October 4, 2013 – To be an underdog racecar driver without a sponsor, you’ve got to be a part of the optimist club, because when you’re on the ‘underdog racecar driver’ team, there are things every day that you have to overcome, and still know that you are going to come out on top. And when you’re an optimist, and you believe in what you set out to do, its crazy how things come together.
This blog comes appropriately the week after I launched a crowdsourcing fundraiser campaign called Driving 4 Dreamers to get back on track, which is proving that the “underdog” can win and that my support system and fan base is truly second to none.
I’ll begin with this.
I’m a dreamer. I’m crazy, I’m a risk taker and like a favorite quote of mine says, “I’m too stupid to know what’s impossible, I have ridiculously large dreams, and most of the time they come true.”
I started developing my Driving 4 Dreamers campaign because I know that everyone is a dreamer. However, I know that sometimes it takes a story and an example to help us take the first step towards making our own dreams a reality, including myself. I also realized that I need a team to support me while I go after my dreams, and I’m not just talking about money.
I’m in my 18th year of racing. I sit on the sidelines, more determined than ever to get to where I’m going; to get in a racecar, and back on the path to a winning career in NASCAR. I have my first ARCA test scheduled in a few weeks and everything couldn’t be coming together any better.
I launched my crowdsourcing fundraiser publicly on September 25th and after one day, we surpassed 25% of my goal; $8,000. In a week, we surpassed the hallway mark and today, we sit at 70% of the goal. 61 people have already seen the vision and joined the movement.
I didn’t have any expectations about how fast the fundraiser would grow. I just knew that I would do whatever it took to achieve and exceed my goals. I’ve known what a great support system I have but this has truly show me…a lot of people believe in what I’m doing and where I’m going, and I can’t even describe how humbled and honored I am that so many people have already stepped up, reached in their personal pockets and donated to my dream.
We have about $2400 more to go and honestly, I think it’s the perfect time to set that goal a little higher. With this money, I’ll be able to schedule my second test and show my potential sponsors that I need to be racing because I have the talent and amazing fans that want to see me there.
I have learned in the past few years that everything truly happens for a reason and I am excited that things have come together the way they are, letting me know that the team, the test, the date and my plans will get me to where I’m going.
I owe so many people an infinite amount of thanks and even that wouldn’t express the appreciation that I have for the support that you give me.
So let this be an example that hard work, persistence and an optimistic outlook can get us all to where we want to be.
I still need more support to round out my Driving 4 Dreamers campaign and hope that you’ll see my dedication and help spread the word. Please go to DRIVING 4 DREAMERS to learn more about my campaign and please join the movement with us as I am set out to be the first woman to win in The NASCAR Sprint Cup series.
Thank you everyone – from the bottom of my heart!
Shannon