The Stoehr Kids are Ready to Challenge for Champ Kart Wins in Providence’s Dunkin’ Donuts Center

Kathryn, Bethany, and Avery Stoehr are fourth generation drivers whose  family has experienced a great deal of success in auto racing. The trio will compete in the Champ Kart division during the two-day racing event. The weekend race meet includes two days of qualifying races and feature events for the powerful TQ (Three Quarter) Midgets and the bullet-like Champ Karts, culminating on Saturday with the running of “The Coffee Cup Classic”, a 40-lap TQ Midget feature, and paying $2,000 to its winner. 

On Saturday, March 10, racing begins at 7:00 p.m., one hour after the arena gates swing open. 

On Sunday, the feature for TQ Midgets is a first time event, to be run over a 100 lap distance with a planned mid-race break to allow teams to make adjustments and, if possible, to re-enter the race.

Racing begins at 2:00 p.m. preceded by ‘Fan Fest’, an interactive ‘meet &  greet’ autograph signing session and photo opportunity for ticket holders. 

Qualifying races precede the features this day as well. Ted Christopher, Plainville, Ct., is the defending champion of ‘The Coffee Cup’. ‘TC’ won the preliminary night TQ Midget feature race at Atlantic  City’s Boardwalk Hall last month.

Kathryn, an 18 year old senior at Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School  (BRRHS), and Bethany a 17-year old junior, are the daughters of accomplished Midget racer Greg Stoehr.  Avery, their 15 year old cousin, and freshman at Old Colony Regional
Technical School in Rochester, MA, is the son of multi-time Northeastern Midget  Association champion Russ Stoehr.
The kids’ grandfather Paul was a longtime Midget driver and great-grandfather Bill was a noted mechanic.

Each will compete in family owned go-karts in Providence. All three will  be making their indoor racing debut. But, none are strangers to go-kart racing.

After watching the event for several years, the kids decided to “get involved” in 2012.  “It was Dad and Uncle Russ’s idea,” said Bethany, who was quick to add “ there was no opposition from us.” “We thought it would be a good experience to try it at least once,” added Kathryn. The trio had energetic but realistic goals for the indoor races in  Providence.

“I just want to qualify and make a heat race,” said Kathryn, acknowledging that there could be 40+ karts vying for 24 starting positions, “and ultimately make the feature.” “My goal is the finish well and have fun,” said Bethany.  “I want to make the feature,” said Avery with an air of confidence. He did add “having fun and finishing the race with the car in one piece” to his list of goals.

There was a quiet but evident camaraderie between the cousins. When asked if he would cut his cousins any slack if they needed it during competition, Bethany quickly chimed in just as the very soft-spoken Avery was shaking his head “no”; to say “we never did for him”. The competitive spirit is alive and well with the Stoehrs.

Knowing that the level of competition in the Champ Karts will be stiff, when posed with the question, who is the racer to beat, the  quick-witted but shy Avery answered “anyone who is faster than me”. He added with a sheepish grin, “I gotta try to finish in front of someone”.

Avery and his cousins have had their fair share of finishing in front. Avery started in karts at Seekonk Speedway and at Tiverton (RI).
“He won a bunch of races at both tracks two years ago,” said proud papa, Russ.

Looking for a change of pace, Avery headed to Route 106 Race Park in Pembroke, NH. There he won his first adult WKA Senior Champ event. In 2011, Avery posted seven (7) victories in 14 starts to win the WKA championship. Not to be outdone, both Kathryn and Bethany have each posted an impressive list of victories at Seekonk and Tiverton. The girls also have a winning record at Sugar Hill Speedway in We are, NH, where they cut their teeth.

Both Kathryn and Bethany cut their teeth racing go-karts at Sugar Hill Speedway in Weare, NH. Avery acquired his seat time competing at go-kart tracks in Tiverton, RI, and Seekonk Speedway on Friday nights and 106 Speedway in New Hampshire. They have all competed in Stafford Motor Speedway’s ultra-competitive Tuesday night kart program.

During the 2012 season, Bethany will run full-time in her family-owned NEMA Lite. Big sister Kathryn will take some time off from her position as crew chief for her father Greg (in NEMA) and sister Bethany in 2012 to run a limited schedule in the Lites for car owner Jen Scrivani. Avery will also run full time with the NEMA Lites in 2012.

The Stoehrs will compete on Saturday and Sunday, March 10 &11. Tickets to the see this trio and a host of others in the Champ Karts and the headlining TQ Midgets in the Len Sammons Productions of Indoor Racing in Providence are sale now by contacting the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Box Office at 404.331.6700 or Ticketmaster 800.745.3000.

Each of the 52 TQ Midget and 42 Champ Kart available slots are gone, assuring a full, quality laden field for both races.

For a complete race schedule, log on to aarn.