Tia Norfleet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tia Norfleet |
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Norfleet in 2017
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| Born | Shauntia Latrice Norfleet May 1, 1986 Suffolk, Virginia, U.S. |
Shauntia Latrice "Tia" Norfleet (born May 1, 1986) is a pioneering American racing driver. She is known for being the first and only African American woman to get a driver's license from NASCAR. Her father, Bobby Norfleet, was also a NASCAR driver.
Tia Norfleet's Early Racing Life
Tia Norfleet was born in Suffolk, Virginia, in 1986. Her love for racing started very early, when she was just 7 years old. Her dad, Bobby Norfleet, helped her by making her Hot Wheels Barbie car go faster!
When Tia was 14, she began racing go-karts. This was her first step into competitive racing. After karting, she tried drag racing in her local area.
Moving Up in Racing
In 2000, Tia started racing different kinds of cars. She competed in Bandolero cars, which are small, entry-level race cars. Later, in 2004, she moved on to late model stock car racing on shorter tracks.
This was a big moment for her. Tia Norfleet became the first African-American woman to get a NASCAR Late Model Series racing license. This license allowed her to race in more advanced competitions.
Tia continued to race in late model events near her home in Augusta, Georgia. She hoped to compete in major NASCAR races starting in 2012. She even tried to raise money from fans to help pay for her racing career.
Helping Others: Tia's Charitable Work
Tia Norfleet also uses her passion for driving to help young people. She supports the Safe Teen Georgia Driving Academy. This program teaches teenagers how to drive safely. Tia helps by giving driving lessons at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
She is also an ambassador for Safe America Driving. This group works to make driving safer for everyone.
