[vincesanity82]

While most teenagers dream of the day they can get behind the wheel of a car, many parents cringe at the thought of teaching their eager children how to drive. Fortunately for David and D. Mills of Coal City, their 13-year-old daughter Kameron is way ahead of the game. At age 6, when the training wheels were coming off bikes for many children her age, Kameron, now an eighth-grader at Independence Middle School, was racing around the track behind the wheel of a go-cart. For the next seven years, Mills continued to race, often traveling out of state and racking up trophies and multiple first-place finishes. "I've always liked going fast,'' Mills said. "I've met a lot of people and it's just fun.'' Although Kameron has enjoyed racing go-carts, the 2008 season will bring a change as she leaves them behind and moves up to racing half-scale cars. Her new vehicle, a half-scale Nextel Mini Cup 680, has the body of a Monte Carlo Super Sport the same car driven by NASCAR drivers Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon. The only difference is, it's half the size of the NASCAR vehicles. "It was kind of getting old,'' Kameron said of go-carts. "I want to eventually go into NASCAR, and we thought it was time to move up.'' -- Charleston Daily Mail

Charleston Daily Mail

[Racer Duck]

Here's a video for the MMRA, the series she will be racing in.

YouTube - MMRA Racing Episode 1 Segment 2

[BringBackWilkesboro]

It's great that the youngsters are getting involved sooner and sooner, but the fact that it's about whether or not the family has enough money to get the kids started kind of ruins alot of what I like(d) about motorsports. But hey, it's her dream still. Best of luck.

[Racer Duck]

Unfortunately racing takes a bigger grubstake than football or baseball. And there's not much of it taught in the schools the younger folks regularly attend. She's fortunate her parents have the means.

[SpaceCadet]

Well, I'll be the first to make a sexist statement, and being female maybe I'll get away with it. Probably not, but here goes. It's great her family has the means, but that's not going mean a thing when she's 16 and has the choice of going to the prom with Mr. Right Now, or racing in the big race. I hate to say it, but the young ladies are more apt to lose interest in racing or any sport once the young men come along. Been there, done it, have two girls who did it. I will be interested to see how she does among a whole bunch of very aggressive men with tons more experience. If she gives herself time to adjust and get some seat time, I hope she can cut it. From what I have observed, most, not all, women simply are not as aggressive by nature. It takes a special kind of woman to achieve any kind of success in this sport, as we all know. Like it or not, even though the women currently in big time auto racing have not been successful in some eyes because they haven't won, they have to be a certain personality type to have gotten has far as they have. This, to me, makes them somewhat "successful" in a totally male dominated sport. What did that old Virginia Slims commercial say? "You've come a long way, baby." Well, yeah, but there's still a mighty long stretch of pavement up ahead. For what it's worth, I still think some of these kids, male or female, are just too young, if not chronilogically (spelling? yikes!), then emotionally.

[Souporscotty]

What if a current driver has a son/daughter with the urge to race? Certainly good ole dad would have the ways and means to give them every opportunity. Would fans accept that?

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Souporscotty

What if a current driver has a son/daughter with the urge to race? Certainly good ole dad would have the ways and means to give them every opportunity. Would fans accept that?

Depends, if the last name is Gordon or Johnson they might not be that willin to accept.... but if it's Earnhar.... well let's not go there right now

[Bob Tanner]

Just to be a contrarian, I'll go against the prevailing sentiment.

The more articles like this I see, the more NA__AR (and racing in general) is beginning to resemble gymnastics. You know, the sport where the best resemble more like cosmetic'd-up munchkins than they look like kids their own age.

I can't give you a rational explanation why I think as I do but something, deep in my heart leaves me with the feeling that there is something intrinsically wrong with the concept of a youngster going professional in a sport before they go through puberty.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Just to be a contrarian, I'll go against the prevailing sentiment.

The more articles like this I see, the more NA__AR (and racing in general) is beginning to resemble gymnastics. You know, the sport where the best resemble more like cosmetic'd-up munchkins than they look like kids their own age.

I can't give you a rational explanation why I think as I do but something, deep in my heart leaves me with the feeling that there is something intrinsically wrong with the concept of a youngster going professional in a sport before they go through puberty.

Well, the good thing Bob is she wouldn't be able to race in the top 3 until she's 18.

cosmetic'd-up munchkins..... that is a nice one.

[The Dude]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Well, the good thing Bob is she wouldn't be able to race in the top 3 until she's 18.

cosmetic'd-up munchkins..... that is a nice one.

I thought the cut off age for Nationwide was 16?

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by The Dude

I thought the cut off age for Nationwide was 16?

Nope. Just a few years ago they made it 18 for the top 3. It was a big to do because Roush was about to put Kyle Bush in a ride in the CTS but had to find another driver cause Kyle wasn't 18 yet. That's how Hendrick ended up pickin up Kyle.

[NASCAR_Girl80]

This is cool, its great that this girl is dreaming big, when I was 13 I wanted to be a cheerleader for LSU.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by NASCAR_Girl80

This is cool, its great that this girl is dreaming big, when I was 13 I wanted to be a cheerleader for LSU.

well, don't keep us in suspense! did ya make it?

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Just to be a contrarian, I'll go against the prevailing sentiment.

The more articles like this I see, the more NA__AR (and racing in general) is beginning to resemble gymnastics. You know, the sport where the best resemble more like cosmetic'd-up munchkins than they look like kids their own age.

I can't give you a rational explanation why I think as I do but something, deep in my heart leaves me with the feeling that there is something intrinsically wrong with the concept of a youngster going professional in a sport before they go through puberty.

That's the price to pay these days.

Some drivers start racing at the age of 3 to 5 years (like Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher).
In western Europe there's quite a fantastic infrastructure/industry for racing, but very cut-throat and cruel. Quite more often these days, kinds in the 7 to 9+ age period are considered lost (to late to still enter the game).
As soon as 3/4 years to as much as 7 years is considered the right period to enter motorsport. After that it's very hard to almost impossible. And if that's not enough these kids and their parents have to spend years searching for sponsors, and without immediate and consistent success there won't be any money.
The problematic period for many who started motorsport young and girls in particular is quite the teen period (exactly as SpaceCadet put it). Those who are truly committed and sacrifice their childhood and adolescence will be the ones who have the chance to make it.

Racing is not resembling but IS just like gymnastics.

[lilsexy08]

I must be dreaming dreaming my life must have meaning meaning! Sorry having a flashback!