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Brea Lopez Motorsports!

   
 

WhatsNew

Brea Lopez Signs New Sponsors for the 2009 Racing Season

Joes Racing Products and All-Star Staffing sign for the 2009 Limited Late Model Racing Season.

   

 

   
 

PointStandings

2009 Rookie of the Year Honors - 3rd Overall

Brea Lopez won Rookie of the Year  and finished the season 3rd in the Championship Points.  In ten events at South Sound Speedway, the Brea Lopez Motorsports team celebrated  in victory circle once, 3 top-5's, 5 top-10's, and 1 fast time.

   

 

   
 

EventS

Brea's Next Race

Brea will be headed to Yakima Speeway to participate in the 2009 Fall Classic October 2nd-3rd. This event is a 125 lap Limited Late Model Event.  Races start at 6:00pm Saturday. Don't Miss It!

   

 

 

 

 

 
 

Vader's Brea Lopez on path to NASCAR stardom

Sunday, October 11, 2009 3:35 AM PDT

By Rick S. Alvord

Brea Lopez’s new puppy is named Revy. Actually, its full name is Revy Piston. Allow her to explain.

“You know, Revy ... like when you rev your car,” said the energetic 21-year-old. “And Piston, well, that’s pretty self explanatory.”

Makes sense, especially for a young racer who’s making a meteoric rise in the world of driving fast.

Lopez, who resides in Vader, recently won Rookie of the Year at South Sound Speedway near Tenino in the NASCAR-style, Limited Late Models stock-car category, where she finished third in the point standings. She was the first female at the track to capture a main event and had four top-five finishes.

In itself, a successful rookie campaign driving the “big cars” after ruling midget-car racing for much of her youth would be reason to smile — and maybe even spring for a T-bone steak for little Revy.

Then Lopez received thrilling, potentially career-changing news. She was one of 29 drivers in the nation selected to participate in NASCAR’s Drive For Diversity Combine program in Charlotte, N.C., starting Friday and continuing through Oct. 19. She leaves for Charlotte on Wednesday.

The program is similar to an NFL combine, where college prospects are put to the test by scouts and team representatives. In Charlotte, Lopez and the other drivers will put their driving skills on display and undergo rigorous testing.

“I’m not that nervous. I’m more excited than anything else. I’ve been racing since I was 9 years old and I’ve grown up around it all my life. There’s nowhere I feel more comfortable than in my car,” said Lopez, who won’t be the only female battling for one of the 10 available spots on either the NASCAR Camping World Series or NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, both on target for competition in 2010.

“But you can’t just drive well. You have to be the total package. You have to look, sound and drive like you know what you’re doing,” she added. “They want someone who will represent their product well, who will represent the sponsors and be a good all-around fit. But yes, if you can’t drive, they’re not going to pick you.”

The extensive training program will include on-track assessment in all areas of driving skills, communications between driver and crew, media relations and training, and — above all else — the ability to adapt to a given situation.

Lopez was also excited to learn that she and the other Combine participants will be part of a reality television series, “Changing Lanes,” which is being developed in collaboration with the NASCAR Media Group and set to air in early 2010 on the BET Network. The 10-part series will showcase the development of young Drive for Diversity competitors trying to make it in the big-time world of NASCAR racing.

Even if she is not selected, Lopez will appear on the first two episodes. If she makes the cut, she’ll likely appear in the entire series.

“They’ll put you in front of the camera to see how you react. There’s also a lot of fitness testing. You have to be in good shape,” said Lopez, who applied for the Driving for Diversity program in 2007 and 2008, but was turned down. “It’ll be fun to be on TV, but my goal is to get a ride (opportunity to drive for a team). Whatever the outcome, I’m happy to get the opportunity.”

Worthy racing portfolio

Lopez learned how to compete behind the wheel from her grandfather, Dan Press, who pieced together a successful West Coast racing career of his own before retiring. From 1998 to 2004, Lopez competed across the country in quarter- and half-midget racing series, and won more than 10 championships.

She collected two Grand National titles, four consecutive Winternational events and two regional crowns, including the 2003 Eastern Grand Nationals where she defeated more than 1,000 competitors.

The move up to racing stock cars this year was a natural progression for a woman who clearly wants to make a splash on the big stage.

“People around the country involved in racing know who I am, but they don’t know me,” said Lopez, who graduated in 2005 from Apolo High School in Winlock. “Going to the Combine, it’s a chance to further my career and show what I can do in a race car.”

Currently, there are a handful of female drivers competing on some of NASCAR’s minor-league circuits, but none in the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series.

Lopez isn’t being greedy. All she wants is a spot on one of the Combine teams. The Drive For Diversity program is designed to give female and minority drivers a chance to do just that.

“They’ve revamped it quite a bit,” she said. “But the bottom line is, they’re giving people like me a chance to realize their dream. And that’s pretty cool.”

Mellowing with age

Lopez describes her racing style as “evolving.” After driving aggressively during her younger days in midget cars, she says she has learned to be more patient on the track.

“Now that I’m in the bigger cars and the races are longer, you have to know when to sit back and take your time,” she said. “I’ve always been aggressive. It’s hard for me not to be aggressive.”

Lopez has encountered her share of chauvinists on the track, guys who still believe females shouldn’t waste their time in a male-dominated sport.

She has left many of them in her dust.

“I’ve dealt with it since I was 9. It’s cool to win races when you’re female. But I’ve kind of gotten over that. I have a thick skin,” she said. “I know I’m going to get scrutinized more and I’m going to get bumped around, but I don’t mind giving it back. Not everyone is going to like you, but hopefully they respect you. Every driver wants that, whether they’re male or female.”

Lopez is a workaholic. When she’s not involved with her racing team, Brea Lopez Motorsports, she dabbles in real estate and makes appearances as a motivational speaker.

“I like to go camping and play with my puppy, but I don’t have a lot of spare time,” she said. “I love going to schools and youth groups, and speaking with them about goals and dreams. I see myself as a role model, and really, there aren’t a lot of role models in the world.

“When they find out I’m a race car driver, they get pretty interested,” she said. “I want them to know that none of their dreams are silly, and that you should chase them with everything you’ve got — no matter how big or small.”

 

Washington State Star Brea Lopez For October Combine

Washington State driving star Brea Lopez has been selected as a participant for the Drive For Diversity program that will take place in mid-October. The 909 Group, which took over the operations of the program, will own and operate ten racing teams and field the teams under the newly formed Revolution Racing banner. Four of the teams will compete with the NASCAR Camping World Series and the remaining six teams will compete on the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and on target for competition in 2010. This once in a lifetime opportunity has been a dream for Brea for quite some time. The spirited young racer has been racing since the age of nine and realizes she needs to make the most of the golden opportunity before her with her selection into the program.
 
The NASCAR based group will determine the drivers for the 2010 program once the combine is completed. The combine will take place from October 16-19 and the extensive training program will include on track assessment in all areas of driving skills, communications between driver and crew, media relations and training both on and off the track and above all ability to adapt to a given situation. Former 4-time NASCAR Camping World Series champion Andy Santerre will head up the Camping World operations and current car owner Blair Addis will oversee the NASCAR Whelen All-American program.
 
The challenge to try something new has been a staple in the life of 21 year old driving sensation Brea Lopez. Brea began chasing her racing dream at the age of nine as she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather, the legendary and very successful West Coast racer Dan Press. From 1998 until 2004 Brea chased the dream across the country following the quarter and half midget racing series and becoming quite successful herself in racing. Brea won more than ten championships in that span of time that included two Grand National titles, four consecutive Winternational events and two regional titles that included the 2003 Eastern Grands where she captured the championship over more than one thousand fellow competitors.
 
Brea's success spawned new goals for her racing endeavors. Her grandfather looked at many divisions of racing and decided the correct path was to spend some time in the open wheel ranks driving a midget race car. Brea spent fours years competing with the Washington Midget Racing Association and did some traveling to compete in with other sanctioning bodies as she honed her skills in the powerful little creations. Brea was "Rookie of the Year" in her first season while being the runnerup in the final points. While her second year in the Midgets was an off year due to many mechanical issues and being the victim of having the race car stolen on a trip out of state, Brea enjoyed successful seasons in 2007 and 2008 winning a main event in California and challenged for the series titles all season long.
 
Brea and her grandfather decided to change divisions after the 2008 season was completed. After deciding the correct approach was with the full-fendered late model division, her grandfather purchased a Victory Circle chassis race car and fitted the car with a crate motor for competition with the Limited Late Model division at the South Sound Speedway in Washington. The transition for Brea was a quick one as she quickly adpated to the heavier, bulkier cars with ease and captured a win in July in her initial season. With the season schedule having one more event, Brea is sitting in second place in the points battle and has enjoyed the close side by side competition the division offers.
 
Brea Lopez was honored recently by the WNBA Seattle Storm franchise in their salute to Women in Sports in the area. Ahtletes from all division of the sporting world were honored for their achievements in their respective sport as they were announced at mid-court and took part in an autograph signing period during her stay in Seattle. The event took place on August 25th and although the invitation took Lopez by surprise, she was honored to join her fellow athletes in the joyously rewarding experience.
 
Brea's grandfather, West Coast racing legend Dan Press, continues to work his magic with the race car as the car owner, crew chief, mentor and friend for the lady racer. Press is accustomed to working on this type of racing equipment as his success behind the wheel was driving late model type race cars. The team is utilizing a Victory Circle race chassis and the racer has been fitted it with a GM Crate motor for competition with the Limited Late Model division at the South Sound Speedway located in Rochester, Washington. The track will be a familiar and a good starting point for Lopez as she has always enjoyed great success while running her Midget on the fastest 3/8 mile raceway on the West Coast.
 
While the Brea Lopez Motorsports Team is ready for the team's foray into the late model competition, the search to add additional sponsors to the fold continues on a daily basis. The downturn in the National economy has become a difficult challenge for all racers trying to find glory and success in a racing environment. Anyone who would like to lend support to the Brea Lopez Motorsports Team efforts should contact her through her website for further information.
 
Brea Lopez would like to thank all of her sponsors and supporters for their efforts in helping the team prepare for the 2009 racing season. Redline Oil, Finish Line Racing Equipment and new sponsor Joe's Racing Products, Nex-Gen Motorsports and GA Motorsports Media have all played a major role in the success of the team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   
 

 

 

 

 

 
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