Dirt Track Diaries Vol 2 Amanda Buchel- "Full Circle: Racing, Family, and Finding Her Place"

Hi! My name is Amanda Buchel. I’ve had many home tracks throughout my life: Blue Mountain Quarter Midgets, Hamlin Speedway, New Egypt Speedway. I started at the age of 14 in quarter midgets. It’s a bit of an older age for starting quarter midgets. But my little brother started when he was 6 and after spending so much time helping at the track I wanted to strap in also.

Once I outgrew that division, both my brother and I moved to slingshots. We had such a fun time, making new friends and traveling to many tracks. We were introduced to other divisions in this new world of racing, where we then moved up to Stage One Modifieds. In this car, I had many wins and top 3 finishes. No matter what I raced, my brother was always there too. That changed when I was offered a crate ride for the 2020 season. We went our separate ways - me New Egypt in the crate on Saturdays and my bother in a 600 Micro Sprint on Wednesdays. We were either at the track or working on cars with this busy schedule.

For me, racing is my stress release. Watching as a fan, it looks chaotic out on the track. But for me as a driver out on the track, I’m at peace. It’s a thrill, it’s a challenge, it’s what I love. Throughout my life I’ve tried everything - sports, band, clubs, art, activities - but I was never good at anything. And I feel as though racing is MY thing.

For this upcoming season I’m facing any drivers worst fear. I’m out of a ride. To continue what I love I have to find a new way to do it. And it is looking to be a full circle ending, going back to being with my brother in his micro sprints.

Being a girl in racing has its difficult times. Of course, I get picked on, made fun of by my competitors. I've qualified for a race, but those I was racing against got together to ask the officials that’s I start last. Because I was a ‘hazard’. All I could do was prove once again I deserve to be out there where I qualified. I’ve parked next to people at new tracks. And when I put on my suit, realizing I’m the driver, they asked if I’m sure I can handle it, commenting they don’t want to be out there with me.

I hope I can make an impact, influencing other girls while doing what I love with this sport!

Can’t wait to hear other stories, bets of luck to everyone!

- Amanda