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What Happens When Family, Farming, and Fast Cars Collide?
Manage episode 498639726 series 3567647
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Racing isn't just a weekend hobby for 17-year-old Dominique Champlin—it's a family legacy that's "wedged its way into her life routine." From the moment she climbed into an alcohol-powered go-kart at age six, motorsports has been her driving passion, leading to her first championship at just seven years old.
What makes Dominique's story remarkable goes beyond her three championships or her current late model racing career. It's her unwavering commitment despite a schedule that would exhaust most adults. She rises at 4:30 AM for a 10-hour workday at a livestock farm, then heads straight to prepare her race car before making the hour drive to Mid-Michigan Raceway Park in Fenwick. When asked how she manages this punishing schedule, her answer is refreshingly honest: "I'm not too sure how I do it, but I do."
The young racer's journey reflects the heart of grassroots motorsports—family support, financial challenges, and the pure joy of competition. Her #87 late model showcases the colors of IBEW, a union that provides her with a rare 10-year sponsorship contract. This financial backing came with an emotional moment when she and her grandfather "had to go out and cry a little bit" after receiving their first check.
While her mother might prefer she sell all the race cars and take up dancing, Dominique finds purpose in inspiring younger girls at the track. She races alongside her 14-year-old brother in what she describes as a "Talladega Nights" dynamic, complete with "shake and bake" moments on the dirt track. Despite blown engines, wrecks, and a currently bent frame, she sits fourth in points—proof of her skill and determination.
Subscribe to hear more stories like Dominique's, where passion meets perseverance and where every woman's racing journey deserves celebration. Whether you're a driver, crew member, or fan, Women's Motorsports Network connects our community one story at a time.
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Chapters
1. Welcome to Women's Motorsports Network (00:00:00)
2. Meet Dominique: A Teen Driver's Story (00:02:13)
3. Family Racing Roots and Early Success (00:03:20)
4. Moving Up: From Go-Karts to Late Models (00:04:33)
5. Race Day Routine and Season Challenges (00:08:05)
6. Being a Female Competitor in Motorsports (00:17:50)
7. Looking to the Future and Final Thoughts (00:23:08)
369 episodes
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