Amanda Connolly

Quiet, peaceful, and home to a lot of retirement living, nestled in beautiful Northern Ontario, lies a small town called Stroud. During the week goes normal life, people going to work, kids going to school, a happy family oriented place. Come the weekend however, residents flock to Sunset Speedway to hear the roar of racing engines, the smell of rubber and of course to cheer on their favorite driver.

Enter 22 year old Amanda Connolly, a seasoned veteran of the Thunder car division, and always a fan favorite. At 5'0 and 125lbs with long brown hair, Amanda hardly looks the part of a hardcore race car driver, but can certainly play it.

Although having been around racing for years before as a child, watching her father go round and round, Amanda was happy being a spectator. In 1992 Amanda's father passed away when she was twelve, leaving her mother Alison and younger brother John Jr. alone. Amanda's family began to grow farther from the sport that had brought them a sense of togetherness for so many years.

In 1996 Amanda returned to Sunset Speedway as a spectator. Although the rest of the family stayed back at home, she still went up about once a month. By 1998 once a month turned into never missing a weekend. One night that season would change Amanda's life forever. Watching from the grandstands, she heard an announcement over the loud speaker. A driver in the thunder car division was offering to rent his car to anyone willing to pay the $500 a night pricetag to race. Amanda remembered the man offering as Bob Phinnemore, a long time driver of Sunset Speedway who competed against her Dad. " I looked at my friend and told her i'd like to try that, she thought I was crazy!". Amanda headed into the infield after the race to speak with Mr. Phinnemore, they set up a day for her to practice and race. That day in August came quick, under the instruction of Mr. Phinnemore Amanda showed natural ability immediately. The end of that night resulted in Amanda developing an overnight passion for stock car racing. Amanda would then rent the car for one more night that season improving over every lap, and finally would decide to buy a car of her own to compete her first full year in the thunder car division at Sunset Speedway.

1999 proved immediate success for Amanda and her team. Reaching the winner's circle 3 times in one weekend on only her third weekend of competing. Building a strong fan base almost immediately, the crowd took to Amanda's friendly personality and of course her ability to drive a race car. The year would end with 9 victories, one of which was earned at another local track Barrie Speedway. Amanda would also finish 5th overall in the year end points standings out of 43 drivers, also winning the Rookie of the Year title by a landslide, becoming Sunset Speedway's first woman to do so.

In 2000 newly acclaimed veteran would go at it again. Racing once again in the thunder car division the team had high hopes for the upcoming season. Unfortunately the ups and downs of racing had hit the team hard. Getting off to a slow start , unable to work through a number of technical difficulties, the team had hit it's low. Amanda became frustrated, but still had the determination to make things work.

Around mid-season Amanda befriended Mike Pariseau. Mike was working with another team at the time, but still made time to give Amanda help on the side. Mike's addition to the team with his knowledge and expertise, helped turn the team around for the latter part of the season. Finishing 15th out of 36 drivers in the final standings, Amanda continued success at the end of the year with 7 wins. Including a heat win at Kawartha Speedway the first checkered flag taken by any woman, as well as a season ending invitational win at Flamboro Speedway.

With 2001 fast approaching the buzz was in the air, after the end of the 2000 season, Amanda was a force to be reckoned with. Gaining the utmost respect from fellow drivers. Mike decided to leave his other team to become crew chief for Amanda full time, bringing along three other talented crew members, and armed with a new car, the team was preparing for it's most successful season to date. Successful it was. Right from opening night Amanda showed promise and was ready to make a run for the track championship. The season ended with Amanda placing 2nd overall in the points standings, rarely finishing out of the top five all season long. Also enjoying victories across the province at Sauble Speedway, Flamboro Speedway (Amanda also won the pole at both these events) and Kawartha Speedway and narrowly missing the track record at Barrie Speedway by less than one hundredth of a second. Bettering her perfomance in 2000 at Kawartha, Amanda would become the first woman in the track's history to win a feature event. Starting last in a field of 21 cars, she would take over the lead in only 10 laps at the 3/8mile, high banked, fast oval.. As if that wasn't enough to put the team on top of the world, Amanda would also receive the Best Appearing Car award, the Sunset Speedway appreciation award for helping to support the speedway on her own time, and the very prestigious Sportsman of the Year award, an honour voted on by fellow drivers from all divisions.

For 2002 this young team plans to run another year in the thunder car division. " we plan on having another great year" she says. " my crew is honestly the most hardworking and talented group of people I have ever met, they really stand behind me and believe in me, and sometimes that's hard to find"

Amanda will compete the 2002 season at Sunset Speedway, as well as traveling to many other tracks for various events, were we are sure sure she'll be triumphant. Amanda is aiming for a shot in the USAR Hooter's ProCup series." I think we would do well in the Hooter's series, driving wise, and representing our sponsors"