WOW! How fast has this year flown by? Can you believe Racing season is almost coming to an end? This year has been great so far; learning different racing terms, vocabulary as well as meeting new drivers and experiencing new things! On October 26th, 2014 I will have been covering races for a year! What a great opportunity I have had being only 19 year old in this business! I am so grateful and appreciative of all the people that have got me started in the racing world, and allowed me to stand by their side, with questions and comments at every race.
This year I have learned about what a "Chute" is, and the terms "Loose" or "Neutral". These terms refer to how the car is handling on the track either around corners, or on the straightaway. I learned about these terms thanks to Robyn Snell while listening to "Julio" Brandon Ward, #62 car spotter on his channel and headphones. I am learning how teams communicate on and off the track and how to keep a solid attitude, and how it is so important to trust one another while driving and making decisions on the car. Brandon's team stays steady with lifted heads in sticky situations. This team shares a bond with each other like no one else.
I have spent most of my time and work focusing on the Pass South Series, and at Bowman Gray Stadium on the NASCAR Modifieds and Bowman Modifieds, and going to tracks in North and South Carolina, and Virginia. Next year I hope to experience Daytona! I also hope to continue covering these races
in the future.I have expanded my social network and met a lot of great people.
When the time comes to cover a race, every employee of each track was kind and warming in welcoming us to their racetrack. Thankfully, there has only been one racetrack where the staff was highly unprofessional and disrespectful.
I have an immense amount of respect for each staff member at every race for all the hard work and effort they put into racing. Each track is based on a clock work schedule, and only is delayed depending on the weather. From the beginning, you are handed information about all divisions, and drivers meet and greet. When drivers have finished practicing and qualifying, you are given sheets on the fastest laps, times and numbers and names of the drivers.
As well as covering races, writing updates on Twitter, and interviewing drivers I will learn how to write and send out proposals to potential sponsors. Recently, the team was so close to landing Brandon Ward a selected sponsor, with the help of my father Jason Rowlands. My father produced renderings and the color scheme of the car so the sponsor could see firsthand what they were getting into, and how the car could possibly look when on the racetrack. My father works in the design department at Volvo and Mack trucks in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Sadly this year with the unfortunate event involving Tony Stewart, racing was turned upside down. I am extremely impressed with the new rule NASCAR announced, and am proud to say smaller tracks are involved as well. Since this event, I have seen medical personnel quickly respond to any accident.
Since October last year, I have started my second year at Forsyth Technical College, where I hope to obtain a double majored degree in Sports Marketing and Communications with a minor in Spanish. I am taking 15 credit hours this year, and I have not fully decided on transferring to a four year college or to stay at Forsyth.Tech by Fall semester, 2015. As well as going to school, I work at Hallmark where I work 23 hours maximum.... So if you need cards and knick knacks.. I am your gal!
When I am finished with school, I strive to land a career in NASCAR, and be the best that I can be as "FAMOUS AIMEE"
I would like to give a special thanks to Robyn Snell as she has been my backbone and excellent person to learn from. Thank you for answering all my questions and helping me. I enjoy spending time with you, I could not have been luckier with this opportunity all thanks to you. You are a wonderful person filled with joy and kindness.I would also like to give a special thanks to Alan Piquette, who gave me the opportunity to be a part of TheRacingTimes magazine. Thank you for getting me into the races with no problem and just for being an awesome person. I hope you also are feeling better! I also would like to thank Brandon Ward and his team, and staff at all racetracks.
WHAT A GREAT SEASON SO FAR!
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @MSFAMOUSAIMEE
