Гонщица Нэтли Уотерс запустила движение «Гонка против буллинга» для защиты детей

Natalie Waters, a professional and competitive race car driver, recently turned her career into advocacy for our future generations by establishing the “Race to End Bullying.” As far as the type of cars she drives during these races, they are referred to as “sprint cars.” “Sprint cars are one of the fastest cars to hit the track,” Waters explained. “We run a 410 small-block Chevy, all aluminum, about 900 horsepower. Then we have big slick tires and a really big wing on the top that gives a lot of grip and a lot of downforce. This is what makes the speed 900 horsepower—it’s easy to maneuver the corners really fast, to stay up to speed, and to have momentum. That’s what makes a sprint car so unique.” While some might wonder how quick a sprint car can accelerate from zero to 60 mph with its 900 horsepower, Waters explained that sprint cars are not typically measured that way because they use a push-start sequence at the beginning of a race. However, she said the cars can accelerate from 25 to 90 mph in a matter of seconds. Waters’ path into racing began at a young age, largely because of her family. She was raised around professional racing through her grandfather and uncle. “When I was growing up, I was always at the racetrack with my family, and when we weren’t at the racetrack, we were at the race car shop,” Waters said. “When I was little, there was some go-kart stuff out in Tooele, but their safety with no roll cage made my parents really nervous. So, my grandpa decided that I should race a quarter midget, but the problem was there were no quarter midgets in Utah.” For those unfamiliar with the sport, a “quarter midget” is the same body style as a sprint car but smaller and does not have a wing. Waters described how her grandfather and several friends from the racetrack eventually helped establish a quarter midget series in Utah. “He and a couple of his buddies from the racetrack got a bunch of kids and parents together that were interested and they proposed it to the racetrack. They accepted the proposal and started the quarter midget series when I was, I think, six or seven years old,” said Waters. “I raced the quarter midget series till I was 12, and then I moved up into focus midgets at 13. I ran modified at 17 and then, at the age of 19, I started racing sprint cars. Now I race super modified alongside my sprint car as well.” Although growing up around racing played a major role in Waters’ career, she said her grandfather was ultimately the person who helped put her on this path. Because Waters’ mother was a single parent, the family moved frequently when she was young, making it difficult for Waters to dedicate herself to a particular hobby. Her grandfather noticed she was struggling with the situation and came up with a solution: put her behind the wheel. Waters won the first race she ever entered, something she described as being “huge” for her. She said the accomplishment was meaningful not only to her but also to her grandfather, who still becomes emotional when telling the story. When Waters is competing, she describes the experience as one of sheer focus where she has to remain in tune with both her car and her own body. Prior to a race, she said she does experience anxiety because of the possibility that something could go wrong. However, she also emphasized the close-knit nature of the racing community, and how she has experienced times where her competitors were willing to lend a helping hand, even if it meant losing the race. The problem is racing is an expensive pursuit. Waters said a sprint car can cost upward of $65,000 to build to the specifications necessary for competition. Maintenance can also be costly, with engines needing to be rebuilt approximately every ninth to 13th race. Waters said sponsorships and donations through her 501(c)(3) organization help offset those costs, so it doesn’t eat into the money she gets from work. That organization is Race to End Bullying, which Waters created to advocate for children in Tooele County and other communities where she visits schools. During those appearances, Waters talks to students not only about racing but also about her experiences as a professional driver and the importance of standing against bullying. The catalyst for creating the organization came after a twelve year old boy in Tooele County took his own life, yet she said the organization’s roots go back even further. Waters recalled attending the Autorama one year, where she was promoting racing and an anti-bullying message while allowing children to sit in her race cars. “We took my little quarter midget and we gave certain kids little backpacks and all this stuff,” Waters said. “I had this little boy that had dirty clothes on, his glasses were broken and he was about 8 years old. He came up to me and asked me if I would please come to his school and tell the people at his school to stop bullying.” The boy was from Tooele, Waters said. After speaking with him and his parents, Waters learned more about the problems he was experiencing at school. She and her team then contacted the school and arranged a visit. “We didn’t tell him, didn’t tell his parents, then we showed up at his school with the race car and talked about anti-bullying with a little presentation and everything. The look on his face was so rewarding for him to see that we heard him. That was probably one of the most important things I think we’ve done,” Waters concluded, becoming emotional. For her, that experience demonstrated the potential impact that her racing career could have outside of the racetrack. When asked what advice she would give to someone interested in getting involved in racing, Waters emphasized the importance of learning, asking for help and celebrating small successes. “I would say to just learn as you go. Nobody goes out and just knows everything,” Waters said. “There are so many people that are so willing to help, and that’s what I love about racing.” She said the willingness of competitors to help one another is one of the factors that makes racing different from other sports. “If something on your car breaks, and the guy three stalls down, who you don’t even know runs up and asks if you need any help or if he can lend you his part,” she said. “He’ll help you do anything you need to get back on the racetrack, and he’s your competitor. Technically, it’s better for him if you don’t go racing.” She also stressed the importance of sportsmanship and patience. “I would say don’t be afraid to ask for help. Anybody at the racetrack is willing to help,” Waters said. “Sportsmanship in racing is huge. It’s so easy to make friends, and it’s a sport where friends are turned into family.” On the competitive side, Waters encouraged new drivers to recognize that success comes in many forms. “I would say be patient and celebrate the little victories,” she said. “You finished your race, now you finished in the top 10, now you finished in the top five. A win isn’t the only success, and you and your team will learn as you go.” For Waters, racing is not only about winning. It is an opportunity to build relationships, support others and use her platform to make a difference. “If you’re going to race, stay humble and you don’t get too proud or too cocky,” Waters said. “Just live your life racing, doing what you love and supporting others, and you will get that all in return.” If you are interested in donating to Race to End Bullying or having them appear at a school near you, please refer to racetoendbullying.com. [email protected]