No matter what happens from here, Peggy Llewellyn has no regrets.
After
a break-out 2007 season, where she earned her first NHRA Pro Stock
Motorcycles victory and finished fourth in the final POWERade
standings, after a six year hiatus from the sport, Llewellyn was
released from her ride.
Former team owner Karl Klement gave
Llewellyn no reason. She says she doesn’t really need one. Just a few
weeks after accepting her award as a fourth place finisher at the NHRA
Awards, Klement’s put out a statement letting the racing world know
that Llewellyn would not return to the G2 Motorsports team in 2008.
While disappointing, and baffling, for Llewellyn, life and racing go on.
What are your plans for 2008?
Definitely
to RACE! I will unfortunately miss the first couple of races, but the
way our points system is set up, I can make up the deficit in time to
make the Top 10.
After a pretty successful outing, was it a shock when you and Karl Klement's parted ways?
Well,
not so much a shock as saddened, but it is a business. I'm grateful
for the opportunity to race with Karl and Kim, they are great team
owners. The success we accomplished will help me tremendously in my
next endeavor.
How hard has it been securing new sponsorship/ride for 2008?
It
has been difficult, but not impossible. A lot of company’s budgets
were already allocated. I have a great PR team. Tim from Integrity
Marketing has been meeting with potential sponsors, so I know I will be
back on the track soon.
How did you first get into racing?
I
first got into drag racing when I was 7 years old. After watching my
dad race, my brother and I would line up against each other on our
"pocket rockets" and race down the 1/4 mile. It took us like 35
seconds!
Was the six year hiatus you took from the sport, something you felt you needed to do -- to come back refreshed and competitive?
No
actually, it was because lack of sponsorship. It was a blessing in
disguise though. I was able to take a course in Prostock Motorcycle
taught by George Bryce. It improved my riding and I was able to come
back and compete at such an intense level. I mean when I left the
sport 7.15 e.t. was fast now these bikes were running 6 seconds and I
was able to make the adjustment.
NHRA is one of the
only motorsports that seems to have a successful diversity program; do
you think that there are as many opportunities for women as there are
for men in the NHRA?
Yes, there are many opportunities for
women as there is for men and it continues to grow. I believe that
what sets NHRA apart from other motorsports.
If racing were no longer an option, what would you be doing with your life?
I would still continue with Real Estate. It's actually something I enjoy, but DRAG RACING is in my heart! :-)
Did your success last season, exceed your expectations?
OMIGOSH,
DID IT EVER!!!!! I was very modest in my 2007 goals. I knew I had a
major learning curve and I was still getting familiar with the V-twin,
but I still wanted to succeed. The turning point came in Chicago when
I made my first 6 second pass.
What can we look forward from you in 2008? Are you going to set the bar even higher?
Improve on my fourth place finish, qualifying at each race and winning
an event sets the bar. To go higher would be winning a championship
and that is what I'm going to reach for.....one round at a time :-)!
by Linda Przygodski
Contributing Editor
AskPatty.com
car gal
