Pine-Richland Student Drives Success Racing Go-Karts

A Pine-Richland student is following in the footsteps of NASCAR race driver Danica Patrick.

WPXI-TV reports that Hance Elementary third-grader Madison Campeau began racing when she was only 6 years old.

Now at 9 years old, Madison is racing go-karts competitively, same as Patrick who began racing go-karts when she was 10.

Madison recently told WPXI she admires Patrick, the first woman to lead the Indy 500 and the first woman to win the pole position at the Daytona 500, "because she goes fast like me."

And Madison definitely goes fast, hitting speeds of 60 mph racing at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, her home track.

Her parents, Michele and Jim Campeau, are both supportive. Jim Campeau, who races MotoGP bikes, told WPXI he recognizes his daughter's talent. 

"She does get it. She learns everytime we go to a different track and travel, and we come back here. She's picked up times and she's been faster."

This year alone, Madison captured three local wins and finished in the top five of a national race in South Carolina. 

WPXI reports Michele Campeau still gets butterflies at the start of her daughter's races.

"My heart rate gets pretty high until the green flag drops. Once they're through Turn 1, I settle down a little bit," she said. 

Check out more of Maddie's achievements at www.gomaddie.com