Ashley
Freiberg

LATEST SNIPPET

Great weekend in Baltimorewith her highest finish of the year Saturday bringing her TrueCar Racing/Virgin Star Mazda to a 6th place finish! On Sunday had a great start, ran as high as 4th with a competitive pace, then got hit from behind twice and had brake issues & finished 10th.

Direct access to this web page: http://bit.ly/d2poFw

Bio
News

Freiberg Proves Auto Racing Isn't Just A Boys' Club
Ashley Freiberg Scores 2nd 2010 Skip Barber Series Titles in Lime Rock Finale

Snippets
Results
Schedule

Related Issue: Women Racers Directory, Women in Racing, Women Racers, More Women in Racing, Race Schedules, Notable Women
Contact:
www.ashleyfreibergracing.com or E-Mail

Bio

Birth Date: November 22, 1991
Hometown: Homer Glen, Illinois
Current Home Base: Homer Glen, IL
Who started you: My brothers, Eric and Brian
Biggest influence: Danica Patrick
Father's Thoughts: As long as I love racing, he loves me racing too.
Your encouragement to others: No matter how tough it gets racing "in a man's feild," never, ever give up or lose sight of what you're dreams are. Keep pushing. As long as you have faith, nobody can stop you from making it there.

Snippets


Ashley Freiberg – First open wheel road series. Getting used to the new levels of downforce and massive grip from the slick tires. Debut race on 3/24 at St. Petersburg.

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In the Star Mazda Series, Ashley Freiberg (#91 TrueCar/JDC Motorsports) slid into the Top 10 in Race 1 with a 9th place finish, but stumbled a bit in Race 2 when her car nosed into the wall alongside Camilo Schmidt's #21 Linares Racing/Mindeporte Mazda and could not continue. She ended with a 19th place finish, giving her 14 points thus far.

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Ashley Freiberg Scores 2nd 2010 Skip Barber Series Titles in Lime Rock Finale

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For the year of 2010, I am planning on competing for the BF Goodrich Skip Barber National Championship presented by MAZDA. I am graduating Highschool in January so I can put 110% of my focus toward winning the season so that I can win the full season in the Star Mazda 2011 Championship. Before the Skip Barber National season starts, I will be testing in the Star Mazda car as much as possible.

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Ashley is the first female to show consistent front-running speed in the Skip Barber National racing series. Racer, May, 2010

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Recently swept the weekend at Road Atlanta in the Skip Barber Southern Series. It was a feild of about 20 cars and I was first in both practices, qualifying, and won both races.

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For the year of 2009 Ashley Freiberg is planning on racing in a couple BF Goodrich Skip Barber National Series presented by MAZDA races depending on how well she does at the Skip Barber Karting Shootout on December 27, 2008.

 

News

Freiberg Proves Auto Racing Isn't Just A Boys' Club


The Baltimore Grand Prix will feature a number of storylines during the three days of racing throughout downtown. Although the spotlight will be on the IZOD IndyCar race on Sept. 2, an intriguing story of the weekend involves Ashley Freiberg. The 20-year-old will race in the Star Mazda Series events on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2.

Freiberg did not compete in the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix, but she attended the event and said Baltimore was impressive.

"My fondest memory was definitely how enthusiastic and amazing the crowd turnout was," Freiberg said. "I have never been to a race weekend that was as packed with fans as this race was, and I have to say it was very cool to have that energy surrounding the weekend."

A year later, Freiberg will be part of creating that energy as her TrueCar Racing team competes in the Labor Day weekend event. The Star Mazda Series is part of the Road to Indy program, a ladder system designed to help drivers progress from the USF2000 National Championship to Star Mazda and then to Indy Lights before making the step to the IZOD IndyCar Series. Both the USF2000 National Championship and the Star Mazda Championship include road courses and ovals -- similar to the IndyCar Series -- to help drivers hone their skills as they progress through the system. The Grand Prix of Baltimore will feature Rounds 13 and 14 of the Star Mazda Championship.

Freiberg is competing as a member of TrueCar Racing and its "Women Empowered" initiative. TrueCar is empowering women that aspire to become championship drivers by providing full sponsorship support, professional coaching and training, marketing exposure and top-tier racing opportunities throughout the United States. Freiberg joined the initiative in December 2011.

"I have always loved being a role model for girls and women of all ages," Freiberg said. "So to become a part of something I already believe in and support was a perfect fit for me. What is really cool about the Women Empowered initiative is not that we are screaming feminism in everyone's face, but rather that we are showing that we are equal to men in many ways … that we can compete against them equally and do just as good of a job as the best of them."

Freiberg started racing go-karts when she was 13, and spent time developing the basics of her driving. During her second year of competition, Freiberg won her first national championship, an accomplishment that made her decide to move into formula cars in the Skip Barber Racing Series.

In 2010, she won 25 Skip Barber races, including two championships and one national race. To expand on her driving skills, she also raced in a few Skip Barber MX-5 Cup races and won four out of the six she entered. Because the next step was moving to the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, Freiberg decided to run in one of the races at the Autobahn Country Club. She finished fifth in a field of 23.

Racing is an expensive sport. Following the 2010 season, Freiberg found herself without any funding.

"I spent 2011 making phone calls, writing emails, going to meetings and going to racetracks searching to find a way to get back into the seat," she said. "At the end of 2011, I was called back by TrueCar and earned a fully funded ride in the Star Mazda Championship for 2012."

This year, Freiberg competed in 10 race weekends, running in 18 total races. She said the cost of a full season depended on the number of people on a crew, how many test days a driver runs, etc., so the pricing fluctuates, with the average cost falling around $500,000 annually. Freiberg's crew consists of an engineer, mechanic, truck driver and her team owner.

Freiberg said she did face challenges outside of funding, competing in a male dominated sport.

"I would have to say the biggest challenge is not really ever having a legitimate chance to be the underdog," Freiberg said. "Being a woman definitely has put more of a spotlight on me than most of the other drivers I race against. Sometimes it can be a great thing. Other times, it can be not so great. I can tell you that it has toughened me up in a lot of ways, though."

She also said she hoped TrueCar Racing's women's empowerment initiative and her involvement would lead to other female drivers competing in open-wheel racing.

"My advice to young girls thinking about competing is to work hard, be strong, be you and have fun," Freiberg said. "There will be pressures coming at you in all different angles, and you just have to find a way to block them out and do the job you came there to do.

"Without doing these four things, unless you are the one out of a million with supernatural talent, it will be challenging to be successful."

Freiberg's advice comes from experience.

She said she couldn't recall the exact number of races she has been in and awards she has won. But she said her biggest achievements included her five national karting championships, two Skip Barber Series Championships, the Skip Barber National Series win, four Skip Barber MX-5 Cup wins, being honored with the 2010 Best All-Around Driver Award in Skip Barber and being nominated as a Team USA Scholarship candidate. Because most of her winnings from these races went to her teams, Freiberg estimated that she earned approximately $5,000 from these accomplishments.

Freiberg said her ultimate goal was to become an IZOD IndyCar Series Champion.

"I guess it is the drive I have to always want to better myself," Freiberg said. "I would label myself the nerd of racing because I love to get completely absorbed in every aspect of it and I am always learning something new, whether it is about the car, my driving, the tracks. … I can never be satisfied with what I already know.

"I just love every single bit of driving the car, and the way it feels when I drive a corner really well or make a good pass. I can't really say specifically when the moment was when I decided I wanted to make a career out of racing. I think that it was sort of a domino effect of things. I got into racing because I simply loved to drive, and I loved driving well even more, and as a result of that, I have always pushed myself to be as good as I could be.

"Any success that I have had has happened as a result of that desire, and has also shown to myself that if I really commit myself and work hard at something, I could achieve it."
Source: www.pressboxonline.com/blog.cfm?id=5172

Ashley Freiberg Scores 2nd 2010 Skip Barber Series Titles in Lime Rock Finale


Ashley Freiberg (Fry-berg) completed a sensational 2010 racing campaign last weekend at Lime Rock Park by winning three of four races and collecting her second Skip Barber Series championship.

Freiberg, the18-year-old driver from Homer Glen, Ill., joined a selected group of drivers in Skip Barber Racing history to win two series titles in the same season. Ashley scored the Southern Region crown in April and the Summer Series last Saturday on the 1.54-mile road course in northwest Connecticut.

Freiberg’s Saturday Barber formula car victory was the 23rd feature win for the personable female racer.

“The win at Lime Rock was a great way to finish off the 2010 season,” said Freiberg, a Team USA Scholarship finalist. “I want to thank everyone who helped me this year especially my sponsor Akzo Nobel, my family and friends and the Skip Barber people. To win two series championship in the same year is a great accomplishment. I hope to continue my progression in auto racing and move up to the next level in 2011.”

Freiberg also captured two main events in the MX5 Cup for Mazda sedans at Lime Rock last weekend.

“I never thought I could win 23 races in a year,” said Freiberg. “Actually, I probably could have won some more without a few mishaps. But that is racing. Overall, it was a great year.”

Freiberg also won the Skip Barber “Coaches Choice Award” in the BFGoodrich Barber National presented by Mazda which is given to the best overall performance by a driver on and off the track.

Freiberg scored several firsts for the Skip Barber racing program by becoming the first woman to win a series championship (Southern Region) and the first woman to win a Barber National Series race (New Jersey Motorsports Park).

“We are working hard right now for the 2011 season,” she said. “A driver has to put in a lot of time off the track too. I have been working behind the scenes in getting things ready for the upcoming season. I look forward to another exciting year.”

Freiberg will be in Indianapolis this week to participate in the Lyn St. James Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation charity karting event set for Thursday, Oct. 14, at Fast Times Karting Center

17-Year-Old Wins Karting Race, Teaches Sports Stars To Drive Fast


Ashley Freiberg has been jet-setting with the best of them lately. The 17-year-old racer from Homer Glen, Ill., isn’t about slow down either.

Freiberg participated in four racing events a week ago in Atlanta and West Palm Beach including winning a charity karting race, setting the fast race lap in the BFGoodrich Skip Barber National open-wheel competition and teaching other women sports stars, (Olympic Medalists and XGame’s World Champions) how to drive fast in the AMG Mercedes Driving Experience.

Now, the Lockport High School senior prepares for her final Barber National race of the year this weekend (Oct. 9-10) at Lime Rock Park, Connecticut, currently ranked sixth in the national point standings in her rookie season.

“That was a pretty wild week with all of the racing and driving events,” said Freiberg, who spent much of last week working on her studies. It was a blast winning the charity karting feature with Shannon McIntosh in the John Gorsline-sponsored charity race event. Then I ran well at Road Atlanta in the Skip Barber National events. And finally, it was a great experience to drive with these amazing sports stars in the AMG Mercedes experience. It was just a great week for a young woman like me to be involved.”

Freiberg, a former karting champion, defeated a very competitive field in Tuesday night’s Petit three-hour endurance charity race before concentrating on the Barber action.

In the two-race weekend at Road Atlanta, Ashley qualified fourth and was running competitive with the leaders in the opening race before being knocked out of contention by another driver. In the second contest, Freiberg charged from 11th to fourth including establishing the race’s fastest lap. The fourth place finish moved Freiberg to sixth in the current national standings entering this weekend’s season finale at Lime Rock.

“I felt pretty good about the second race at Road Atlanta,” explains Freiberg. “I wasn’t happy about getting taken out of the first race. At the green flag I knew I had some time stating 11th. I patiently chose when and where to make my passes and not put my car in a position to risk not finishing the race. I was getting accustomed to the track. It was a great feeling to move up and race with the leaders again. It was similar to the Road America race where I finished on the podium. It was also great to set the fastest race lap, too.” Freiberg wrapped up her busy week by participating in the prestigious two-day AMG Mercedes Driving Experience at the new Palm Beach International Raceway. She drove a variety of AMG Mercedes sedans with world class female athletes from different forms of competition such as XGame’s Champions in surfing, skiing and Olympic Medalists skiing and snowboarding.

“I flew to West Palm Beach where I met many female athletes at the reception dinner before the AMG Driving Academy weekend started,” said Ashley. “They were all great people. It was cool for me to relate to them with how they had to sacrifice everything to follow their dreams. I mentioned to them that tonight was my homecoming dance at school, they all laughed and said, we never made any of our dances at school or most anything else either. It was an awesome motivation for me to hear them tell me to never give up. It was weird, yet amazing, to be teaching some of these girls how to drive fast. They caught on so quickly to what I would tell them, and they were really fast! Shannon Bahrke, Olympic Silver Medalists of 2002 and World Champion in 2003 and I connected well; we were always in the car together. She would always say to me “you’re a little bad ass on the track”. Shannon will be returning to the winter Olympics in 2010. As for the AMG Mercedes, WOW, what can I say, they are incredible!

And then it was time to go home, arrived in Chicago at 1:00 AM from West Palm Beach, had to get up for school at 4:45 AM, out of school at 1:00 PM, homework until 5:00 PM and then off to Traffic School for a SPEEDING TICKET

Illinois Racer To Participate In Karting and AMG Mercedes Activities Too - 9/21/09


Ashley Freiberg has been studying hard during her senior year at Lockport Township High School. She needs to get ahead on her studies as her racing schedule is busy as ever this week.

The 17-year-old open-wheel racer from Homer Glen, Ill., wanted to make sure she had her homework completed when she left today for her whirlwind racing trip through the Southeast with five days of racing and appearances.

Freiberg’s (pronounced Fry-Berg) primary racing endeavor will be practice, qualifying and two feature races in the Skip Barber BFGoodrich National Series presented by MAZDA competition beginning Tuesday, Sept. 22, during the Petit Le Mans weekend at Road Atlanta. The main event races are set for Thursday and Friday, Sept. 24-25, on the fast 2.54-mile, 12-turn circuit northwest of Atlanta. Freiberg, a series rookie, currently ranks seventh in the Barber National point standings.

“It will be a hectic week for me,” said Freiberg, who scored a podium finish last month at Road America. “I have been studying very hard to get ahead in my classes. That way I can concentrate on my races and special appearances this week. The special events are very exciting, too.”

Freiberg will kick off her busy week on Tuesday, Sept. 22, with participation in the 8th annual Motorsports Ministries Petit Kart Challenge in Atlanta. Invited by John Gorsline, Freiberg will team with Shannon McIntosh in the three-hour endurance contest, raising funds for Motorsports Ministries and Breast Cancer charities. The Gorsline Company of Rochester, N.Y., hosts the popular annual racing affair.

“I am honored to be invited by John for this event,” said Ashley, a two-time WKA world karting champion. “And I want to thank him for his assistance in racing in the prestigious charity event.” Following her racing week at Road Atlanta, Freiberg will travel to West Palm Beach, Fla., to be part of the coveted AMG Mercedes Driving Experience at the new Palm Beach International Raceway. Ashley will drive AMG Mercedes sedans with world class female athletes from different forms of competition such as surfing world champions, Olympic skiing medalists, X Games snowboarding gold medalists and pro freestyle skiers. The two-day special event, set for Sept. 25-26, will be filmed for future telecasts.

“I am so excited to meet these amazing athletes in the spectacular event at West Palm Beach,” said Freiberg. “Plus, driving those amazing AMG Mercedes cars will be truly fantastic for a young racer like me. The whole week is something I will never forget.”

Young Ashley Freiberg Scores First Podium Finish In Skip Barber National Series Race At Road America


Young female racer Ashley Freiberg put herself in the national motorsports limelight this past weekend with her first podium finish in the Skip Barber BFGoodrich National Series presented by MAZDA race held Saturday, Aug. 22, on the famed four-mile road course at Elkhart Lake’s Road America. Freiberg (pronounced Fry-Berg), 17, started 14th in a 15-car field and drove her Mazda-powered open-wheel car through the pack to the challenge the two lead drivers, Conner De Phillippi and Court Vernon, before settling for third in the eight-lap race. Unfortunately, Freiberg’s charge on the leaders was halted due to a full-course caution period on the race’s final lap.

“We had some problems with the car in qualifying,” said Freiberg, a senior at Lockport Township High School in Lockport, Ill. “So I had to start in the back of the field. The car felt great during the race, and I was able to fight my way towards the front.

The last couple of laps were crazy, there were five of us sliding in and out for position, one second your in first or second, the next your in fifth. We had some great wheel-to-wheel racing and I was in position to fight for second when the yellow came out. It was a great weekend and to be racing up front with Connor and Court was pretty cool. Connor is currently 1st and Court is 2nd in the points for the Skip Barber BFGoodrich National Series presented by Mazda. I have learned a lot, “Your on Your Own” when the race is winding down”. I want to thank my coaches Phil Lombardi and Gerardo Bonilla, along with the Skip Barber mechanics and staff for providing us with great cars for an awesome race!!”

Freiberg, a former WKA world karting champion, is making her initial campaign on the Skip Barber open-wheel series after beginning her racing career at age 13 in karts. Earlier this year, Freiberg won the Skip Barber regional races at Sebring, Fla., in February and Elkhart Lake last month.

Freiberg currently ranks seventh in the in the 2009 Skip Barber National point standings after ten of 14 races.

In Sunday’s National race, Freiberg moved to second in the field before contact with another car dropped her to fifth.

Freiberg will return to Skip Barber BFGoodrich National Series action on Sept. 22-25 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga., as part of the Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda6 American Le Mans Series weekend.

Ashley's first Star Mazda Race Event


The race at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, IL was going to be my first Star Mazda Race Event. I have tested in the Star Mazda a couple of times, and this was going to be my one-off race of the year. The Star Mazda Series presented by Goodyear is a very competitive open-wheel racing series that brings in top drivers from all over the world. My intensions on doing this race were to learn the most I can by getting a feel for the car, the team, the engineering, and what I need to do to better myself before I run a full season.

On Thursday and Friday I was only able to get in 50 minutes of practice because of mechanical issues; the rest of the 22 drivers were on track for three hours. My parents were very skeptical whether or not I should continue the weekend because I am so new to this car, this track, and this series. The seat time was crucial for me to be competitive. Because I had shown so much confidence, my parents gave me the OK to race.

Qualifying was Saturday morning, but due to rain over night, there was standing water on the track. This had caused multiple spins and red flags for my qualifying session. This allowed the whole group to get only one timed green flag lap, I qualified 19th. For race 1, I experienced my first standing start. Now that’s a ride!!! I was really nervous, but I held my ground and moved up a couple of positions at the start. During the race I moved up from 19th to 14th and about three laps into the race I was hit in my right rear wheel from someone making their way back onto the track after they had gone off in front of me. I ended up spinning and finishing a lap down in 19th place.

I qualified for my second race in the 19th position once again, but I made up for it at the start. I was able to make my way up to 11th by mid race but fell back to 13th which was where I stayed for about 6 laps. As the race went on I made a few rookie mistakes that unfortunately gave up a few positions and caused me to finish 18th. But in the end, I was able to prove that with a little more seat time in the car, I will have more confidence and be very competitive in the Star Mazda Series.

Ashley Freiberg Races SCCA National with Star Mazda Series Team GDT


Ashley Freiberg, a 17 year old junior at Lockport High School in Homer Glen Illinois had the opportunity for some (high level) practice prior to the Skip Barber National Race weekend, April 23–26. Ashley attended the SCCA Oak Tree Double National Race at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia with team GDT in a Pro Star Mazda. Ashley is planning to race in the Star Mazda Series next season, so this test has served many answers. Ashley has learned a great deal this week and we know this experience her will help her along the way. Going into this race Ashley had no expectations on were she will end up because of the variety of different race cars in this class, the goal was simply to get more seat time and make the most out of it as well.

Ashley arrived at the track Thursday morning and the team and crew were ready to get to work. They had to make quite a few adjustments to the car to fit Ashley, the position of the pedals, weights, and more. In Ashley’s first session she was only able to get four laps under green because of multiple red flags. In fact, there wasn't one session without a red flag, which allowed her group to get in only 17 laps under green for the entire practice day. By the end of the first day, Ashley was able to lay down a lap time of 1:51:4. The current Star Mazda Series drivers that had been at VIR testing the week before were laying lap times of low 1:50’s and high 1:48’s, so Ashley was not far off.

On Friday morning Ashley had only two sessions, a practice and a qualifying session. The first practice, once again, was red flagged. So she ended up using that round as a warm-up session. For qualifying, it became more of a hunt for a lap with no traffic than anything else. “Because I was grouped with cars that had a very wide range of speed, both much faster and much slower, and on top of that with drivers with a very wide range of talent, it was very difficult to find a free lap,” said Ashley. She did happen to get one clean open lap, where she pulled a lap time of 1:49:9. Ashley ended up qualifying 4th out of 57 cars and finished 5th in the race.

“I love driving this car! And it was really exciting for me to know that I am capable of pulling lap times within a second of the Star Mazda pro drivers in my second time testing in the car.” Ashley’s race was Saturday morning April 18th; she couldn't wait to get into this unbelievable race car. “This is so unbelievably fast compared to some of the cars I have driven Ashley said” It’s really cool, the feeling of the arrow down force gives you the confidence to drive the car much harder/faster through turns, you can brake way later because of the added down force also. With the results from her two tests in this car, Ashley has been given the “boost” and now has a better understanding on what she needs to focus on. “I am driven, I work hard…period, and I will make it to THE NEXT LEVEL. I am confident that I will be very competitive by the time April of 2010 rolls around.” Ashley said.

Team GDT has been great with me. The Engineer and crew were very pleased with the results from this weekend.” Bob Markley and lead Mechanic Paul Mata have given me great support and confidence. Everyone was great at Team GDT, I had a blast, the car was awesome and I can’t wait for an opportunity like this to come again. I would also like to give a big thank you to JW Roberts for this awesome opportunity.

This Wednesday, Ashley will be leaving once again to VIR to race in the BF Goodrich Skip Barber National Series presented by MAZDA. “It should be interesting getting back into the Skip Barber Race car, this car is a great learning tool and I know I will always have a lot to learn” Ashley’s races will be on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, as support races to the Rolex Series.

17-year-old Homer resident passes homecoming dances for race track


It's an insurance agent's worst nightmare: a 17-year-old girl driving at speeds of up to 130 mph.

But Ashley Freiberg doesn't reach those ridiculous speeds in her family's Chevy Suburban, and the Lockport Township High School junior isn't texting her "bff's" in the process. Freiberg reaches those speeds in a Formula RT/2000, on a three-mile race track.

The Homer Glen resident has a passion unlike most her age, and her gender: she races in the BF Goodrich Skip Barber Racing Series — a racing series for entry-level open-wheel drivers. And she races well.

Freiberg last month earned her first Skip Barber Series victory — at the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida.

"I still haven't stopped smiling about it," Freiberg said of her hard-fought victory, in which she beat out a field of 16 drivers, all of which were men. "As I got to the checkered flag I had never felt so happy in my life... winning was an unbelievably exciting and emotional moment for me, my parents and some of my instructors and mechanics. I put so much hard work into this."

That she did. Freiberg had been in pursuit of her first Skip Barber Series victory for more than two years.

She began racing open-wheel rides in December of 2006 — when she graduated from the Skip Barber three-day race school. In her first race with the Skip Barber Series in June of 2007, Freiberg finished fourth out of 15 cars. In the two years following her first race, Freiberg enrolled and graduated from a number of premier racing schools — including the Lyn St. James Driver Development Academy.

"Lyn St. James was the first woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500 — even before Danica Patrick was around. In fact, [St. James' was Danica's mentor," Freiberg said. "You have to qualify to get into her school — she basically picks girls that are serious about driving.

"The training I received there I couldn't have received anywhere else."

Freiberg's need for speed began when she was just 13 years old.

"My brother and his friend raced go-karts. I always thought it was too dangerous and that I wouldn't be good at it, but I gave it a try."

Four championships later, including a World Karting Association national championship, Freiberg moved on to the bigger steering wheel.

Freiberg said her victory in Sebring on Saturday, Feb. 14, came down to the final laps of the 13-lap, 39-mile race.

With two laps to go in the race, during which Freiberg led at one point by 10 car-lengths, the second place car passed her for the lead at the white flag.

That's when she said her Skip Barber instructor, professional race car driver and friend, Gerardo Bonilla, helped her maintain her focus.

"He told me, "alright Ashley, this is going to be the best lap of your life — come on girl, let's go, let's go!'"

She then passed her opponent and lengthened her lead — and drove past the checkered line with arms pumping up and down. A bucket of ice water over her head followed minutes later — a tradition for first-time Skip Barber race winners.

Freiberg said it doesn't really phase her that she is a female competing — and winning — in a predominately male sport.

"Honestly, it doesn't really affect me. Once you're in the car it doesn't matter whose driving it — it's how fast you're driving it," she said. "I'll admit I do get more attention because of it, and that does make it more difficult. Sometimes people will be quick to point out an error I make just because I am a girl."

The adrenaline rush of traveling at speeds in excess of 100 mph is what draws her to the sport, she said.

"It's so exciting — I love everything about it. The adrenaline rush is so crazy, I love being at high speeds, wheel-to-wheel with another driver."

Racing has caused Freiberg to miss out on certain things most 17-year-old high school juniors do.

"I recently had a choice between going to my homecoming dance or my first stock car race," she said, adding that she chose the stock car race. "It makes me feel a little left out but at the same time it's worth it — this is what I love to do and I am pursuing it as a profession." She still finds time to be honor roll student at LTHS.

Freiberg said she has her parents to thank, along with all the coaches and mentors she has come across, for helping her along the way.

"I would never be as far as I am today without the help of my parents," she said. Her parents often foot costs in the thousands of dollars for her to race. "They have supported me so incredibly much during my race career — I don't know what I'd do without them."

Ashley's parents, Chuck and Donna Freiberg, admitted it's a little nerve-racking watching their daughter reach ridiculous speeds on the track.

"She's been in a couple of bad wrecks but the safety equipment is just great," Chuck Freiberg said. "You kind of cringe when she's on the race track, but you have to let them do what they to do."

He said he was one proud father to see his daughter take home her first Skip Barber Series race.

"My wife and I were both there [for the race]. It was an unbelievable feeling — she has worked so hard for it over the years between training, dieting and working out."

Up next for Ashley Freiberg is participation in a support race for the American Le Mans race in Sebring, Florida on Tuesday, March 17. Her next Skip Barber Series race is planned for Friday, April 24.

"It's so exciting — I love everything about it. The adrenaline rush is so crazy, I love being at high speeds, wheel-to-wheel with another driver." Ashley Freiberg, on reaching speeds of up to 130 mph on the race track.

Ashley Freiberg Captures First Win in BF Goodrich Skip Barber Race Series presented by MAZDA


It was Saturday morning; 17 year old Ashley Freiberg of Homer Glen Illinois, and a Lockport High School Junior arrived at the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida to race in the BF Goodrich Skip Barber Race

Series presented by MAZDA. This race weekend actually started the Thursday before, but because she did not want to miss any school days, she decided to skip the Thursday and Friday practices and show up for the qualifying runs that morning. “I really wasn’t all that worried,” said Ashley, “I’ve had some seat time there, and because I’m in AP and Honors classes, it’s just too difficult for me to miss school.” Ashley was paired up with Skip Barber instructor, professional race car driver and friend, Gerardo Bonilla, who had helped her throughout the entire weekend. Gerardo was at Ashley’s side to study track maps, review car data, in-car videos, and radio coaching

Results

Ashley Freiberg started her racing career as an 11 year old working as a Burris Circle Tour official in timing and scoring. Her brothers, Eric and Brian, raced go karts on asphalt ovals and, at the time, she was more interested in playing basketball. As time went on, she became more interested in racing. At 13, when her brothers moved on to road racing with go karts of higher speeds on road courses, she decided to give it a try. So Ashleys dad, Chuck, sent her out to the Jim Hall Kart Racing School out in Ventura, California. That was where she fell in love with the sport.

In December 2004, she attended her first race with the World Karting Association at the Daytona International Speedway on the 24 Hour Road Course. There she raced in the Jr. Sprint Lite and Heavy classes which reached speeds up to 80 mph. That season, she raced in all WKA races along with all of the Championship Enduro Series (CES) races. At the end of the season, she finished 7th in points with WKA and 4th in CES. Finishing in the top ten in both series in her first year of racing was a huge accomplishment and she now knew she had the potential to finish at the top.

The next season, in 2006, she had to continue racing in the Jr. Sprint classes for both series because she wasnt old enough to move forward yet. At the end of that year, she was undefeated in two different classes in CES and also won a National Championship in WKA. After winning these three championships in only her second year, she decided it was time to start a new challenge and step up to cars.

In 2007, Ashley attended both the Three-day School and the Two-day Advanced School with Skip Barber, so that in the summer she could race in the Skip Barber Midwestern Series. She also moved up to the Piston Port Can 340 and 360 classes with CES. Because she was racing the Skip Barber Series, she didnt have enough time to also race in the WKA series, but she did happen to find time for one WKA race and it was the last race of the season at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. There she broke the undefeated season of the points leader and took 1st place. She also won her 4th karting championship in CES.

This year Ashley has accumulated six top 5 finishes in the Skip Barber Racing Series and 5 podium finishes. She also attended her first race in the Formula Mazda with the Sports Car Club of America National race at the Infineon Raceway in Sanoma, California. There she started 26th and worked her way up to finishing 4th in her class. She has also recently moved up to racing 125 cc shifters with CES, and in her only race where she had no mechanical problems that caused her to fall out, she finished 5th out of 19. Ashley has also decided to start experimenting with different types of racing to see what fits her driving style best. This summer Ashley attended the Finish Line Racing School in New Smyrna, Florida, and has tested in a stock car at Hickory in North Carolina, so she could get a taste of what its like to drive a stock car. Ashley had also recently had some help from Mazda to attend her first Skip Barber National race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. There she qualified 10th and finished 7th in her Saturday race, and qualified 6th for Sundays race but had a mishap in turn one.

For the year of 2009 Ashley is planning on racing in a couple BF Goodrich Skip Barber National Series presented by MAZDA races depending on how well she does at the Skip Barber Karting Shootout on December 27, 2008. She is currently looking into a few Star Mazda teams and looking for some days to do a few practice/test sessions. She is currently racing in the Skip Barber Southern Series and racing her shifter kart as often as possible. Ashley is planning on racing in a few SCCA races as well to get as much seat time as possible. Ashleys main goal is to get a ride in the Indy Racing League.

Schedule

2010

I am planning on competing for the BF Goodrich Skip Barber National Championship presented by MAZDA. I am graduating Highschool in January so I can put 110% of my focus toward winning the season so that I can win the full season in the Star Mazda 2011 Championship. Before the Skip Barber National season starts, I will be testing in the Star Mazda car as much as possible.

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