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Franklin driver ready to break into NASCAR

Sloan Henderson joins Diversity program in hopes of earning lineup spot.

Brandi Gray/Contributed photo Sloan Henderson of Franklin has been selected to participate in NASCAR's Drive for Diversity in North Carolina.

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By Greg Billing, Staff Writer Updated 7:00 AM Thursday, October 15, 2009

FRANKLIN — Facing the biggest break in her young auto racing career, how does Franklin’s Sloan Henderson prepare for it?

By surfing YouTube, watching videos and playing computer games.

Henderson, 17, got her hands on any information she could about Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, N.C., the host track for NASCAR’s Driver for Diversity (D4D) combine that runs from Friday through Tuesday, Oct. 16-20.

Henderson found YouTube clips of MMS and bought videos from the track to study how drivers attack it.

She’s also playing Xbox racing games and using a program called “Mind Shaper” to keep her mentally sharp.

“I love competition,” Henderson said. “If I do get selected I’m going to feel like I really accomplished something because there are some amazing drivers testing down there.”

Thirty drivers — including the 12 awarded D4D rides after the first combine in 2008 — are competing for 10 spots in the program. Four get rides in the Camping World Series and six in the grassroots Whelen All-American Series, all competing under the same banner of Revolution Racing.

Henderson raced in the All-American Series at Kil-Kare Speedway for Miamisburg car owner Gary Estes this season. She finished seventh in late model points with six top-5 finishes and 13 top-10s. That run also earned Henderson the Ohio Rookie of the Year award in the All-American Series.

“With an additional year of experience and a very productive year running late models, her resume really stood out,” said Marcus Jadotte, managing director of public affairs for NASCAR. “Her performance in 2009 stood out. That more than anything made Sloan a clear choice for the group this year.”

Henderson — who said the adrenaline rush from racing typically keeps her up until 4 a.m. — knows the combine won’t be all fun and games. A NASCAR-sponsored ride with the D4D program would be a boost to her career and her parents’ bank account.

“Money is so, so tight,” Henderson said of finding sponsors to keep a car going. “Racing is my life and I don’t know what I would do without it. The thought I might not be racing next year, and there’s a pretty good chance if I don’t make this combine, we’re probably not going to be racing or we’re going to race a limited schedule. It’s made me want to do so much better.”

Contact this reporter at

(937) 225-2400, ext. 6991, or

gbilling@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Sloan Henderson

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