Wendy Mathis

Wendy, from Riverview, FL, is currently working as a Florida State Certified Insurance Agent while studying for her A.S. Degree in Nursing. When it comes to racing, she has always focused on pavement and currently competes with the Tampa Bay Area Racing Association (TBARA) Sprint Car Club. The TBARA is one of the most competitive pavement Sprint Car series around. In addition to the TBARA, she also competes in select open competition Sprint Car events such as the annual Little 500 in Anderson, Indiana.

Wendy grew up with a keen interest in motor sport as most children in racing families do. Wendy's father, Jerry, was a successful modified owner and driver in the competitive upstate New York asphalt modified series. Wendy's intense passion for competing in motor sport was very unique among other females her age.

Upon seeing her first quarter midget, Wendy would not let her father or mother rest until they let her compete. With all in agreement, a Quarter Midget was purchased and Wendy began her open wheel-racing career at age 12.

The years spent honing her skills in Quarter Midgets were incredibly successful with many features wins. In 1993 Wendy earned distinction in the series by becoming the first female to win the Florida State Quarter Midget Championship.

After Quarter Midgets Wendy took the next logical step and moved into Three Quarter (TQ) Midgets. Wendy campaigned with the Florida Midget Racing Association for several seasons. She was able to pick up three feature victories with this series and finished second in overall driver points for the year in the 2000.

2001 marked Wendy's move into Sprint Car racing. She began competing with the TBARA, the preeminent asphalt Sprint Car sanctioning body in Florida. In her first season, utilizing an outdated car, Wendy started in a commendable 22 out of 23 feature events.

At the beginning of 2002 Wendy was given a once in a lifetime opportunity to drive Mel Kenyon's Midget in a special NAMARS race during February in Orlando. It was the first time she had ever driven a full Midget and it was a superb outing. What a wonderful experience it was to get to drive for and receive coaching from the "King of Midgets."

Over the 2001/2002 winter a modern pavement car was secured. Now with a proper car, Wendy notched her place in history with a Sprint Car feature win at Charlotte County Speedway in Punta Gorda, FL on November 9th, 2002. This was the first time a female has won a feature event with the TBARA and it is also the first time a female has won a main event with a major sanctioning body in the State of Florida.

Wendy has developed and refined her driving skills to a point of exceptional precision in her 12 plus years of competition in open wheel cars. While watching Wendy drive it is easy to recognize her natural, winning ability. Wendy is also an excellent communicator of vehicle dynamics, which makes her easy to work with in defining the proper set up for maximum performance.

Wendy continues to campaign sprint cars, competing in both wing and non-wing events. She is available to drive in other divisions where open days exist in her current schedule.