Denise Rhinehart-Lambert 

My name is Denise Rhinehart --I’m a 33-year-old wife and mother and certainly a racerchick. This is my rookie season driving a 1977 Chevy Monte Carlo Bomber/Pure Stock at All American Speedway in Roseville, California. Racing has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember and thanks to my brother Rusty my dream is a reality.  He shared his addiction to racing with me as I watched him rebuild his #12 car (as I call it) and when he gave me a fire suit for my last birthday he called it my “new uniform” for my “new job”, racing the #12 car.

Hopes & Fears:
My biggest fear was embarrassing my friends and family- especially my brother by not doing well. Rusty is a talented, experienced racer with many trophies for his efforts - first with the #12 car and now with his 1987 Monte Carlo Street Stock I really wanted to make him proud and to prove some of the talent could be taught and maybe some could be genetic. Having unconditional support from my family, friends and the people at the track gave me the strength to race for the very first time. Although I didn’t go fast enough to use the brakes in the turns and I was lapped many times, I still got positive support from the people around me.  Seeing my Mom in the stands every week brought comfort and even my husband became a great source of support and encouragement – a tough sell since initially he was not all crazy about his wife going out weekly to be a crash target of other racers on the track.  There were a bunch of big guys driving around in big cars ready to run over and push anyone into the wall that got in their way.

Getting Better:
By the second points race I finished in the lead lap of my race.  But there was more to accomplish – due to the large number of bomber/ pure stocks there are 2 races: an A & B main.  It was hard to hear my children ask when I would be in the “much faster” A main – I felt it wouldn’t be in this season since I was low on the learning curve and some fellow drivers were pretty rough on me.  But I did make it to race with the “big boys” in the A Main and I give them a little competition as well.  Now my racing is getting noticed –in the local paper each week.

I have such an incredible amount of fun on the track both in and out of the car.  The #12 car is reliable and I drive it with respect. Built with safety and handling as the first priority it is competitive and I hope to see that great looking  #12 take the checkered flag soon.  I love racing and it feels so great to be among so many talented women in this sport and of course, to be a racerchick.