CAMDEN, NJ - Chassis rolls, pit stalls, silly seasons, and roll bars. Roars, crashes, smoke, and fires. Big sponsors, fans, victory lanes, and champagne.  For the stock car racing neophyte, these are the words and images that define the sport of NASCAR.  More and more Hispanics are tuning into NASCAR, in some measure because there are now latino drivers on the circuit.  Though Hispanics and women have entered NASCAR, there has yet to be a combination of the two...but that may soon change.

Enter Natividad Soto.  "I am here to change the direction of the sport," she says. 

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Camden, New Jersey, the 36-year-old hopes to become the first female Latina NASCAR driver. Influenced by the Earnhardts and inspired by her three sons and grandparents, Soto started racing 7 years ago in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she currently resides. She works as a property manager, raises her boys, and donates her time to her community.

Detours and car trouble have delayed Natividad in reaching her goal, but they haven’t stopped her from getting her car running. After a brush with poor management, Natividad has finally found a loyal manager to stand by her side.

Finding sponsorship has been Natividad’s critical problem since the beginning of her journey. "Getting into racing is hard enough, especially when you are starting from scratch. However, just like the economy, things will become better for me."

Unfortunately, she has not been picked up by a sponsor yet. Lately, the Latina stick shifter has been having fundraisers to get her in position to compete.  After her finances are in order, Natividad says it will take some time for her to get acclimated to the tracks. She will then need to work her way up through the different racing divisions.

With Natividad behind the wheel and her family as her pit crew, she plans to move her community forward as a role model. "When you take a normal individual in any situation who wants to aspire to do something and you put them around positive influences, things will happen for them," Soto said.  She believes confidence and support are the key ingredients for success.

Beyond her community, Natividad Soto strives to get her car into NASCAR for other women that share her problems. "I want to make a mark for all women drivers out there that want to break into the ranks and compete with the top men of the sport."

Check out Soto’s future races at Slinger Super Speedway on her journey to NASCAR.