Bakersfield, CA (July 21, 2009) Thunder Valley Racing’s Dr. Karen Salvaggio secured the 2009 FFR West Coast Championship with back-to-back wins at Buttonwillow Raceway Park on June 27-28! This team has been nearly un-stoppable throughtout the 2009 season, securing 10 pole positions and 9 race victories in their championship run.
Karen competes in the Factory Five Challenge Series (FFR) in her 1965 Cobra replica racer with the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). In securing the victory this year, Karen scored numerous pole positions, 1st place race victories, and twelve podium finishes already (with more races yet to be run), including competition at Infineon Raceway (Sears Point), California Speedway, Buttonwillow Raceway Park and Thunderhill Raceway.
Now in her fourth year in the cars, Karen has really mastered the unique driving style required to pilot the Cobra. In 2008, her driving skill resulted in thirteen pole positions, fourteen podium finishes, and two overall race victories. She competes at the local and national FFR Challenge Series levels though participation in the FFR West Coast Series, and at the NASA Nationals to be held at Miller Motorsports Park in September 2009.
Endurance Racing: Endurance racing is Karen’s true passion, and in 2008, she and her intrepid race team, took on the most extreme endurance racing challenge on the planet, competing for a second time in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill. Her team completed 470 grueling laps, (more than 1,100 miles under racing conditions), and finished 8th in class and 48th over (in a field of 72 teams). Team Thunder Valley Racing is already making plans for the 2009 25 Hours race in which they will field the first ever Type 65 “Daytona” Coupe to compete in the longest race in its marque’s history
Racing the GTM-R 3 Hour Enduro: Karen had the opportunity to co-drive the fast and beautiful GTM-R at the 3 Hour Enduro of Buttonwillow in June 2009. Along with her talented co-driver Chris Durbin, the pair secured first in class and stood atop the podium as the overall race winners!
Thunder Valley Racing: Karen is now in her eighth year as Editor-in-Chief for Thunder Valley Racing, and travels nationally to support women in racing efforts. She is an instructor driver with the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) and Track Guys, and feeds the competitive spirit through high speed competition events.
Racing Goals: Karen’s racing goal is to compete on a national or international level with a road racing team at endurance events. Her personal goal is to bring widespread, international attention to the efforts of the women in racing through her work with the dedicated team at Thunder Valley Racing..
