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2001 article

           

By Robin Wayne Ervin

 

Paulie Harraka from Fair Lawn NJ looks like an average 11 year old. He is quiet, unassuming and gives a friendly smile to everyone he sees. However, his list of racing accomplishments speak volumes.  In just 3 years of World Karting Association (WKA) National Competition, Harraka has captured 11 Divisional Championships, 6 National Championships (total in both WKA oval and road course series), 2 Grand National Championships, 10 National race wins, 1 World Championship, and 15 National Race Poles. Podium finishes have become the norm for this young racer.

 

 He began his racing career in June 1997. He won the first race he ever entered at the kart course located at the historic Flemington Fairgrounds. He continued to race at local tracks through out the region for a year and a half during which he won over 40 feature events. He and his father, Paul Sr, then decided to move up to the extremely competitive World Karting Association (WKA) National Series.  One of his most notable sponsors is Simpson Safety Products. He is a new kart product test driver for them. One of the most noticeable pieces of equipment he uses from them is an aerodynamically shaped helmet that he wears in every race.

 

In 1999 Harraka won the WKA National Championship in the US 820 Junior Sportsman class becoming the youngest ever WKA National Champion at nine years of age. The following year he won four National Championships and became a WKA Triple Crown winner.  He was also the first driver of any age in WKA history to win a Triple Crown by winning multiple National Championships in both the WKA Manufacturers Cup 2-cycle road course series and the 4-cycle Speedway Pavement Oval track series, two totally different forms of racing.

 

Recently he was awarded the Holley Carburetor Corp. ‘Future Star Award" and a $6000 collage scholarship. He clinched his 6th WKA National Championship this year by winning the WKA Grand National Race in Dousman, WI in August.  For the second year in a row the National Championship couldn’t be decided until the final race of the season. He had to battle Robert Thorne for the win in order to clinch the WKA National Championship. That win made Harraka the Winn ingest Junior Sportsman Championship Driver in the 30-year history of the WKA.

           

 

 In addition to his WKA National Championship this year, he also captured four WKA Divisional Championships. He has won the New York Divisional Championship in the Speedway Pavement Oval Track series in the Junior Sportsman 2 Heavy class and in the Junior Sportsman Champ Kart class. Harraka also won the WKA Divisional Championships in both the Empire State Manufacturers Cup 2 cycle road course series in the Comer 80cc class and in the 100cc Yamaha Junior Sportsman class.

                       

His passion for racing has taken him from one side of the country to the other. On more than one occasion he has either taken the pole or won on tracks he had never seen prior to racing on them. 

 

            Despite his busy schedule Harraka is a straight A+ student who is entering the 6th grade in September. Harraka talked about the various benefits he has received from go-kart racing," I feel very privileged to be able to race”. “Racing has taught me to focus on only the task at hand, which has helped me in my schoolwork. Racing has also taught me about sportsmanship and to feel good whether I win or not and to offer congratulations to all my competitors. I’ve also made some great friends from all over the country and in Canada as well" Harraka added” Racing has also taught me the importance of teamwork. I could have never, in my wildest dreams, accomplished all this without all the help from the people and companies who have supported me. Racing has also taught me to never give up. There were many times that things weren’t going well and it would have been easy to quit, but we didn’t and it’s paid off.” “ I really love racing. I want to go to collage and study engineering so I can be involved as a team engineer if not as a driver".

 

When he turns 12 he will be required to leave the Junior Sportsman Division to the relief of his competitors. The future should be very interesting for this young racing star. If he does in the Senior Division what he has done in the Junior Division, There is no telling how far he will go.