Q&A with Morgan Turpen

Morgan Turpen, driver of the 10m sprint car, has already had a great amount of success at such a young age. Five years ago, Turpen won the 2010 United Sprint Car Series rookie of the year award and 4 years later won the 2014 Road to Atlanta Asphalt Championship. In 2009, at the age of 16, Morgan was caught in a devastating situation when she wrecked and busted a carotid artery in her neck. Turpen was in the hospital for over two weeks. Today, Morgan races full time and and travels to many different race tracks. 

Back in April, I was able to chat with Morgan and ask her a few questions while we were both in the pits at the 1/2 mile of Lancaster Speedway! Here's your chance to get to know the driver of the 10m a little more! 

TS- Looking back to when you started, where did you see this journey originally taking you? 

MT- I didn't think I was ever going to race sprint cars, I thought I was gonna race go carts and it was gonna be a weekend thing and then once I got into it, it got a little bit more serious then what I thought and it kind of took over my life 

TS- What do you do to prepare for race day or a race? 

MT- We work everyday, 8-10 hours a day to get these things ready. It is my profession, this is all I do besides I am a full time student at the University of Memphis, but we work everyday to get these things ready to make sure they are prepared for the races 

TS- If you weren't a race car driver what do you think you would be doing? 

MT- Well, I actually went to school to be a teacher and now I want to be a resort manager, but, really I want to be a race car driver so, I don't know. I could be a lot. I want to do everything. There is nothing specific I want to do, I just want to get as much experience in everything that I can possibly get

TS- What is the scariest thing that has happened to you as a driver?

MT- I have wrecked pretty hard a couple times. Busted the carotid artery in my neck, broke my knee caps, broke a tail bone, broke a elbow so I mean it's pretty serious but we're all good and the doctor said I was good as new 

TS- Are you a NASCAR fan? If so, who is your favorite driver? 

MT- I am a NASCAR fan, I watch it. My favorite is Brad Keslowski just because I like his attitude.

TS- As me being a 15 year old NASCAR and motor sports journalist, what do you think we could do to bring more teenage and young fans to the world of motor sports? 

MT- Getting it out there, getting them here is the thing. Maybe like getting a fundraiser together because a lot of kids can't afford to come to the races because their parents can't afford it and getting them here would keep a lot of them out of trouble and it kept me out of trouble growing up. While my friends were out partying I was at the race track so I never got in trouble or anything but I think money is a big thing for the kids, but once they get into it especially at a young age, they normally never want to leave. Just getting them here is the thing. 

TS- Finally, what advice would you give to anyone who wants to become a race car driver? 

MT- FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS! Do It! I mean I thought I was going to be racing go carts that my family did not have the money to get into sprint cars. I made the right friends, talked to the right people, had the right attitude and that's what got me here. I push myself a lot, I go to school 22 hours a week and I do this, I'm out of town a lot so I have a lot of drive to do whatever I need to do

Until Next Time, Taylor Smith

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@AroundTrack @TheTaylorESmith