‘Lyndonville Rocket’ tops state in go-kart racing

Provided photos: Laina Stewart is shown in action during a race at Weedsport on Oct. 26. She completed the season as the top-ranked driver in the state for the Jr. Purple Clone division.

LYNDONVILLE – The racing season has ended and a Lyndonville six-grader finds her name at the top of the list among go-cart racers state-wide in the Jr. Purple Clone division.

Laina Stewart, 11, won the series championship with 286 points. She also is the Ransomville track champ. She edged the Weedsport champion Levi Herriven by 4-points to earn the state-wide title for points. Laina also is a regular at Weedsport.

Laina Stewart, 11, holds a trophy and plaque after winning her heat at Weedsport on Oct. 26.

She is one of the few girls racing in the division.

“I’m out here to prove that girls can do anything,” Laina said.

She competed in the Purple Clone division this year, moving up a division from last year. Next year she will move up another division and will compete with 12- to 15-year-olds.

Laina competed in about 25 races this season at Ransomville and Weedsport. The state-wide series championship takes the point totals for a driver’s 12 best finishes at any participating facility in the Burris Racing Weekly Championship Series.

Participating tracks include Allegany Memorial Speedway, Brockville Ontario Speedway Karting, Can-Am Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Merrittville Speedway, Moose Mountain Racing Club, Ransomville Speedway, Turkey Trot Raceway and Weedsport Kartway.

Points were awarded based on the number of karts starting a feature race, with up to 16 karts being counted. Race winners were awarded 2 points per kart, with a maximum of 32 points going to a winner.

As the champion of the Jr. Purple Clone division, Laina receives a set of Burris Racing tires and a Burris Racing State Champion jacket. She scored more points than about 50 other drivers in the division.

“I just want to thank my supporters and all the people who have faith in me,” Laina said.

She is in her fifth season of go-kart racing. She just completed the Junior 2 Division.

In the races, she zooms around a ½-mile dirt oval, topping 40 miles per hour. Her go-kart is labelled, “The Lyndonville Rocket.”

She tops out at about 45 mph on the straight-a-ways and lets off the gas, a little, when she rounds the corners. She also plays soccer and softball, and this year was on Lyndonville’s youth football team for the first time, as a defender.