Paul Harraka
Encyclopedia
Paulie Harraka is a NASCAR
driver from Wayne, New Jersey
. He has raced in the Nationwide Series.
, winning 11 races. Harraka also won a popular karting event at Mark Dismore
's karting facility in Indiana, the RoboPong 200 (now known as the Dan Wheldon Cup after the 2005 winner was killed in October 2011) karting event, teamed with on-sabbatical NASCAR driver Ricky Rudd
.
He is a member of the Drive for Diversity
effort to integrate minorities into the sport. In 2008, he ran his first regional touring series event in a family-owned Chevrolet at the Camping World West Series race at Miller Motorsports Park
in Tooele, Utah
, but handling problems forced his off the track after two laps. Later in the season, he earned top ten finishes at Altamont and Roseville while driving for Bill McAnally's Toyota team. Harraka went full-time in 2009, driving a Mike Curb-owned and NAPA
-sponsored Toyota, where he was the first Drive for Diversity member to win a NASCAR regional touring series event. He won two events (Colorado National Speedway
and Roseville) and placed fourth in the standings en route to Rookie of the Year honors. In 2010, Harraka won at Roseville and placed third in the standings. He made his national touring series debut at the Montreal Nationwide Series event, driving the NEMCO Chevrolet to 29th.
Harraka is of Syrian descent and is a student at Duke University
.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver from Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne is a Township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, located less than from midtown Manhattan. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 54,069....
. He has raced in the Nationwide Series.
Career
Harraka began racing in karts as a youth. He won the New Jersey State Championship as a 7 year old in 1997. He won total of 158 kart races. In 2005 he moved from kart to legends car racing. Harraka raced at Whelen All-American SeriesWhelen All-American Series
The Whelen All-American Series is a points championship for NASCAR sanctioned local racetracks around the United States and Canada....
, winning 11 races. Harraka also won a popular karting event at Mark Dismore
Mark Dismore
Mark Dismore is a former driver in the Indy Racing League and the 1990 Toyota Pacific champion as well as the winner of the 1993 24 Hours of Daytona with Dan Gurney's All American Racers in a Toyota GTP car with co-drivers Rocky Moran and P. J. Jones...
's karting facility in Indiana, the RoboPong 200 (now known as the Dan Wheldon Cup after the 2005 winner was killed in October 2011) karting event, teamed with on-sabbatical NASCAR driver Ricky Rudd
Ricky Rudd
Ricky Rudd is a former American NASCAR driver. He is the uncle of actor Skeet Ulrich and Nationwide Series driver Jason Rudd. Rudd is known as the "Iron Man" of NASCAR; holding the record for most consecutive starts in NASCAR racing. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, Rudd had made 788...
.
He is a member of the Drive for Diversity
Drive for Diversity
The Drive for Diversity program is a development system instituted by NASCAR in 2004 in order to attract minorities and women to the sport in positions such as ownership, driving and crew members. Before an applicant is accepted into the program, their resumes are checked by NASCAR officials...
effort to integrate minorities into the sport. In 2008, he ran his first regional touring series event in a family-owned Chevrolet at the Camping World West Series race at Miller Motorsports Park
Miller Motorsports Park
Miller Motorsports Park is an auto, motorcycle, bicycle and kart racing facility located in the unincorporated Erda area just outside Tooele, Utah.- The Track :...
in Tooele, Utah
Tooele, Utah
Tooele is a city in Tooele County in the U.S. state of Utah. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 22,502 at the 2000 census, and 30,708 as of the 2009 estimates. It is the county seat of Tooele County...
, but handling problems forced his off the track after two laps. Later in the season, he earned top ten finishes at Altamont and Roseville while driving for Bill McAnally's Toyota team. Harraka went full-time in 2009, driving a Mike Curb-owned and NAPA
National Automotive Parts Association
The National Automotive Parts Association was founded in 1925 to meet America's growing need for an auto parts distribution system. It is a retailers' cooperative that distributes parts to both corporately and independently owned auto parts stores.NAPA's parent company is Genuine Parts Company , ...
-sponsored Toyota, where he was the first Drive for Diversity member to win a NASCAR regional touring series event. He won two events (Colorado National Speedway
Colorado National Speedway
Colorado National Speedway is a paved oval in Dacono, Colorado spanning . The track is currently a member of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and hosts the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West annually....
and Roseville) and placed fourth in the standings en route to Rookie of the Year honors. In 2010, Harraka won at Roseville and placed third in the standings. He made his national touring series debut at the Montreal Nationwide Series event, driving the NEMCO Chevrolet to 29th.
Harraka is of Syrian descent and is a student at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
.