Shea Holbrook Sets Out to Make History Becoming First Ever Female to Win a Pirelli World Challenge Championship
Orlando, FL – (September 10, 2014) Shea Holbrook and Shea Racing head to Miller Motorsports Park for the final two races of the 25th Anniversary season of the Pirelli World Challenge. Holbrook last saw successes on the West Course in 2012 where she achieved three top-five finishes in the Touring Car division.
The 24-year old co-owner and driver at Shea Racing is currently 2nd in the TCA championship just 36 points behind point’s leader Jason Wolf in the No. 36 Kia. If Holbrook can close the gap and stay ahead she will not only win her first Pirelli World Challenge Championship but also she will make her second mark in history becoming the first female driver in the series history to clinch a championship.
Holbrook earned her place in the record books when she became the first female to win at the Long Beach Grand Prix in 2011. Holbrook competed in the Touring Car division with her family-owned team.
“I remember like it was yesterday, the raw emotion and excitement of our first major win. This time though it’s different. Clinching the championship would represent everything we’ve work for over the past several years. It’s a priceless reward and the ultimate goal,” said Holbrook.
Holbrook and team have enjoyed a successful season as she has put their No. 67 TrueCar, Lucas Oil, Radium, Women’s Sports Foundation, Hendrick Honda Civic Si on the pole 7 different times and have won 5 races in 2014.
“We’ve been incredibly consistent in our performances although have encountered a few hiccups along the way which ultimately set us back in the championship.” Holbrook said. “I’m grateful to the crew, our partners and fans for their unwavering support because with it we wouldn’t have a shot at winning this thing.”
Shea Racing welcomes a new sponsor, The Center for Bone and Joint Disease, for the final race weekend. The Center for Bone and Joint Disease, a large orthopedic practice covering all orthopedic issues from fractures to total joint replacement to ACL and shoulder procedures will be gratefully represented on and off track this weekend by Holbrook and the team. Dr. Jared Salinsky, orthopedic surgeon, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and motorsports enthusiast met Holbrook at Barber Motorsports Park where he watched her earn her first win of the season.
“I can’t thank Dr. Salinsky and the Center for Bone and Joint Disease enough for this opportunity to finish out what we started. Dr. Salinsky knows what it would be like to win this championship because he wins every day with every patient he helps. With all the surgeons’ expertise and their new medical techniques like Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cell Therapy makes them an easy choice for any patient,” said Holbrook.
Jeff Holbrook, team principle and ex-Navy helicopter pilot and rescue swimmer reflects on their successes and remembers September 11, 2001.
“No matter what the outcome will be this weekend I’m immensely proud of Shea and the crew. Shea’s charismatic ways are contagious within the paddock and her on track performances being given a great car have been nothing less than 110%. We’ll be proudly representing everything our country stands for this weekend and remembering those we lost on September 11, 2001.”
The championship weekend kicks off Thursday, September 11th for the Promoter Test Day. Official Practice starts on Friday at 9:10-9:40AM, Qualifying at 11:50-12:35PM and Race 1 at 3:10-4:10PM. Saturday closes out the championship with an 8:00-8:30AM Warmup and Race 2 at 9:10-9:55AM. Watch the races live at www.world-challengetv.com and on MAVTV!
Follow Shea and the team this weekend as they’ll be updating you constantly via their social media accounts!
About Shea Holbrook:
Shea is the only 24-year old spokeswoman and professional female racecar driver with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Marketing that co-owns and operates her racing team in the Pirelli World Challenge. Although Shea grew up a national ranked competitive water skier, her passion for driving started when she was 16 with a “Richard Petty Experience.” Shea quickly began excelling in the motorsports world through high performance driving events all throughout Florida. She then went on to obtain her SCCA license and since then Shea has been road racing competitively all over the nation with many organizations, from sprint races to 25 hour endures and debuted her professional career with the SCCA World Challenge Pro Racing in 2010. Her first mark in history was when she won the Long Beach Grand Prix becoming the first female to win a major Touring Car race at the venue. She’s been a featured athlete on Yahoo.com, Teen Vogue, NBC Sports Motor Sports Talk, CNN Live, Racer.com, and many others. A recipient of the Lyn St. James Foundation Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Scholarship and the Women’s Sports Foundation ‘Women in the Winners Circle’ Project Podium Grant. Shea currently races in the TCA division in a 2013 Honda Civic Si. “Fear is a state of mind, will is an action taken.” Shea lives this quote and believes through commitment and determination anything is possible. Helping others is another love of Shea’s. Shea Racing partnered up with Frito Lay Corp., in 2008 to raise $12,500 for the Susan G. Komen “For the Cure.” She has also raised thousands of dollars and awareness for her charity of choice, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD.) PPMD benefits Duchenne muscular dystrophy which affects her own family. She’s real, sophisticated, outspoken and fun.
