Davis envisions career in racing

Some little girls dream of flying through the air, landing perfectly in feats of balance, twirling around and gliding across stages. Not Quinn Davis. The White County Middle School student just wants to jump into a powerful vehicle, put the pedal to the metal, and go really fast – really, really fast.

Davis has aspirations of becoming a NASCAR driver, and, this year, she took a huge step toward making that goal a reality.

“When she was little, we tried the whole gymnastics, dance class, you name it,” Davis’s mother, Christina, said. “Racing is the only thing she has loved since she was 4.

The now-13-year-old was selected to be a part of the Advance Auto Parts Drive for Diversity Combine.

To be selected to be a part of the annual combine, applicants had to film an interview and submit a driver resume to a selection panel comprised of Rev Racing owners and staff, corporate business associates, and NASCAR associates.

“There were hundreds of applicants, and, eventually, they narrowed that down to just 13 drivers,” Davis, who was one of the youngest applicants for a program that allows drivers ages 12 to 19 to apply, said. “It was very emotional when we got the phone call that I had been chosen to attend.”

Davis has been racing cars since she was 5 years old, and, this year, she moved into the adult leagues, racing what she describes as vehicles that have full size, late-model car parts, with a Legend motor, or a 1250 engine. Davis spent most of her track time this year in Greenbrier, Tennessee, where she won the points championship and the regional championship competing in the ProGrand Nationals – where the next youngest driver was more than double her age.

“I had to earn their respect and prove to them that I can handle the car and the track and that I know what I’m doing out there,” she said about not just relocating from Tucson, Arizona, where she was a well-known member of the racing community but also competing with the adults. “It’s been kind of fun showing them all what I can do.”

So, in November, Davis had a chance to show not just the regional racing world what she could do but some of the biggest names in the game.

“The combine is a pretty big deal in the racing world,” Davis explained, saying that there are a lot of teams that put on combines, but this one was put on by Rev Racing. “What sets Rev Racing apart is that they promote diversity within racing, opening more doors for women and promoting ethnic diversity within the sport.”

Davis went on to explain that the combine was essentially a tryout to be on a racing team, in her case the Rev Racing team, and that the four drivers selected from this year’s combine will have the opportunity to spend the year representing Rev Racing, while being coached through a training and competition program designed to advance their skills, knowledge, and careers.

“Drivers like Kyle Larson and Daniel Suarez once participated in this combine and went through this developmental program,” she said, “so this is a big deal.”

During the combine, Davis had to participate in a variety of activities designed to evaluate participants on things like their overall fitness level, media relations, and, of course, their driving abilities.

“There was one course we found out later was designed for us to fail. The purpose was to find out how we handled adversity and what we would do in that situation.” Davis said, laughing at the memory. “I wasn’t sure what to do when I was struggling with the course, but I knew no matter what I couldn’t quit on it.”

While Davis had the time of her life at Rev Racing’s Advanced Auto Parts Drive for Diversity Combine, she won’t know if she is one of the four chosen for this year’s team until some time later this month.

“If I’m not, I’ll try again next year. Just having the opportunity to participate was such a great experience,” Davis said, adding that while the combine was for the Rev Racing team, other teams will see the videos produced, and her name will be out there in the professional racing world now.

“The goal is to be a driver for NASCAR. Even if I can just drive one race some day, I would consider it a success,” she said.

In the meantime, Davis has school to attend and classwork to compete, and, when asked about next year when she heads over to White County High School, she already has a plan.

“I will follow either the automotive or welding program of study. I am going to learn how to weld a new car chassis. That’s a skill that will help me if I get in wrecks. And, obviously, the mechanic skills are a plus,” she said. “I don’t see myself in a cubicle – that’s not my future. I see myself going as many mph’s as I can, making myself happy.”

And nothing makes Quinn Davis happier than being in a race car flying around a track.

To see Quinn Davis at this year’s Drive for Diversity combine, view this link https://youtu.be/vqTIxKilZks