There's a certain focus that you see in the eyes of a truly professional athlete. It's that of a single-minded purpose. One that is able to cut through the cacophony of our modern world, that manages to focus on the task at hand: to do what it takes mentally, physically, to win.
Compass360 Racing has an interesting contrast in the drivers of our #75 Acura TSX this year. On one hand we have Kenny Wilden, a man who needs no introduction to fans of road racing in North America. He's one of the paddock's most experienced racers, with a career spanning decades through Firehawk, Player's GM, Motorola Cup, Trans-Am and Champ Car Atlantics. Kenny's co-driver is Jeremy Willard.
Willard is an exceptional athlete, but is new to racing. In the mid-90's he was an internationally seeded windsurfer, an IMCO Olympic-class champion twice. Over a three year period he won nearly every championship he entered and travelled to Maui to further his pursuit of a professional career, but left the island to complete his education in British Columbia. Back in Canada, he took up wakeboarding and soon after was competing professionally in the U.S. and Canada.
Two years ago Jeremy took up golf for the first time. He now carries a single-digit handicap. It's this kind of dedication and focus that's beginning to show real results in his KONI Challenge efforts. Proof positive? Jeremy and Kenny took third place at Iowa after Jeremy qualified the car ninth. It was his sixth car race, ever. You read that right. Sixth race EVER. No regional racing, no BMW Club. He's jumped in to the KONI Challenge with both feet and has steadily improved race after race, notching a podium finish at the season's half-way point.
It's interesting that competition experience in one discipline can help in honing ability in another. As Jeremy says, "I like to do things competitively or not at all.
"Clearly, he's given himself the best tools possible. A strong driver coach and a proven car and team are important components to maximum performance improvement in a short time". Says Jeremy, "I had to put together the ultimate package. If I didn't have the coach, didn't have the team and car, I couldn't have had this level of success so quickly." Willard continues, "There are so many variables... I'm now at a point where I'm competitive and I want to attack the field. I want to drive longer stints, and I'm having a blast!
"Jeremy's qualified strongly in the past few races, and we're expecting more of the same, especially at New Jersey, a track which is new to most of the drivers". You can following his progress, and that of the whole Compass360 Racing team, at http://c360r.com/.
It's interesting that competition experience in one discipline can help in honing ability in another. As Jeremy says, "I like to do things competitively or not at all.
"Clearly, he's given himself the best tools possible. A strong driver coach and a proven car and team are important components to maximum performance improvement in a short time". Says Jeremy, "I had to put together the ultimate package. If I didn't have the coach, didn't have the team and car, I couldn't have had this level of success so quickly." Willard continues, "There are so many variables... I'm now at a point where I'm competitive and I want to attack the field. I want to drive longer stints, and I'm having a blast!
"Jeremy's qualified strongly in the past few races, and we're expecting more of the same, especially at New Jersey, a track which is new to most of the drivers". You can following his progress, and that of the whole Compass360 Racing team, at http://c360r.com/.
No comments:
Post a Comment