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Livin' a dream

13-year old driver tops in her field

Chase'n Race'n Illustrated

Annabeth Barnes, 13 of Hiddenite stands with her kart in the background.

By Allen Haynes | Hickory Daily Record

Published: August 6, 2008

Sometimes when you dream big, you're able to accomplish what you want and much more.

For Annabeth Barnes, 13 of Hiddenite, the things that most people can only dream of is actually happening for her.

How does being one of the top karting drivers in the nation sound?

If that's not enough, then how about being one of three kart drivers to have their story portrayed in a documentary movie sound?

Still not enough, How about being chosen to participate in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program?

Most people who dream about a racing career can only hope to reach maybe one of these items.

Barnes has now reached all three and is only 13 years old.

She began racing in the NASCART Kid Class in 2003, when she was 8 years old.

During that season, she won 18 out of the 22 races she ran in and garnered her first WKA state championship.

In 2006, a major chassis manufacturer out of Greensboro saw her race and decided to help her by producing the chassis for her kart.

That's when her career really took off as Barnes won over a 100 main event races during the season.

In 2007, film producer Marshall Curry, who was producing a documentary in three drivers in the Kart Series, approached her.

After several interviews, Barnes was chosen as one of the three and will be featured in the move titled "Racing Dreams" to be released in early 2009.

"I feel very honored to have a chance for my racing career to be shown," said Barnes. "I am very excited to have a once in a lifetime opportunity for myself and the other two drivers selected."

The dream for Barnes continued in January, when she was selected to be a part of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program.

The program selects young drivers to prepare them for moving up into a NASCAR series ride when they reach 16 years old.

So far, since being selected to the program, Barnes has been able to work ith several Sprint Cup stars, such as , Tony Stewart.

"It was a great honor to be selected," said Barnes. It will only help me grow as a racer, on and off the track. It is an awesome program for young minority and women drivers and I hope to use all its resources available to make me a better racer. My goal is to move up in the ranks of racing and run in the top NASCAR series, becoming the first woman to win the Daytona 500. I feel with the right opportunities, I can make it to the top of the sport."

Currently, Barnes is racing in several different Kart series, both dirt and asphalt and has a shot at winning seven of the series points titles.

By doing that, she has a good shot at winning National Kart Driver of the Year.