yellow and it was a two lap shoot out on the restart with hard clean wheel to wheel racing. The crowd was on their feet cheering her on and a standing ovation from the crowd when she won. It was a hell of a race; she made all racers proud, but a little extra bonus was just being a girl!
Rookie Staci Warrington # 20 and Rookie Jon Callaway # 12K
Warrington raced all 19 events of the year to end with 1 win, 6 top 5’s, 6 top 10’s, 5 heat race wins, and had the fast time in hot laps on Aug. 16. She finished 5th overall in track points. Warrington also made an attempt to qualify for the WoOLMS show and had her air filter not come off in the B-main, she may have been the first female to compete in a WoOLMS show. At the end the WoOLMS officials gave her thumbs up and have invited Warrington to race next year when they return.
Warrington said, “I started racing in 2003 Stock Hvy, we weren’t doing that hot so we switched to Outlaw. I ran 3 races and won all 3 at US 13 Kart Track. 2007 we went for the crate late model class. I did okay that year, I only got 14th in points. But I did get the Redbud69racing.com Youngest Rookie of the Year driver in the Crate Late Model at Georgetown Speedway.
When this year rolled around we had the opportunity to move to Super Late Model car. The timing was right; everything just gelled together and fit so we went for it. My Dad stood behind me, and has always supported and encouraged me. My Dad has to get a special thank you; he’s been tremendous with all this. We planned to stay out of the way of everyone, just try to finish the races each week and be consistent all season. But the year turned out way better than I could imagine.
I had a lot of help; Lou Johnson has been my mentor, we talked things over and he answers any questions I’d have. Other guys on my crew that helped me were Matt Bailey, Eddy McGinness, and my Mom. I want to thank all my sponsors for there dependable support. Without them I could not get to do this.
Veteran Late Model driver Lou Johnson has taken Warrington under his wing and advising her. Johnson adds that “She is a very good listener, very good. You don’t go out too worry what everyone else is doing? You have to go out there too do what is right for you, and learn? Staci did that! That is what you are supposed to do? If something didn’t feel right or a question about something she would come to me and talk it out. I really think she did a great job.”
Warrington doesn’t have any plans to switch classes for now. I want to race for quite a while, we’ll see how it goes. I love my dirt and I want to run super lates. I’m not looking to run a sprint or NASCAR; I truly want to stay with my dirt for now.
3 wide action with Ricky Elliott and Derrike Hill
Staci Warrington Made the History Books in 2008