This months showcase in superstocks, is Tami Lawson, in the 16t!

A few weeks back, I got an email inquiring about a website. I wrote back, with general things I needed to get one put together for them. It wasn't until she wrote back that I figured out it was a 'lady' who wanted one done, and that she drove a superstock! I glanced through the pictures and the information Tami sent, and I was immediately impressed! Her car was awesome, (must be a woman thing, I look at the car as well as the driver stats, haha), and reading her comments, Tami really seemed like a very nice, and competative lady! I thought to myself, I gotta go watch this gal next year! She has some guts! All I can say to Tami is 'great job and thanks for paving the way and showing a primarily man's sport that there is indeed a place for ladies in it! And now, on to the interview!

Tami's Interview:

Tami in front of her superstock car with her two children, Alyssa and Paige.

Dirt Scoops: Tell about yourself. (Family, kids? Where did you grow up, where you reside now, etc. ) Tami: I am married to David Lawson. I have 2 daughters, Alyssa, age 10 and Paige, age 7. I grew up in Ellettsville, graduated from Edgewood High School in 1992. I moved to Bloomington when I got married in 1995. "A lot of people look at racing as a family thing, and it truly is!". ~Tami Lawson

Dirt Scoops: How did you get into racing? Tami's Response: My dad raced for 15 years when I was a kid, my husband and my brother, Greg Amick, both race in the Modified class currently. Dirt Scoops: What was your first race car? Tami: My first race car was a go-kart. I started racing go-karts in 1990 with my brother.

Tami and her dad

Dirt Scoops: Tell us a bit about the car you race now.

Tami: I drive the black and purple #16t. It is a Fly-By-U chassis with a 408 Chevy small block.

Dirt Scoops: What are some of your career high lights?

Tami: Winning 2007 Rookie of the Year honors at Bloomington Speedway; winning the Hard Charger Award at Bloomington Speedway 7/13/07

Dirt Scoops: Of all the races you have been in, which do you remember most and why?

Tami: Right now I would have to say the last race I ran in 2007, 9/14/07, I started the feature 15th and on a restart was involved in an accident that took the entire right side of my body off. I had to go to the work area where several people, other racers included pitched in to help get my car ready to go back out on the track. I restarted 17th and finished the race 11th. What I didn’t know, was that my right rear roll cage post had been broken in that accident. Unfortunately, I was not able to compete the next week, for safety reasons, but fortunately, I was able to finish that race without any injuries or other mishaps.

Dirt Scoops: Out of all of the awards, which do you cherish most and why?

Tami: Rookie of the Year. That is an award that until this year, my husband and my brother had neither one won and the fact that I was a female competing against males.

Dirt Scoops: What tracks do you race at, and which do you call your 'home track'?

Tami: I primarily race at Bloomington Speedway and that is my home track

Dirt Scoops: Who do you look up to in racing, or learned from the most in racing? (Or has contributed to your success so far?)

Tami: There are a lot of drivers that I look up to and have gotten some really good advice from. There are really too many to mention, but the one that has helped the most is my dad. I could ask any question and he would have an answer for me. He would also give me an answer even when I didn’t have a question.

Dirt Scoops: Is there any race or track that you would like to race in or at?

Tami: I would just like to have the opportunity to race a different tracks so that I can create new experiences and become a well rounded driver.

Dirt Scoops: Do you think being a woman has hindered you in any way in racing? Or does tracks/drivers treat you differently just because you are a woman?

Tami: I don’t think being a woman, in its self hindered me in any way. I believe that women can do the same things as a man if they put their mind to it. It may be a little more challenging, but that is part of it. I did not experience being treated differently first hand, but I am sure that there were some of the guys that didn’t particularly like being beat by a woman. But, all in all, I’d have to say that the other drivers just treated me like one of the guys.

Tami on the track at Bloomington Speedway

Dirt Scoops: What are your plans for 2008?

Tami: I plan to run at Bloomington Speedway primarily. I would like run at some other tracks as well.

Dirt Scoops: If there was a piece of advice that you would like to pass on to a rookie driver, what would it be?

Tami: First of all, have fun! Secondly, I would say to pay attention to as much as possible on the track. Be proactive and not reactive. Be cautious, but not intimidated. Always do your best!

Check to see who Tami's sponsors are: http://geocities.com/lawsonracing16t/

Keep up on Tami's progress by visiting her website at: http://geocities.com/lawsonracing16t/

Thanks to Ma Nunn and Tami's family for the photos!

Thanks Tami from the Dirt Scoops Group!