Meet Sarah Moldenhauer of Moldenhauer Racing in El Cajon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Moldenhauer.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Sarah. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When I was a kid, like 5 years old, my dad would take me and my brother to the NHRA drag races in Pomona, CA. Top Fuel was my favorite class because it was the loudest and fastest class. I loved it so much that at 8 years old, my dad took me to a drag strip to get my NHRA license. We began drag racing shortly after. I drag raced in a program called: Jr. Drag Racing, which you can participate in from age 8 to 18 (now, you can start when you’re 5). I won my first track championship at 8 years old, my first-year drag racing. During my time in Jr. Dragsters, I locked in 2 more track championships and had multiple career wins, 2nd place, and 3rd place finishes. When I turned 18, my dad and I bought and built a dragster that we could race in the NHRA Lucas Oil Divisional Series. The class I race in is called Super Comp. It’s an NHRA Sportsman class. We compete at our “home” track in Fontana, CA for local races and we travel to other states to race the NHRA Mellow Yellow National Series and the Lucas Oil Divisional Series. We had our best season to date in 2016, finishing the season in 14th place out over 100 super comp dragsters. That year, I was also the only female to break top 20 in points for the season in the super comp class. My dream has always been to be a professional racecar driver – specifically, a Top Fuel drag racer.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My dad and I struggled with the super comp dragster when we first began racing it. We immersed ourselves in a type of drag racing we had never experienced before and it was a humbling experience. Eventually, we were able to dial in the dragster and with more practice we became competitive. Racing has always been my life, but drag racing is not a cheap sport. I have always worked multiple jobs, even when attending San Diego State University, to be able to make it to the next race and pursue my dream of becoming a professional drag racer. After 6 years racing the super comp sportsman class, I am ready to advance my license and race a Top Alcohol dragster. I am currently seeking sponsors and companies looking for marketing opportunities and companies interested in expanding their audiences with a dedicated and driven driver. To say finding these sponsors has been challenging is an understatement.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Moldenhauer Racing is a father and daughter drag racing team. We compete in about 10-15 drag races each year and compete in the super comp sportsman class. For those who don’t know much about sportsman classes, each class is broken into different “track times”. Our class must race 8.90 seconds to the quarter mile and my average speed is about 174 mph. I am most proud of the opportunities we’ve had this past year regarding outreach. I was interviewed live on KUSI News, featured on Racer Radio with Dave Stall, and written about in the “Behind The Wheel” podcasts on RacingJunk.com. I’ve also become an ambassador for the World Motor Sports Breast Cancer Foundation and I am now sponsored by Pure Chocolate Energy Chews by Purity and Grace (You should try them, they’re delicious!). What sets me apart from other racers in drag racing is the most obvious, I am a woman. Out of an average 100 racers in the super comp class, there may be 6 women per weekend in that class. I also have a passion for drag racing that not a lot of people possess. Most sportsmen racers are content racing sportsmen classes and racing at their leisure. I want more. I want to be one of, if not the most, competitive drag racers the sport has seen. Whether I become the most competitive female drag racer or all around drag racer, I would be happy making a difference in the sport of drag racing.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a tomboy. I played soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, surfed, and I was a cheerleader from 8th graded to my freshman year of college. I have always been overly competitive and loved a good challenge. I was also really shy and spending my weekends at the race track with a lot of other kids helped me come out of my shell and not be scared to let my personality show. Everything I did growing up, whether it was drag racing, sports or school, I wanted to be the best. But, I have also always wanted the people I love to succeed as well.

Pricing:

• One super comp race is approximately $1,000
• $15,000 for one Top Alcohol Race

Contact Info:

• Phone: 619-980-9407
• Email: Moldenhauerracing@gmail.com
• Instagram: @_sarahforthewin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahmoldenhauer7999/
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmoldenhauerracing/

Image Credit:
Bob Johnson Photography, Ash Gabes Photography, Clark Oden

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