Sarah Montgomery is on track, working toward a marketing degree and a career as a professional race car driver.
About 30 times a year, she suits up and gets behind the wheel of Captain Nemo, a modified 1995 Mazda Miata, to compete in road races across the country.
鈥淭he car was underwater for three weeks after Hurricane Katrina. Surprisingly, it started right up. So, that鈥檚 where it got the name,鈥 she said in a recent interview.
The University of 麻豆果冻传媒 at Lafayette sophomore shows the same kind of tenacity.
In addition to racing, the Kappa Delta sorority member maintains a 3.125 GPA, plays clarinet in the 麻豆果冻传媒 Lafayette Woodwind Ensemble and works part-time as a veterinarian鈥檚 assistant.
Montgomery, 19, began road racing four years ago. She competes in the Spec Miata class, which is recognized by the Sports Car Club of America and the National Auto Sport Association.
In 2012, Montgomery completed 12 top-five finishes and a gripping, 1st place finish in the 1-Hour Charity Challenge Enduro Race at Circuit Grand Bayou Raceway.
This year, Montgomery has four wins and eight top-five finishes in 23 races.
Her devotion to the sport began when she was 9. Her family attended an Indy race at Texas Motor Speedway in College Station.
鈥淚 thought it was the coolest thing. I loved the smell of fuel and burned rubber. I loved how fast the cars were going and the sound of the engines screaming. I was totally hooked,鈥 she said.
At 13, she became a 鈥渒arter,鈥 racing go-karts on dirt tracks. At 16, she was the first female competitor to win two championships in one year.
That same year, she made the transition from karter to race car driver when she took part in the Skip Barber Racing School Karting Scholarship Shootout. Participants get coaching and feedback on their driving, as well as business aspects of the sport.
A few weeks later, Montgomery was one of seven drivers to attend Lyn St. James鈥 Women of the Winners Circle Driver Development Academy. More than 230 female drivers have attended the annual, invitation-only event, including Danica Patrick.
The program emphasized staying in top physical shape. 鈥淚t may not seem like it to the spectator, but this sport is incredibly demanding. It鈥檚 like being a jet fighter pilot,鈥 she said.
During a race, which lasts 45 minutes, her heart beats as fast as a marathon runner鈥檚, reaching 85 to 95 percent of its capacity. While navigating a curve, she experiences g-force 鈥 a feeling of added weight caused by acceleration. 鈥淚t鈥檚 as much as 3 g in some corners,鈥 she said. That鈥檚 similar to what astronauts in the Space Shuttle felt leaving and reentering the earth鈥檚 atmosphere.
鈥淚 love it. The adrenaline, for me, is so cool. It鈥檚 kind of like my escape from the world and school,鈥 Montgomery said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 also my life. I can鈥檛 imagine a life where I鈥檓 not involved with racing.鈥