To say racing is in her blood is an understatement.  Beth’s first visit to a racing circuit was at the tender age of 6 months, and she’s been coming back ever since.  The ultimate true track brat, Beth cut her teeth in Timing & Scoring, moved into the ranks of the flaggers and eventually found significant other at the track.

Racing History

A curious fetish for nomex, however, left Beth with the urge to race. Detours for college and graduate school kept her wearing flagger whites until the late 1990s when she began sharing an ITC Honda Civic with her husband.

Beth took an unexpected sabbatical from driving after allowing another driver to use her car. She returned to the ranks of active drivers for the 2004 season in a borrowed car, but spent the 2005 season out on a second unexpected, but far more fortunate, sabbatical. During that season, while waiting for the Stiglet to arrive, Beth purchased and prepared a new car for her to take the wheel again.  In 2006 with a car prepared to suit her individually and a focus on the whole season rather than single races, her return to full-time racing earned her Third Place in the 2006 MARRS ITC Championship. In addition, Beth’s performance was noticed by her peers who awarded her the Paul H. Norair Trophy given to the Region’s Most Improved Driver.

In 2007, the MARRS ITC Championship was the personal playground of Beth, who took four first place finishes on her way to winning the 2007 MARRS ITC Championship.

Beth determined that 2008 would be a year to hone her skills and race when and where she wanted. In June, the family went to Road America for the June Sprints where Beth ran her ITC-legal Honda CRX in “H” Production. Beth made a strong impression in the paddock by setting a time close to the ITC track record on her first visit to the track.  In August, Beth set the first ITC track record on the way to winning the inaugural event at New Jersey Motorsports Park’s Lightning Circuit.

Accomplishments

• Winner, Four MARRS ITC Events, 2008
• 1st Place MARRS ITC Championship, 2007
• Winner, Four MARRS ITC Events, 2007
• Paul H. Norair Most Improved Driver Award, 2006
• 3rd Place MARRS ITC Championship, 2006
• 1st Place ITC, Charge of the Headlight Brigade, 2006
• 2nd Place, ITC, 12 Hours at the Point, 2002

Life Beyond the Track

Beth lives in Charles Town, West Virginia with her husband and fellow Amigo John Burkhard, Abby the Dog and The Stiglet. By day, she is a mild-mannered marine biologist with a federal agency. By night, she becomes Super Mom.