Most people do not think of women in car racing,
or if they do, disparagingly at best. But the NASCAR Circuit is seeing
the beginnings of what is becoming its own sort of grease-smudged Cinderella
story. Novice racer Francesca Torquemada has been making quite a name for
herself this summer at the rookie feeder tracks in Richmond, Winchester and
Manassas Virginia, in her signature, fully-restored 1969 GTO Judge, setting
new track records for best time on 3 occasions this summer.
Francesca, who prefers to be addressed as Torque,
credits the caring of a Counselor
she met months ago when she was a witness to his shooting in Southeast. Jason
Turnbull, of the Anacostia Boys' Club, encouraged the girl to give up her
illicit life of street racing in the run-down backroads of Hyattsville,
Maryland, and to take her talents to a more legitimate arena -- NASCAR. Coach
Turnbull is currently on hiatus from his Coaching/Counseling position and was
unavailable for comment. "Torque" continues to honor her mentor, and
his unnamed friend, a black gentleman sometimes seen cheering her on at the
Virginia races, by diving into the racing scene with as much gusto as any male
counterpart. We look forward to seeing great things from this young lady in
the months to come.
seeing
the beginnings of what is becoming its own sort of grease-smudged Cinderella
story. Novice racer Francesca Torquemada has been making quite a name for
herself this summer at the rookie feeder tracks in Richmond, Winchester and
Manassas Virginia, in her signature, fully-restored 1969 GTO Judge, setting
new track records for best time on 3 occasions this summer.
Counselor
she met months ago when she was a witness to his shooting in Southeast. Jason
Turnbull, of the Anacostia Boys' Club, encouraged the girl to give up her
illicit life of street racing in the run-down backroads of Hyattsville,
Maryland, and to take her talents to a more legitimate arena -- NASCAR. Coach
Turnbull is currently on hiatus from his Coaching/Counseling position and was
unavailable for comment. "Torque" continues to honor her mentor, and
his unnamed friend, a black gentleman sometimes seen cheering her on at the
Virginia races, by diving into the racing scene with as much gusto as any male
counterpart. We look forward to seeing great things from this young lady in
the months to come.
