The Concord Tribune, Concord NC- Folice On Fast Track To Racing Success March 8, 1994 by Mark Stein.

Folice On Fast Track To Racing Success

Hats, sporting sponsorship logos on the front, rim the ceiling. Large, framed pictures of NASCAR notables Rusty Wallace, Dale Earnhardt, and Ernie Irvan -among others- line the right side wall.

When entering T&J's Deli -located on Church Street - one gets the distinct impression that it's, in some way, a present-day shrine recognizing some of the biggest stars in the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit.

The souvenirs, however, can he used as a reminder of what it takes -hardwork, patience, talent, and luck - to get to auto racing's premier division.

In most cases; each drivr in the Winston Cup Series had to start somewhere.

And that somewhere, most of the time was in lower divisions that includes sprint cars, midgets and late model stocks. The lower divisions present an opportunity for young drivers to perfect their craft, and hope someone recognizes their talents enough to help them make the jump to the next level.

Concord's Jody Folice defmitely falls in that category. Folice, who works with her father - Joe - in the family owned T&J's Deli, has an unmistakable desire to drive, one that's heen around since childhood. And that enthusiasm is helping Folice make a name for herself in the newly-formed Legends division.

"I don't know," Folice said when asked what draws her to the fast-pace action of auto racing. "I guess it's the competition. Winning is always fun. Losing isn't as fun, but you have to learn how to accept it and deal with it.

I just like to drive. It's the thrill of driving. I've never really paid attention to the speed aspect of it. I'm more aware of competing and driving than actual speed.

Losing, however, is one problem Folice, 23, hasn't had to deal with very much in her 16-year career.

Folice enjoyed 15 successful years; driving karts, earning three · World Kart Association championship (1986, '88 and '91), two International Kart Federation championships ('82 and '84), the Empire State championship ('83), and the Springfield Vermont Street Race championship ('87).

In all, the Concord native has 350 first-place finishes.

Now, Folice has her sights set on conquering the compefitive Legends division. And by early indications, she might just do it.

In her debut performance at Charlotte Motor Speedway last year, Folice proved her driving talent by scoring three consecutive top five finishes a third, fourth and fifth.

"I like the 1/4-mile," Folice said referring to Charlotte Motor Speedway's short track. "The 1/5-mile will take a little longer to get used to. It's more of a follow-the-leader race. It's very hard to pass because it's so small.

"I look at it as a building block. You try to learn as much as you can."

She took last seasons learning experience and carried it over to the Legends of the West/Sprint Car World Series at Canyon Raceway in Arizona, where she never finished out of the top 10 and finished second in the final standings during the 10-week schedule.

Folice describes herself as a Ken Schrader type, one that's willing to run any race, in any type of car, at any time. She says it's that type of mentality that makes a driver successful.

"Kenny Schrader is a full-fledged driver," Folice said. "He'll drive anything. The more you drive the more you learn. You can't learn anything sitfing at home watching the Opran Winfrey Show.

"I learned a lot out there (in Arizona). They say a driver is a good driver when they can hop in any set-up and drive it hard. Watching the Sprint cars helped too, the way they pitch the car going into the corners. Entering and exiting the corners is important. Racing is the corners."

With a talented supporting cast, which includes her dad, engine builder J.T. Stiliwagon and Coyote Products, a company that builds the karts, Folice hopes to gain experience and gradually work her way up through the ranks.

"I want to be running Winston Cup by year 2000," Folice said. "But as for now, experience is what we're looking for. We want to get as much seat time as we can, in whatever it may be."

Folice, no longer a stranger to Charlotte Motor Speedway, will compete in the Tuesday night "Summer Shootouts" races starting May 24th through Oct. 4th.