"My favorite track is the GNCC track at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. The constant ups and downs of the hills and all of the off-cambers are what make that track great," Stracham enthuses. And having been motivated by other racers, Jesi picked out a few favorites and deemed them worthy to be the role models she would align her career after. The sheer excitement of freestyle and riders like Kyle Loza inspired Jesi to always push the envelope.
"I have so many inspirations, but there are a few who really stick out in my mind. My parents and two sisters are the very first. They've been behind me 200 percent since the drag racing days." Of course, Jesi was quick to point out the fan base she has acquired over the years and that it in itself is enough reason to keep pushing. When asked if there were one particular person she could choose from in the series who she looks up to the most, Jesi was quick to reply that Traci Cecco would be her all-time "most valuable inspiration." "My biggest inspiration is Traci Cecco. She is a true fighter and a great role model. Take every obstacle you can think of and multiply that by 10 and you get what Traci has been through. She overcame every single difficulty with her head held high. She has a lot of strength and is by far the fastest woman in the GNCC circuit with seven titles. She is not only the racer, but the person I strive to be," Stracham declared.
Racing has engulfed the Stracham family and in August 2008 they picked up their belongings and moved to Mooresville, North Carolina, so Jesi and her sister could practice year-round. Education is also important to Jesi and never gets left behind. With her favorite being Spanish class, Jesi hopes to understand the changing world around her.
Plans for the coming seasons include a factory ride and a class championship. These aspirations may seem far out of reach for a young female racer, but in the world of Jesi Stracham, these are goals she plans to attain. You have to start somewhere, and after watching this young talented racer run circles around the boys in her class, I'd say she's on the right track. Jesi will be racing in the entire GNCC series as well as the Mideast Hare Scrambles series for 2009. "I would really like to try a few WORC series races if the schedule allows," Stracham says.
Jesi will be competing the 2009 season on her Yamaha YFZ450. When asked what was the most important item on her race machine, Jesi had this to say: "If I could only have one great component on my race quad, it would be a fine-tuned suspension. I've ridden on stock suspension on all big quads up to this point, and I've found that great aftermarket suspension will assist me in being a lot faster." Thankfully, DeRisi Racing will be stepping up to the plate for her in 2009. "But I am thankful as I have many great sponsors between tires, gear, suspension and other accessories," Jesi continued. It's actually difficult at this point in her career to acquire and keep great sponsors. Jesi has been fortunate and has learned how to communicate with the people who make her racing more affordable. She has written race reports for the media and keeps her sponsors updated on each race, good or bad.
I asked Jesi for a final thought and she had this to say: "When that green flag waves, everything on your mind is erased. Your concentration is set on one thing and it makes all other thoughts go away. Racing is a way of life for me. It has made me see that nothing is ever guaranteed. It's shown me that if you want something bad enough, you have to work hard to get it. Success is rarely handed to you." And this is coming from a now-seasoned racer who knows what she wants in her career. Determination is hardly enough of a word to describe the desire we have found in the young lady from Mooresville.
Jesi Stracham has the heart and soul of a true race champion. There is no doubt there will be many more race wins in her future; nothing will keep her from her goals. So guys, keep your eyes peeled. Jesi is coming!
Jesi would like to thank the following sponsors: Mom, Dad and sister Jodi for living my dreams with me; Kevin Johnston and GBC Tires; DeRisi Racing; High Energy Racing; DWT; G4-Graphics; HMF; ODI Grips; Osiris Shoes; Rekluse; ASV Inventions; Pro Armor; Klim USA; Maier Manufacturing; Amy with XCountry Photos; Dave with RaceDayPix.com; and Je-ann Johnston.