Female Racer Juggles Multiple Jobs In Motorsports To Help With Career AdvancementSMITHFIELD, VA (February 29, 2008) – Over the last 10 years, Tiffany Daniels has been involved in the racing industry in various forms. Starting off as a crew member working on chassis setup, timing and repair in the Bandolero series in 1998, Daniels honed her skills outside the driver’s seat before jumping behind the wheel of a Legends Car a few years later. During the 10-year time span, Daniels moved up to Limited Late Models as a driver and working at Ganassi Racing as a Support Engineer.

Now, in 2008, 23-year old Daniels will continue her climb up the ladder in motorsports by eating, breathing and sleeping racing.

“Basically this year is going to be about developing me as a driver, developing our marketing skills and getting prepared for opportunities that we are trying to work on for 2009,” said Daniels. “It is going to be about seat time and being ready for any new opportunities that we will be presented with.”

Mid-season in 2007, Daniels switched from Limited Late Models to Late Model Stock racing. In 2008, Daniels will make another switch as she will compete in a limited schedule in the UARA-Stars series.

“We are running a limited UARA schedule due to traveling and our budget,” explained Daniels. “We are not going to run every single race and we feel we do not need to. The competition is going to be extremely tough in UARA this year and they are going to be sending cars home every week, so we figured for our first full year of Late Model racing we will start our goals off with solid top 10’s, building our momentum and work towards solid top fives and even some wins by the end of the season.”

When Tiffany is not driving her UARA car, she will still be at the track, but as a crew member helping her Charlie Daniels Racing teammate and brother Cliff as he moves up the ranks of racing as well.

“It is a whole lot easier going to the track and focusing on one car at a time, whether it is mine or Cliff’s,” explained Daniels. “Right now it has worked out easier schedule-wise with my car for me to skip Concord (Concord Motorsport Park in North Carolina) and run Motor Mile (VA). It will let us focus on one car at a time as well as getting the best performance out of that car and we will learn different things in the process. It will be a good learning experience for us.”

Another opportunity that presented itself to Daniels this season is helping out a fellow former competitor from the Legends Car realm. Craig Goess is moving up this year to the NASCAR Camping World East Series in 2008 with Eddie Sharp Racing. In a deal that will get him some seat time before his season starts, Daniels will also get seat time in an ARCA car.

“One of Eddie Sharp’s development drivers will be racing in the this year and wanted a little more seat time before his season starts,” said Daniels. “He will run my car at Kenly (NC) on March 15th for the twin 50-lap races. Then they will try to work me into a few ARCA tests at possibly Caraway Speedway (NC) or some smaller, closer tracks so I can get some seat time in an ARCA car and prepare me for next year to possibly move up to ARCA or the Camping World East Series.”

Away from the track in March, Daniels will participate in Phase Two of the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation’s 2007-2008 Driver Development Program, which was established by accomplished female racer Lyn St. James to provide information and training for female racecar drivers who have demonstrated success on track and have a desire to pursue a career in professional motorsports. Daniels completed Phase One in November.

Outside of her own driving and personal development, Daniels will continue working her day job at Ganassi Racing, something she feels will help progress her career, personally and professionally.

“It is kind of like having two careers, but they are intertwined,” explained Daniels. “I have been able make contacts at Ganassi that have helped me with the Late Model and pick up some things at work to help me become a better racer. Then the experience in my Late Model helps me contribute more and be more confident at Ganassi. It really goes hand in hand.”

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