Gherardi Continues to Impress at Beech Ridge
Whelen All-American Series Division II-V Update
Daytona Beach, Fla. – As a high school physics teacher, Sally Gherardi is well acquainted with momentum, motion and mechanics.
As a race car driver, she’s put those principals to use with great success.
The 37-year-old from Gorham, Maine, leads the SportsSeries Division, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division II at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine.
She uses her experiences on the race tracks to help educate her students and feels that this provides a good opportunity to put the two things she loves together.
“Events and situations that occur at the race track that I can use to help describe the subject come up quite often in my classroom,” Gherardi said.
In 11 starts, she has seven top fives and nine top 10s, to hold a seven-point lead over Garrett Hall. She also ranks 27th in the national standings.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division II-V Championship program determines support division national championships. The four national champions will receive a trophy and a trip to the series national awards event. In addition, the top-three dirt and top-three asphalt drivers in each division will be invited to the series awards event.
At season’s end, drivers in Divisions II-V will be ranked by their best 14 NASCAR point race results. The season concludes September 21.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Championship Division II-V leaders this week include:
• Division II: 1. Jared Umbenhauer, Grandview Speedway, Bechtelsville, Pa.; 2. Jesse Dennis, I-80 Speedway, Greenwood, Neb., Adams County Speedway, Corning, Iowa; 3. Brett Kressley, Grandview; 4. Ryan Robertson, Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, N.C.; 5. Taylor Branch, Bowman Gray.
• Division III: 1. Jon Plowman, I-80, Adams County; 2. Jerod Weston, I-80, Adams County; 3. John Ketron, Kingsport (Tenn.) Speedway, Lonesome Pine Raceway, Coeburn, Va.; 4. Josh Galvin, Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl; 5. Randy Stoudt, Grandview.
• Division IV: 1. AJ Sanders Jr., Bowman Gray, Caraway, Sophia, N.C.; 2. Corey Kyer, Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway; 3. Brad Derry, Adams County, I-80; 4. Garrett Denton, Waterford, Thompson; 5. Jimmy Mcelfresh, Kil-Kare, Columbus.
• Division V: 1. Brian King, Anderson (S.C.) Motor Speedway, Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway; 2. Donavan Beacham, Anderson, Greenville; 3. Chris Harvell, Greenville, Anderson; 4. C.J. Huitt Jr., Greenville, Anderson; 5. Don Tavernia, Greenville, Anderson.
COMPLETE STANDINGS: DIVISION II | DIVISION III | DIVISION IV | DIVISION V
Gherardi started racing in the Ladies Division during Beech Ridge’s Thursday Thunder program, winning titles from 1997-99. She also won the track’s Mad Bomber ‘A’ Division in 1997 and ’98.
She said her passion for the sport began with the help of a friend to drive in what was thought to be a one-off event.
“A friend offered me a chance to drive in a Powder Puff race years ago and I fell in love with the sport,” Gherardi added. “After I drove in that race I wanted to do more of it so I then moved on to the Thursday Thunder division.”
Gherardi quickly found success in the division winning three titles in the Ladies League and then moving on to next division racing against the men where she picked up another pair of titles.
She added a SportsSeries championship in 2008, becoming the first female to win a NASCAR sanctioned division at Beech Ridge. While proud of the accomplishment, Gherardi is focused on adding to the trophy case.
“I consider myself a driver and I know I am the only female driver at the track, but I just want to be known as something I have always considered myself – a race car driver,” Gherardi said. “We are going for the championship this year as we have our new car figured out and we just want to go win races and contend for the title.”
One thing is certain, Gherardi draws fans, especially young female fans, to the track each week.
“My car is usually swamped with fans during our autograph sessions on the track,” Gherardi said. “The fans love to come by and I appreciate the support they give me each week.”
Track promoter Andy Cusack said Gherardi is definitely a fan favorite.
“She (Gherardi) is exceptionally popular with many of our fans and she conducts herself in a very professional manner each week at the track,” Cusack said. “A lot of fans like to see her race and she competes against the other drivers and is also successful. She has been that way for years here at the track. She competes in a manner that fans appreciate.”
While racing is known to take up a lot of time, Gherardi is quick to point out that the support she receives away from the track helps her be successful behind the wheel when it is time to go racing. Also having summers off from her job helps free up her time to go racing when the track is operating.
She is married to Tim Hatch, who she met when he was working at her parent’s outdoor power equipment business, and has a 2-year-old daughter Chloe, and finding time to devote to everything is something she appreciates.
“I am blessed to have great parents who have always helped us out,” Gherardi said. “My husband is my crew chief and with my parents watching Chloe on race nights, I can go out there and spend time with my husband and do something I love to do.”
Under the NASCAR point structure in Divisions I-V, drivers receive two points for every car they finish ahead of in an event, up to 18 cars. Three bonus points will be awarded to a race winner with a single-digit starting position and five bonus points will be awarded to a race winner with a double-digit starting position.
Drivers must be NASCAR-licensed and cars will be verified for display of required series sponsor decals to be eligible for NASCAR points and awards.
Established in 1982, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR’s national championship program for weekly short track auto racing. In all, 58 paved and dirt tracks throughout the United States and Canada participate.
Connecticut-based Whelen Engineering is the series’ title sponsor. Whelen Engineering is a leading manufacturer of automotive, aviation, industrial and emergency vehicle lighting. NASCAR tracks and pace cars across North America are among the many showcases for Whelen products.
Sources: Tim Southers, NASCAR PR