Katie Hettinger (born June 25, 2007) is an American professional stock car racing driver. She competed in the CARS Tour from 2021 to 2024, however recently stepped away to focus on her high school education.[1]
| Katie Hettinger | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | June 25, 2007 Dryden, Michigan | ||||||
| ARCA Menards Series West career | |||||||
| 2 races run over 1 year | |||||||
| Best finish | 32nd (2022) | ||||||
| First race | 2022 Star Nursery 150 (Las Vegas) | ||||||
| Last race | 2022 Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 (Phoenix) | ||||||
| |||||||
| Statistics current as of October 23, 2024. | |||||||
Racing career
editEarly career
editAt age 5, Hettinger started racing quarter midgets locally, working up to regionally and then nationally. She collected over 40 wins from USAC .25, Midwest Thunder, and the Quarter Midgets of America. From age 9 to 11, she transitioned to dirt junior sprints and micro sprints.
Transition to asphalt
editIn 2019, at age 12, she moved to full-body stock cars in the Champion Racing Association Junior Late Model Series. She would finish 4th and grab the Sportsman of the Year award. The following year, she would grab two wins and three fast-time awards, as well as the series championship, becoming the only female to win the championship.
At 14, she joined the highest levels of local late model racing in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series with Matt Piercy Racing. In 2021, she won the 50-lap Limited Late Model Feature as part of the Bobby Isaac memorial event. Two weeks later, she became the youngest female Late Model winner at Hickory Speedway.
In 2022, she competed in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series, the CARS Pro Late Model Tour and select Pro Late Model events. She would also debut in the ARCA Menards Series West division of NASCAR driving for Young's Motorsports.
From 2023 to 2024, she continued driving in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series, becoming the first female to win in the series. In 2024, she announced that she would be stepping away to focus on her education, but showed interest in returning.
Personal life
editHettinger is the daughter of Chris Hettinger, who is the owner of Hettinger Racing.[2][3]
Hettinger is a 3rd-generation racer from Dryden, Michigan, and is a senior in high school.[4]
Motorsports results
editARCA Menards Series West results
edit| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | AMSWC | Pts | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Young's Motorsports | 02 | Chevy | PHO | IRW | KCR | PIR | SON | IRW | EVG | PIR | AAS | LVS 23 |
PHO 19 |
32nd | 96 | [5] |
References
edit- ^ Marquis, Andy (September 13, 2024). "Katie Hettinger stepping away from racing for now". shorttrackscene.com. Short Track Scene.
- ^ Christie, Toby (October 29, 2024). "Hettinger Racing Acquires Bret Holmes Racing Assets; Running Final Two Truck Races of 2024". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "Dawson Sutton Running Bristol ARCA Race for Hettinger". Frontstretch. September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ "About Katie". Katie Hettinger Racing.
- ^ "Katie Hettinger – 2022 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 23, 2024.