 Shawna
Woudstra
18 year old enjoying TWO graduations
Castrol sponsors Burlington teen Shawna
Woudstra
July 28, 2009 – Burlington, Ont. - This
year Shawna Woudstra celebrates two graduations. Not
only has she conquered her Burlington high school, but
this summer Shawna also graduates to a Top Dragster
capable of doubling her Harden junior dragster’s 85 mph.
The new car is a 2004 Horton top dragster that was
custom built specifically for a female driver brought to
Ontario from South Carolina. Shawna’s team acquired the
rolling chassis then installed a 468 big block Chevy,
dynoed at 860 horsepower. Shawna expects the car to run
high 7 seconds at 160mph in the quarter mile.
Shawna’s high school grad pic shows a typical Canadian
happy blonde teen – you might not guess that Shawna is
emerging as a sensational driver with a surprising
amount of experience. She started to race at 8 years of
age when her dad, Dan Woudstra who runs Classic Radiator
in Burlington, Ont., set up her first ride in a GO
station parking lot. Immediately she sensed it was her
passion as she stepped up from 35 mph to faster speeds.
Shawna quit her ballet lessons and jumped behind the
wheel at every opportunity. Over the years she has won a
roomful of trophies including two Ironman wins last
summer. Today, even Shawna’s mom Brenda, who was
originally more than a bit concerned, is behind the
emerging star. Shawna has gained a lot of
experience at the junior level at Ontario dragstrips
including Cayuga, Grand Bend and London, as well as IHRA
National events in Ohio. Thanks to her nine years of
seat time, she is looking forward with excitement to the
upcoming season, her first year racing the ‘big car.’
The car currently has a delay box in the car as well as
a throttle stop that will assist in the learning process
that hopefully will lead to more trophies. “I have lots
of new things to learn this year and I plan on getting
myself out there and taking the year one step at a
time,” Shawna explains with the patience of a seasoned
competitor. Shawna has received some
coaching from one of Canada’s long-time successful drag
racers, Carl Spiering of Jordan Station, Ont. Spiering
has raced across North America, runs a business
specializing in tuning and building cars and, perhaps
most importantly, has two teenage daughters who like
Shawna are moving into the big leagues; Lisa, 18, is
competing in the Top Dragster class, while 15-year old
Monica is running in the Junior Dragster 7.90 class.
Spiering sees Shawna Woudstra in a very positive light.
“She’s always been very good – she’s a good learner and
a hard worker. She definitely has the raw talent - all
the basics to make it happen.” Shawna’s
plans take her to university this fall, but before that
we will certainly be hearing a lot of good result news
from one of the country’s most talented young racers. “I
am excited about our Castrol sponsorship and am really
looking forward to running with the big cars.” |
