Local woman makes car racing history

Gillian Leppado, age 19 of Manson, entered another Outlaw Figure-8 race on Saturday Sept. 4 with her one ton, big block 454 Chevy K5 Blazer.
It was a featured race during the Evergreen State Fair's auto races in Monroe over Labor Day weekend. Ten cars entered the race.
Leppado started the 30-lap, figure-eight race in fifth position, and was soon able to maneuver her way into fourth position. About lap nine, one of the drivers in front of her spun out of control--and all three cars slid off the course out of danger to the other racers.
Local residents who were on hand to support Gillian and her racing team couldn't believe their eyes. With determination and grit, Leppado drove a hard race and held her position in first place for the last 20 laps.
Gillian Leppado was the first female driver to ever win an Outlaw Figure-8 race.
"And it's going down in the books," she said. "I was shocked and in total disbelief. I was so proud of what my team was able to do." Quite an accomplishment for a driver whose racing number posted on the vehicle is a huge "0".
The huge first-place trophy and generous cash prize was another bonus for the young racing champion.