Page 67 - Walton Living

GIRL POWER

She shines on the racetrack,

dreams of being NASCAR pit boss

By Christy Breedlove

n this time of highly paid professional athletes with the support of her parents, Nate and Hed-
and reality TV stars, it’s easy to label these dy Still, and younger sister Kelly, Still entered the
Icelebrities as role models or heroes. But male-dominated sport of racing. She quickly
you don’t have to look to Hollywood or to the made the jump from go-karts to cars. Although
Georgia Dome There she legally couldn’t drive on roadways, Still man-
are plenty in Walton County and in particular, a aged to accumulate enough wins and experience
focused, bright young lady at Monroe Area High to break into the Adult standings. Now at age 18,
School. Jessica Still is a proud product of Walton Still is on the cusp of adulthood with many po-
County Schools, having gone to Walker Park El- tential roads to conquer.
ementary, Carver Middle and now MAHS. She “My parents never pushed me and let me
is a homegrown girl who is proud of her family, decide if I wanted to do this,” Still recalls. “My
community and friends. family brings me to the racetrack each week-
Still, a senior at MAHS, is the genuine arti- end from March to October to help me get the
cle—a true role model for girls looking to make a most practice in so I can improve my racing. My
friends have supported me by coming to my races
maintain a sense of integrity, hard work and faith. and cheering me on.”
During the work weekend, she can be found Her mother, Heddy, said the impetus for her
studying AP Calculus, hanging out with her daughter racing started while she was pregnant
friends or attending church. But on the weekend, with the 18-year-old. “I was several months
she is on a race track somewhere in the north along when I went to the track to cheer on Nate
Georgia region. Still is an accomplished race [Still]. Jessica has racing in her blood.”
car driver who is determined to pave a way to With an eye toward her goal of crew chief, Still
has been accepted at the University of North
pit crew. Georgia to begin her anticipated degree of me-
Her passion for racing started when she was a chanical engineering. She also has begun on the
mere eight years old and decided to compete with job training at AROB, a Monroe performance
go-karts. race, she was hooked and parts and auto company.