Summerland racing driver Sarah Cornett-Ching finished the 2015 ARCA Racing Series with the highest number of points for a female rookie.
Cornett-Ching, a commercial welder, worked and saved money to compete at the competition in Daytona this year.
In March, she was signed to compete in the full ARCA Racing Season for this year when she was signed by Tony Blanchard, owner of RACE 101 management.
“Sarah is ready for the challenge,” Blanchard said at the time. “The team has been to these race tracks, and everyone here is determined as she is to support her success.”
Cornett-Ching has enjoyed some good success during the past racing season.
On Oct. 16, at the Kansas Speedway, Cornett-Ching finished in seventh place.
Challenges during the season included an engine disadvantage in Daytona, a first-lap crash in Mobile and a collision in Nashville.
“It was a bit overwhelming the first few races we ran this season,” said Cornett-Ching. “We had crazy things happen and a bunch of bad luck, but I believe that helped me to gel that much quicker with the team and to get comfortable faster than maybe I would have otherwise.”
Despite these challenges, Cornett-Ching also set the record for the highest finishing female in an ARCA road course event in New Jersey.
She also captured top 10 finishes at some of the most difficult tracks on the tour.