RPW Exclusive: Respect’s Earned In This Sport, Not Given…Nikki Ouellette Knows That All Too Well

Column By: DYLAN FRIEBEL / RPW – WEST LEBANON, NY – Women In Racing, if you’re a fan you may not know that they are the backbone of this sport.  Literally.

If you know it or not, driver, girlfriend, fan, concession workers and everything else, without them it would not be possible that we can sit at the track every weekend. But why do we see it as such a male dominated sport? Because that’s who the majority of the names and faces are, men, the drivers.

One driver trying to make a name for herself is Nikki Ouellette from East Granby, CT. While Saturday night at Lebanon Valley wasn’t picture perfect with a second place finish and a wreck in the regularly-scheduled main event, the evening was nothing to hold her head down for.

“We had a long time to think about the heldover feature,” Ouellette said. “We almost over thought it, but when we went out the car felt good from two weeks.  We didn’t change a lot…just wanted to make sure we got it dialed in for how heavy the track was. We have had a fast car this year and just been caught up in stuff I couldn’t avoid.  That’s hard to get through sometimes, but this thing was a rocket tonight.”

When it comes to racing with all men, sometimes it can be a struggle to gain respect and have them put their egos aside.

“I mean, a lot of the competitors here respect me,” she said. “They’re really good about it.  Every now and then I don’t think so, but that’s just racing.  I don’t know if I traveled more it would be different.  There are females that race all over.”

Some people are not cut out for the driving.  Some are.  However, within the racing community, there are countless jobs and tasks to be done.  Even Nikki realizes that.

“I was a spotter for my sister when she raced,” she said.  “I really liked doing that. As surprising as this sounds, I really like doing tire prep also.  I like to do my own.  Just being around racing in general I’d be happy with whatever job I was given.  I’ve been racing since I was four so this sport has been all I’ve really ever known. There were times when I started, between the dirt and asphalt stuff, that some people just didn’t care…girl or guy. There are some people out there that do care that I’m a girl and they make it pretty obvious.”

When it comes to the women’s perspective in the sport, things need to change.  It all starts with women drivers and trickles down. There’s a clear barrier that needs to be broken but the real question is how.

“I mean, there aren’t that many of us,” she said. “There needs to be more.  I think we need to have good personalities and be personable and approachable.  When you have someone like Hailie Deegan who goes out there and gets it done, is good at every aspect of it, she has the total package and is a good driver. People like her help us as women look better, and it is good for everyone.”

Despite the tough luck for Ouellette and her team, she knows they have a good piece under her.  It’s just that the bad has to run out eventually.

“We have such a good car this year,” she said. “That’s why I have been getting frustrated.  When we get in wrecks or have problems, I know I have such a good piece underneath me and when I can’t get it done, I get frustrated. We don’t go back to the shop wondering what we can do different.  It’s fix stuff and go through the car.  Our setup has been good.  The car has been good.  It’s just not getting into issues that’s the key to move forward.”

Nikki Ouellette is a women to keep your eye on.  She just happens to be strapped into the driver’s seat.  Despite her rocky start to the season, for the driver of the no. 16,  she knows she’s been fast.  She just needs a little lady luck on her side.  However, never discount the role she and other females play in motorsports.  It’s the key to it all.