@dennis-garrett10 years ago
Old Forge's Mattioli carving path toward career in NASCAR BY SCOTT WALSH (STAFF WRITER) Published: February 23, 2014 Racing is in Alivia Mattioli's blood. That's what happens when your uncle builds one of the largest race tracks in the Northeast and it hosts two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races every year.
She became a huge fan of the sport, attending races with her family - father John, mother Katherine, brother Jason.
"I'd be sitting in the grandstands and I'd see my uncle in Victory Lane during the pre-race ceremonies shaking hands with the drivers," Mattioli said. "I didn't understand as a child that someone in my family owned a race track."
Her uncle, of course, was the late Dr. Joseph Mattioli, founder of Pocono Raceway.
Now, Alivia Mattioli is taking her passion for racing and building toward turning it into a career.
It all started five years ago at age 15 when she did an internship at Pocono under Looie McNally, Doc Mattioli's eldest daughter.
Not only was it something to do during the summer, but Mattioli saw it as a way to become closer with that side of the family.
"I did it for five summers, and each year it grew away from being a job and into something I really enjoyed," Mattioli said. "I'd help set up on race weekends and was being exposed to more of the NASCAR industry. And Looie became one of my mentors. I give a lot of credit to her."
After graduating from Old Forge High School in 2011, Mattioli headed to Elon University in North Carolina.
One of her first days on campus, she was listening to Elon president Dr. Leo M. Lambert address the freshmen. He pointed out several students in the incoming class and some of the projects they had done in high school.
"I remember sitting there thinking, 'How can I compete with them? They've already left their mark on the school and the administration on the first day,' " Mattioli said. "That's when I decided I wanted to leave my mark."
Taking her passion as a race fan and the things she had learned to that point interning at Pocono, Mattioli created a course as part of Elon's student-instructed "Burst the Bubble" program.
"No Speed Limit: The Ins and Outs of NASCAR" teaches about the history of the sport and how the industry works. Mattioli brings in race team executives, crew chiefs and drivers such as Casey Mears as guest speakers.
"It was my way of sharing my interest and help the students learn about motor sports," Mattioli said.
Her desire for a career in racing extends beyond the classroom.
Last season, she attended 16 Sprint Cup races, shadowing race teams and NASCAR officials to learn more about what they do.
She recently completed an internship with the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which she said was a special experience. Not only did she get to interact with some of the sport's legends, but she also got to hear them tell stories about her late uncle and how much they enjoyed racing at Pocono.
In May, the 20-year-old junior sport and event management major will head to Europe to work with the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, a 10-race circuit that holds stock car events in France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Great Britain. While there, Mattioli also intends to learn more about Formula One racing.
"Three years ago, when I decided to go to Elon, I thought, 'How can I live 10 hours from home?' " Mattioli said. "Now, I'm getting ready to move to France. I never thought I'd get opportunities like this. My brother is an attorney and I always thought I'd follow in his footsteps."
Instead, Mattioli is following the path of her late uncle. After all, racing is in her blood.
Contact the writer: swalsh@timesshamrock.com @sportsTT on Twitter
Thanks for any information or photos posted. Dennis Garrett Richmond,Va.USA
Harlow, there's a nice newspaper article on Alivia Mattioli at the link below: http://thetimes-tribune.com/sports/old-forge-s-mattioli-carving-path-toward-career-in-nascar-1.1639062
Old Forge's Mattioli carving path toward career in NASCAR
BY SCOTT WALSH (STAFF WRITER)
Published: February 23, 2014
Racing is in Alivia Mattioli's blood. That's what happens when your uncle builds one of the largest race tracks in the Northeast and it hosts two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races every year.
She became a huge fan of the sport, attending races with her family - father John, mother Katherine, brother Jason.
"I'd be sitting in the grandstands and I'd see my uncle in Victory Lane during the pre-race ceremonies shaking hands with the drivers," Mattioli said. "I didn't understand as a child that someone in my family owned a race track."
Her uncle, of course, was the late Dr. Joseph Mattioli, founder of Pocono Raceway.
Now, Alivia Mattioli is taking her passion for racing and building toward turning it into a career.
It all started five years ago at age 15 when she did an internship at Pocono under Looie McNally, Doc Mattioli's eldest daughter.
Not only was it something to do during the summer, but Mattioli saw it as a way to become closer with that side of the family.
"I did it for five summers, and each year it grew away from being a job and into something I really enjoyed," Mattioli said. "I'd help set up on race weekends and was being exposed to more of the NASCAR industry. And Looie became one of my mentors. I give a lot of credit to her."
After graduating from Old Forge High School in 2011, Mattioli headed to Elon University in North Carolina.
One of her first days on campus, she was listening to Elon president Dr. Leo M. Lambert address the freshmen. He pointed out several students in the incoming class and some of the projects they had done in high school.
"I remember sitting there thinking, 'How can I compete with them? They've already left their mark on the school and the administration on the first day,' " Mattioli said. "That's when I decided I wanted to leave my mark."
Taking her passion as a race fan and the things she had learned to that point interning at Pocono, Mattioli created a course as part of Elon's student-instructed "Burst the Bubble" program.
"No Speed Limit: The Ins and Outs of NASCAR" teaches about the history of the sport and how the industry works. Mattioli brings in race team executives, crew chiefs and drivers such as Casey Mears as guest speakers.
"It was my way of sharing my interest and help the students learn about motor sports," Mattioli said.
Her desire for a career in racing extends beyond the classroom.
Last season, she attended 16 Sprint Cup races, shadowing race teams and NASCAR officials to learn more about what they do.
She recently completed an internship with the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which she said was a special experience. Not only did she get to interact with some of the sport's legends, but she also got to hear them tell stories about her late uncle and how much they enjoyed racing at Pocono.
In May, the 20-year-old junior sport and event management major will head to Europe to work with the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, a 10-race circuit that holds stock car events in France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Great Britain. While there, Mattioli also intends to learn more about Formula One racing.
"Three years ago, when I decided to go to Elon, I thought, 'How can I live 10 hours from home?' " Mattioli said. "Now, I'm getting ready to move to France. I never thought I'd get opportunities like this. My brother is an attorney and I always thought I'd follow in his footsteps."
Instead, Mattioli is following the path of her late uncle. After all, racing is in her blood.
Contact the writer: swalsh@timesshamrock.com @sportsTT on Twitter
Thanks for any information or photos posted.
Dennis Garrett
Richmond,Va.USA