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July 18, 2008

Iron(wo)man

Teen drag racer takes trophy in 8 seconds

By Sheila Lindberg

SOUTH PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP — For 17-year-old Lindsay Hoagland, nothing beats spending a Saturday night drag racing at Thompson Raceway Park in Thompson, Ohio.

“It’s my place to get away and enjoy other people who have the same passion I do,” Lindsay said.

A few weeks ago, Lindsay received an Ironman Classic trophy at Thompson’s for winning a 1/8-mile race that lasts about eight seconds.

“A lot happens in eight seconds,” said Lindsay’s father, George Hoagland.

He said the Ironman is a prestigious award and “not very many people actually get a chance to get one.”

Lindsay, who lives with her parents in South Pymatuning Township, began racing at age 13. She has won numerous trophies in previous races, but none as important as the Ironman.

Lindsay named her car — a 200-pound, 40-horsepower dragster — the “Spazmanian Devil.” Companies that sponsor and maintain Lindsay’s car are Zero Error Racing of Sharon, Benzenhoffer Performance of Poland, Ohio, and McCann’s Powder Coating of Greenville. The car normally runs an entire racing season before needing another tuneup.

Junior drag racing is very safe, Lindsay’s father said.

“In four years, I haven’t seen a wreck yet.”

Juniors can begin racing at eight years old and continue until they’re 18.

“It’s a very good sport for [kids],” Lindsay’s mother, Karen Hoagland, said. “You’d be surprised how many girls are doing it.”

Mrs. Hoagland laughed as she said that Lindsay races to “beat the boys.”

Lindsay, who will be a senior at Sharpsville High School in the fall, will have to acquire more sponsors and move into an adult division when her time as a junior dragster is up. She said she wants to race “as long as I can.”

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