Karen Schulz
USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series Driver
 
On a summer afternoon in 1976, Karen Schulz attended an event that
would inspire her to pursue a dream. Karen and her family took a trip to
the Pocono International Raceway in Pennsylvania where Karen attended her
first NASCAR Grand National (now Winston Cup) race. After attending that
race, Karen was determined that one day she would compete in such an
event.
Twenty-two years have passed since Karen set her sights on a racing
career, and now she is a driver competing in the Hooters Pro Cup Series.
However, it didn't take Karen 22 years to get her start in
motorsports.
As a child, Karen had a love for auto racing. In school, Karen was
assigned to write a story about a person she admired, and she chose to
write about her hero, race car driver Bobby Unser. Karen used her dad's
collection of books on the Unser clan and his personal knowledge of them
to complete her story on Unser.
During a race weekend at the Trenton International Raceway in New
Jersey, 12-year-old Karen got to meet her hero.
"I remember being in the car and my dad telling me we were going to
meet someone special. It was just phenomenal," said Karen.
Karen presented her hero with a four leaf clover she had found in a
nearby field. Karen asked Unser how she should go about becoming a race
car driver. His advice was to start in go-karts.
Karen took Unser's advice, and by the time she was 13, Karen was racing
Go-Karts. Karen raced Karts for seven years. During that time, she
travelled to many tracks around New England and brought home many top
awards and trophies for her wins and championships.
Despite her success in Kart racing, Karen and her family realized that
Kart racing at 100 mph speeds could be dangerous and could not turn into a
career, so they started looking for the next step in Karen's racing
career. They found it in NASCAR, namely the Charlotte-Daytona Dash
Series.
Karen received many awards and honors while participating in the Dash
Series. She was the first woman to earn a NASCAR title when she was named
"Rookie of the Year" in 1986, and Karen was voted "Most Popular Driver" at
Lonesome Pine Speedway two years in a row.
Karen has competed in many aspects of motorsports from go-karts to
NASCAR's Late Model Stock. However, it was while racing in the Dash that
Karen had the most memorable moment of her racing career. This moment
happened on Friday, February 12, 1988.
During the running of the Florida 200 for Charlotte-Daytona Dash Cars,
Karen and 14 time Dash winner Larry Caudill staged a 200 mile, 80 lap duel
in front of thousands of excited fans. Karen and Larry raced bumper to
bumper and door handle to door handle using every racing strategy at their
command.
At the checkered flag, it was veteran Caudill in for the win with a
very proud Karen Schulz in her #12 Pontiac in second, less than a
car-length behind. After the race, Karen was summoned to the press box
where she was greeted by her hero, Bobby Unser. It was there that they
discussed how the race could have been improved in Karen's favor. "The
memory of this day," Karen said, "will be with me forever!"
| "The
pressure is just unbelievable all the way
around."
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Karen said the competitiveness of racing has kept her attracted to
motorsports over the years.
"The biggest thing is competitiveness. We're all out there on an ego
trip, and you want to be the best that you can be--you want to put your
best foot forward. The pressure is just unbelievable all the way around.
You want to do your best for your crew. You want to do your best for your
sponsor and for the other 32 people out there on the track. For that split
second when you are the best of the best, whether you got the pole or won
the race, it's indisputable. It's just a great feeling," Karen said.
However, the process of trying to win is what's most fun for Karen. "I
think I have more fun getting there. Once you do it, it's over, and you
have to start all over again and look toward the next race," she said.
For Karen, the hardest part of the sport has been keeping her team
together when there wasn't a sponsor.
"As technology increases, the cost of auto racing goes up," said Karen,
adding that keeping up with the technology and the costs justs gets harder
and harder.
To help with costs, Karen serves as an instructor at the Richard Petty
Driving Experience. Karen used to race against the track director back in
the early 1990s, and he offered Karen a job as an instructor. People on
the level of racing Karen participates in always need a way to a way to
make extra money, and instructing at the Richard Petty Driving Experience
was the perfect way, said Karen.
"I've had a blast. People who come there are spending a lot of money.
Some have been saving forever just to come. These people are unbelievably
happy with their experience," said Karen.
| "I love
to watch their eyes."
|
Karen said that instructing at the school has been the most gratifying
job.
"I love to watch their eyes when they get out of the car. It's not
until they get out there themselves do they appreciate what it's like to
be a driver," said Karen.
Like most people at Karen's level of racing, she would love to race in
NASCAR's Winston Cup Series, but she is also quite happy with where she is
right now.
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