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Duncan already a success, but she wants more

SCOTT LINESBURGH
Record Staff Writer
Published Friday, Sep 16, 2005

STOCKTON -- Allison Duncan has already accomplished many things during her first season of racing at Stockton 99 Speedway.

She is the first member of NASCAR's Drive For Diversity program to win a race, she's contended for the track title and she's proven to be an engaging spokesperson for her team. But there's one more goal to achieve, and it's a tough one.

Duncan wants to make history by winning the NASCAR Western Late Model title, and she will have to rally from behind to do it. She trails Pete Anderson Jr. of Stockton by 46 points going into the 100-lap, double-points season finale Saturday at Stockton 99.

If she manages to surpass Anderson and take the track crown, she'll become only the second woman driver in NASCAR history to win a late model title. Debbie Lunsford-Love accomplished the feat at Lanier Speedway in Braselton, Ga., in 1988, and she won another championship in 1990.

Duncan, 26, understands it won't be an easy night and that Anderson has what she calls a "healthy lead."

"We're not conceding anything, but we know we're in a hole," Duncan said. "All we can do is win the race and see what happens. It's been a great season on so many levels, but I came here to win a title, and we'll fight for it until the end."

When Duncan arrived at Stockton 99 in April, she brought with her plenty of hoopla and the backing of Bill McAnally Racing, one of the West Coast's best teams. Duncan is one of eight members of Drive For Diversity, a national program designed to promote minority and women drivers in NASCAR.

Duncan stated at the season opener that she planned to run for the title, but McAnally admits he had doubts.

"Allison is a very good driver, but I thought it would be tough to contend for a title because she was new to Stockton and had never run or won a race there," McAnally said. "But she's done a wonderful job."

Duncan has two victories and six second-place finishes. Her win on June 11 was a first for a DFD driver and earned her national attention.

"That was a landmark victory for Allison and the diversity program," said Jonathan Norman, the DFD director for Access Marketing and Communications, which runs the project for NASCAR. "There's no doubt Allison has had a breakout season, and I think she's earned a lot of respect."

Anderson said he respected Duncan the moment her trailer pulled up to the track.

"For me, it was never about her gender, it was about her driving for Bill McAnally and what that means," Anderson said. "I knew it meant it was a quality car, and that Bill wouldn't have someone in it who wasn't a talented driver. I always expected her to be one of the top competitors, and she has been."

For Duncan to have a shot at joining Lunsford-Love as a female champion, she has to get to the front of the field and hope Anderson falls out of the top 10. But Anderson has finished in the top 10 in every race this season.

"He sure has been consistent, and that's why he's leading," Duncan said. "But they say anything can happen in racing, so we'll be out there racing hard."

Contact reporter Scott Linesburgh at 209 546-8281 or slinesbu@recordnet.com

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