| While most girls who turn 16 have a party or a sweet 16 bash, Crystal Koenig did something completely different. She starting racing in the Compact Car Enduro Series. You have to be 16 in order to drive this series, so what a better way to celebrate a new chapter in a young life. It was not just a whim for Crystal to start racing either. The local track near her home, 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, WI, was closed for several years. When it reopened in 1998 Crystal and her family started attending the races every Saturday. Eventually, Crystal got a job working the concessions at the track and soon enough got bit by the racing bug and decided to try her hand behind the wheel in the Enduro Series. Crystal is a very cautious driver on the track. She tries to keep her eye on everything that is going on around her, as best she can. In Crystal’s words, “I drive more on the defensive side, and I am not overly aggressive.” With a 3rd in points her 1st year racing and runner up for Rookie of the Year the very next year, Crystal may be overly humble in her description of the way she drives. In fact, when it comes to racing against the guys Crystal does not pay any attention to the gender difference. In her eyes, it’s more of a car versus car deal, not girls against the boys. While some of the tracks Crystal raced at, the guys seemed to have a problem with the fact that Crystal was a girl; for the most part it does not matter. Once strapped in, Crystal is just like everyone else; a driver going for the checkered flag! Crystal has a tremendous support system in her family and friends. Without her Mom & Dad, Crystal tells us that she would never have been able to race in the first place. They have been at Crystal’s side since day one, making sure she had the support she needed as Crystal advanced through the higher levels of racing. Close family friends, Bomber and Kathy have been a key source of support as well for Crystal. “Without the support of my family, friends and the fans, I don’t think the experiences I have had would have been the same” Crystal tells us. Crystal currently races the Mid-American Division and the Mid-American Stock Car Series at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, WI. She also races a Dirt Hobby Stock at some of her areas special events. We asked Crystal where she wanted to go with her racing career and she told us that a few years ago that answer would have been NASCAR. Now that Crystal has a family of her own though, she just wants to remain competitive at the tracks and series she currently races. Crystal has also not lost site of the main reason she stated racing for in the first place, she still want to have a good time doing what she loves to do…racing! Racing Accomplishments 2000 – 3rd in Points – Enduro Series (141 Speedway) 2001 – 7th in Points – Hobby Stock Division (141 Speedway) Runner Up – Rookie of the Year (141 Speedway) 2002 – Track Champion – Hobby Stock Division (141 Speedway) Wisconsin’s Only Female Track Champion 7th in Points – Street Stock Division (Manitowoc Expo) Runner Up – Rookie of the Year 2003 – 5th in Points – Super Stock Division Runner Up – Rookie of the Year Street Stock National Champion – Hoosier Class 2005 – 5th in Points – Super Stock Division 2006 – 6th in Points – Mid-American Series Rookie of the Year Award |
