Rensselaer Magazine, September 2002: At Rensselaer

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Student Life

Photo by Gary Gold

Driven to Succeed!

Erin Crocker ’03 has been racing since she was 7 years old. A self-confessed speed freak, the 21-year-old senior industrial engineering major is now piloting a cherry red sprint car (No. 16) sponsored by Rensselaer.

“She is a trailblazer for young women in the world of professional motor sports,” says Teresa Duffy, dean of enrollment management, who took the lead in pursuing the full sponsorship. “We are thrilled to support Erin. She demonstrates speed and competence at every turn!”

Crocker, who has aspirations of racing Indy cars, is the only female driver in the Empire Super Sprints (ESS) — a professional racing association — and one of a handful of women sprint car drivers across the country. She is part of the two-car Woodring Racing team, led by Mike Woodring, the league’s all-time win leader and seven-time ESS champion.

A typical sprint car has a 650-horsepower engine (a street legal engine is 150 hp) that can reach speeds of 140 mph on a half-mile oval dirt track. Sprint cars are extremely light and powerful — 1,300 pounds compared to a 3,000-pound street-legal car. To keep the car’s nose to the ground, air is forced over the hood and roof by a “wing” that looks like a giant I-beam mounted on the roll bar.

“Having a university sponsor a car is very unique,” says Crocker. “Most race drivers are sponsored by a garage or an auto parts place. But having a prestigious university sponsor my car is really cool.”

Rensselaer Magazine: September 2002
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