Posted on 01/21/2018 3:39:09 AM PST by SandRat
HEREFORD — As a 10-year-old, Anika “Roco” O’Brien claimed the 2016 Bandolero division “Rookie of the Year” track title at Tucson Speedway.
Now, one year later, she is the new Bandolero division champion.
“In 2017 I won the division championship by one point,” O’Brien said Thursday while sitting in her Briggs and Stratton lime green race car at her family’s home in Hereford. “And my dad (Brian O’Brien) won the Pro Stock championship this year, for the second year in a row. Stock car racing is a family sport for us.”
Anika and her father both race as car No. 41, though her’s is a 600-cc engine. Her average speed on a three-eighths mile oval track is 61 miles per hour, climbing to 70 on straightaways.
Tucson Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned track. Because children under 14 are too young to compete in NASCAR races, they race in the INEX Division, Brian said.
According to Anika’s mother, Kristi, there have been four female track champions crowned at Tucson Speedway with Anika as the first female competitor from Cochise County to win a championship title.
“She is the only Bandolero driver to compete in all 10 races, earning her first win with all 10 top five finishers,” Kristi said. “In her first year of racing she was Rookie of the Year, finished second in overall points and was presented with the award for ‘Best Appearing Car, so she’s done well in her two years at the track.”
Both Anika and her father were recognized as Tucson Speedway championship winners in a recent banquet at Desert Diamond Casino where they were presented with their 2017 trophies.
John Lashley, track promoter and manager at Tucson Speedway, said more than 300 people attended the track’s fifth annual banquet to celebrate the 2017 winners in eight different divisions, with Anika selected as one of the trophy presenters.
“Watching her grow up, I see the racing side of Anika’s personality, as well as her more quiet, mature side,” Lashley said. “Brian and Kristi have done a great job as role models and it shows in their two children.”
The youngest member of the O’Brien clan, 7-year-old Maddox, will be racing as a Bandolero driver as soon as he hits the magic age of 8.
“I can’t wait,” he grinned. “I go to all the races and watch Anika and my dad. When I start racing, people will be watching me. And I’m going to win.”
Lashley says there’s no doubt in his mind that Maddox will follow in the footsteps of his father and older sister.
“They (the O’Briens) really are energizing as a family,” he said. “They do so much for this track. Kristi writes about the track for different publications and gives us fantastic publicity. Brian is our Pro Stock champion, Anika has won the championship in her division and both O’Brien kids have grown up at the track. Racing is in their DNA.”
Brian won his first stock car race in 2003 at Tucson Speedway and briefly held the track Factory Stock division in 2005. In 2016 he won the Pro Stock Championship with nearly a 200-point lead over the second-place competitor. That track title was was followed by his second championship win in 2017.
“I’m glad our whole family goes to the track and enjoys the sport of racing,” said Brian, whose mother, Karin O’Brien, is a fan as well.
When asked if she plans to continue racing once she’s old enough to compete against adults, Anika smiled and said she looks forward to sharing the track with her dad.
“I support whatever she wants to do,” Brian said. “I don’t believe in pushing either of our two kids into racing, but I support their decision to compete if that’s what they want to do. So far, both of them have shown an interest. Starting out as Bandolero drivers is a great way for them to get a feel for the sport.”
When she’s not busy racing, Anika enjoys riding quads, hunting, reading mystery books and playing board games. She also enjoys karate, having started taking lessons when she was 4 years old.
One of the very few good things brought about by prohibition.
Race relations are Good in ARIZONA!
She might replace Danica as the favorite NASCAR female driver, and she loves hunting....nice...
Of course. That’s because the force is strong in this one.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.