Matty O'Rourke Posts Historic Formula Dodge Victory
11 June 1999
Matty O'Rourke, a former American Motorcycle Association driver, doesn't have a lot of racing experience in a 2.0-liter Formula Dodge racecar. O'Rourke, however, exhibited the patience of a veteran in securing a historic victory Saturday in the Formula Dodge Eastern Race Series at New Hampshire International Speedway. O'Rourke, 23, is believed to be only the fourth woman to win a Formula car race in the 24-year history of the Skip Barber Race Series. The victory came in only her fifth Formula Dodge start. "I'm really excited and happy," O'Rourke said. "I've had an awesome day." O'Rourke started sixth, but moved up to fourth by the third turn of the first lap. She took second place a few laps later, then turned the fastest lap of the race. O'Rourke passed race leader Steve Klein on the 15th lap to win the 16-lap race by just over one second. In the process, O'Rourke stopped Klein's attempt at a perfect weekend. Klein recorded three victories and a second-place finish at NHIS. "After practice I thought I had a chance to do well, and I really concentrated on being patient and finding the right opportunity," O'Rourke said. "I deliberately waited until the white flag lap to pass Steve. I got by him by going low into Turn 1, and he had no chance to get back by." O'Rourke had pole position for her second race of the weekend, but officials discovered an oil leak in her car before the start. She was forced to switch to a different car, but in spite of the last minute substitution and the minor setup differences between the cars, O'Rourke still finished third in the 24-lap race. O'Rourke finished eighth and fifth in the first two Eastern Series races of the season at Lime Rock Park on May 7-8. She is second in the Eastern Series Rookie of the Year standings, trailing Skip Barber mechanic Alex Kramer by four points (49-45) heading into the next race weekend at Lime Rock on June 15-19. O'Rourke of Sarasota, Fla. is a former three-sport athlete at St. Lawrence University and is a competitive sailor and equestrian. She plans to complete her rookie year in the Formula Dodge Eastern Race Series, one of the steps in the Skip Barber Scholarship Ladder. The Skip Barber Racing School annually awards $1 million in a scholarship program that helps young, talented drivers progress from Karting to the CART FedEx Championship Series. "It's hard to find sponsorship, and particularly hard for a woman, but I'm working to find the funding to move up to the Barber Dodge Pro Series in the future," O'Rourke said.