When 21-year-old Ariel Biggs steps out on the racetrack, her whispy brown locks set her apart from the competition, at first glance. On second glance, her fast moves and steely determination is what keeps those boys racing after her.
“I have heard a lot of horror stories about female racers, but once you put that helmet on, there is no difference between you and the boys,” said Ariel. “You really need to prove yourself. You need to beat them, and you need to beat them bad. So they say you aren’t just a cute girl in the shop; you’re one of us.”
Ariel is no stranger to the track. With racing in her blood, she comes from a family of decorated racecar drivers. And when Ariel’s father bought his daughter’s first racecar, Ariel’s love for the track seemed more like destiny than passion or skill alone.
“Our family is passionate and has high intensity,” Ariel said. “I’ve had the opportunity to race many different cars on many different tracks, and in many different series all across the West Coast and Canada. Dirt open-wheel cars with and without wings, dirt stock cars, pavement open-wheel cars and even NASCAR stock cars have all found their way into my journey.”
With influences like Tony Stewart and Shawna Wilsky, it’s no surprise that, over the next eight years, Ariel would win four championships, several races and various awards. Despite her young introduction to racing, Ariel caught her first big break with good old-fashioned hard work and perseverance.
Today, as Ariel enters her 15th year of racing, she has received NASCAR K&N Pro Series West License in an asphalt stock car, has been one of the 11 drivers at the inaugural Bill McAnally NAPA Filters Driver Expo, and has been the first female to win a Washington Midget Racing Association hard-surface feature event, which opened the door to more opportunities in California for this young driver.
Chasing down her own success, Ariel recently relocated to Santa Clarita to pursue her racing career in the hope of dominating the racing community in the west.
“California has some of the best series, and we have raced regionals so far,” Ariel said. “But we are looking at a possible national 2016 schedule and run the Western State Series.”
On and off the track, Ariel is committed to each endeavor she tackles. Alongside her 2016 race schedule, Ariel plans to take online classes at College of the Canyons, to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering. Racing, however, remains her focus.
Ariel most recently raced the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl National, a national event that attracts more than 15,000 spectators every year. Her future goal is to claim the West Coast championship title and be the first female NASCAR driver to win a title.
“We are pushing our campaign, #relentless, this year to help inspire other racers, or other talent in the upcoming generation and in the Santa Clarita Valley community, as well,” Ariel said. “Just like any other addiction, in order to obtain a subconscious high, we strive to race, make our cars work, be around other racing people, eat track food, smell the burnt rubber, take in the racing fuel and most importantly – win.”
For more information on Ariel Biggs, visit www.arielbiggsracing.com. You can follow Ariel’s journey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
