Name: Rebecca Kelly Kasten
Birthday: July 8th, 1990
Height: 5’3”
Weight: 110 lbs
Hometown: Mequon, WI
Hobbies: Golf, Fishing, Hockey, Playing Cards and Video Games
Favorite Movie: Million Dollar Baby
Favorite Music: James Blunt, Norah Jones and Jack Johnson
Favorite Food: Salmon
Dream Car: 1967 Shelby GT500
Rebecca began her racing career in go-karts, which is the proving ground and starting point for many professional drivers today. After a successful season, the seventeen-year-old made the jump to stock cars and late models.
In 2008 she competed in forty-one short track races in stock cars and late models. As a rookie, she was able to adapt quickly and she gained a tremendous amount of skill and knowledge as the year progressed.
The 2008 campaign was a break out campaign for the “First lady of Wisconsin Late Model Racing.” In her second full year of racing Stock Cars, Kasten decided to go all out during the summer and test some of Wisconsin's most famous tracks on a weekly basis.
Her typical weekend included stops at Wisconsin International Speedway near Green Bay on Thursdays, Madison (WI) International Speedway on Fridays and the high banked Slinger Speedway, near Kasten’s home north of Milwaukee. Also during the year, Rebecca would occasionally test the waters of the Big 8 Late Model Series and the ASA Late Model Series.
Kasten would make history during the summer of ‘08, becoming the first female to:
-Win a Late Model Feature at Madison International Speedway
-Win a Late Model Feature at Wisconsin International Raceway
-Win a race with the Big 8 Late Model Series (Golden Sands Speedway in July)
-Set fast time in the ASA Late Model Series at the Milwaukee Mile
This, along with accomplishments such as a Fast Qualifier award at Slinger Speedway and being one of only afew drivers to break the old ASA Late Model Series Track Record at Rockford (IL) Speedway in late July made 08 a breakout season.
Following her impressive 08 season, Rebecca was selected as one of tewnty-six minority and female drivers to compete for a spot in NASCARS Drive for Diversity program. After performing extremely well at the two-day on and off track testing, Rebecca turned down an offer for driving contract in 2009. Because of interference with planned ASA competition, Rebecca decided to continue running for her own team. The contacts and exposure she gained at the Drive for Diversity program test, will benifit her greatly as her carrer advances.
Outside of racing, Rebecca is currently a student at Marquette University. Being in an academically competitive environment, Rebecca has developed well as an intellectual person. Coming out of her freshman year at Marquette, Rebecca plans on earning a degree in Broadcast and Electronic communication.
In her free time, Rebecca is also very active in sports. She played on her high school girl1s golf team for four years and played on the Ozaukee County U-19 girl1s hockey team for seven years. She has received many awards and honors for her performance in both hockey and golf. Some of them include finishing third in her senior year in the 2007 WIAA Division 1 State golf tournament. Shooting a 76, two strokes behind the state championship leader, Kasten lead the way for her high school.
When interviewed about the round, as well as being questioned by scouts to play college golf, Rebecca responded by saying, "This is an amazing way to end my competitive golf career, but I want todo other things with my life." The other thing she is referring to is becoming a successful racer. The dedication, commitment,and athletic ability she has obtained through her participation in sports carries over to many aspects of her life including her racing program.
While schoolwork and other sports and activities occupy a-lot of her time, Rebecca is completely dedicated to her racing operation. She's not the kind of driver that just shows up on race day with a helmet. Most of her time is spent with learning how the cars work, reading books about racing, watching races, and maintaining her level of physical fitness. She has put herself in an environment where she is literally eating, breathing, and sleeping racing.
