Katie Hagar, a young race car driver from Damariscotta, is appearing on another reality television show.

Two years ago, Hagar was a member of the cast of “Changing Lanes,” a month-long reality series on BET cable network.

Hagar now will appear on a segment of “The Big Time,” a seven-episode reality series premiering this Saturday on ABC-TV.

On “Changing Lanes,” Hagar, 25, was one of 10 young race car drivers vying for a spot on a NASCAR racing team.

On “The Big Time,” she will be one of three contestants vying for the chance to race against a top-ranked NASCAR driver. The segment is scheduled to air Feb. 25.

Hagar, who works as a welder for Leavitt Racing Components in Mooresville, N.C., hopes the national exposure will help find sponsors for the NASCAR Late Model race car she spent last year rebuilding.

“You don’t find a lot of women who are welding and trying to build race cars,” Hagar said. “There are not a lot of females who are hands-on. I think by doing this, it shows my uniqueness and my drive and my passion for racing.”

Hagar learned to weld while driving for California-based Bill McAnally Racing in 2008 during her first year in NASCAR’s Diversity in Racing program, which is designed to foster the development of women and members of minorities in auto racing.

After completing the three-year developmental program, Hagar began working for Leavitt Racing Components, helping to build racing chassis and manage the shipping and handling of parts.

“The Leavitts are originally from Maine, and they have been very kind in educating me to what it takes to build and drive a race car,” Hagar said. “I felt I needed to stick around and fill in the gaps in my racing knowledge.”

Instead of racing, Hagar devoted last season to restoring the car she wrecked while racing in a Pro All Star Series event at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough five years ago.

“It needed a front clip. It needed a rear clip. It needed everything,” she said. “I completely restored and rebuilt everything from the ground up.”

Last October, Hagar drove the car for the first time on a race track in the Fall Brawl at Hickery Motor Speedway in Newton, N.C. It was only her second time behind the wheel last season.

“We qualified for the feature, but we had alternator issues and I made a decision to drop out of the race,” she said.

In 2012, Hagar, who graduated in 2004 from Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, intends to resume her racing career in North Carolina.

“I would like to do some selective short-track races, and I would like to get a little seat time in a Super Late Model,” she said.

“I’m trying to attract some sponsors.”

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:

pbetit@pressherald.com

Twitter: PaulBetitPPH

 

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