Stephanie Mockler

USAC

Stephanie Mockler is working her way up through the ranks and paired up with the Klatt team in USAC, she is sure to be on the fast track to bigger things.

The youngster will be watched closely as her pavement experience allows her to be near the front in all events she enters. She has great car control and not afraid to put the foot to the floor.

She gained National recognition by placing in the top three at ORP in the Night before the 500 in 2006.  Whether or not she will jump into the Sprint car or even Silver Crown is still not known but regardless, he path to NASCAR is available as she can drive as well as be a great role model and spokesman for corporate America

From the beginning of Mockler’s career, racing has been a family affair. Older sister Shannon began racing quarter midgets under the tutelage of their father, a veteran of go-karts, championship dirt cars and USAC midgets. Warren Mockler put Stephanie behind the wheel of a quarter midget at age 6 in Kokomo and Indianapolis.

“My oldest daughter was a good racer, but early on, Stephanie wasn’t so quick. She was having fun, but she just wasn’t competitive,” Warren recalled.

Little by little, her performance improved. “I began to tell myself, ‘I think the little squirt can win one of these,’ ” he laughed.

Mockler eventually captured three titles at the Kokomo Quarter Midget Club before graduating to another class.

When her older sister opted out of racing, Mockler took the helm of her 600cc micro-sprint car. She placed second in points in 2003 at the Miami County Speedway in Peru, Ind. Mockler still runs the micro-sprint on occasion but since 2004 has spent most of her time running a full-size midget on the USAC Ford Focus Series. Since all competitors use factory sealed, in-line 4-cylinder Ford Focus motors, the series provides a level playing field where the only variables are driver skill and chassis.

“Racing is a thrill for me,” Mockler said. “I like everything about it.” She said she enjoys spending the time with her father, who serves as her chief mechanic and coach. “Dad coaches me about everything, but there are some things you just have to get out there and learn for yourself,” said Mockler.

Warren agrees; “I give her all the help I can, but you’ve just got to make the mistakes. I can’t teach her everything,” he said.

One thing Warren has taught his daughter is how to work on the race car. “She can come off the track and say, ‘I think it needs more stagger,’ or ‘I think it needs more gear.’ So we’ll get right in there and make the adjustments together.” Mockler hopes to race her way into a professional career in NASCAR or IndyCar, but she has a backup plan just in case that doesn’t work out. She would also like to be a mechanical engineer or a schoolteacher.

Racers Report Podcast 5-25-07