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Balancing Act For Harraka

Paul Harraka has just wrapped up his freshman year at Duke University, where he’s majoring in mechanical engineering and public policy and maintaining an above-average GPA. He moved onto campus last August and has adjusted to campus life, making new friends, knocking out gen-ed requirements and joining the Newman Catholic Student Center as social activities coordinator.

Amidst all of this, Harraka has also been racing.

Last fall he wrapped up the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track championship at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., with 11 feature wins. He attended the Drive for Diversity Testing & Evaluation Combine at South Boston (Va.) Speedway last October and was selected to participate in the Drive for Diversity program again for 2009. In March, he kicked off his rookie season in the NASCAR Camping World Series West, driving the No. 12 NAPA AutoCare Toyota for California-based Bill McAnally Racing.

“It was a big adjustment for sure,” says Harraka of balancing university life on the East Coast and racing on the West Coast. “I have a heavy workload, but it’s still manageable. I’m committed to what I’m doing and have a personal strategy that helps me stay focused.”

Currently sixth in NASCAR Camping World Series West points standings and battling for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, Harraka is keeping busy – and finding success – on and off the race track.

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“I’ve always had a somewhat hectic schedule with school and racing,” Harraka says. “Both are very important to me so I find a way to make it work, whether it’s doing assignments ahead of time or making up work after a race weekend.”

Harraka’s professors at Duke University have been willing to work with him – to a point.

“They don’t – and I wouldn’t expect them to – alter policies for me,” he says. “There are so many other students at Duke who are doing amazing things outside of the classroom. The professors expect that we adhere to their policies, regardless of what else we have going on in our lives.”

For Harraka, those ‘other things’ include racing, sponsor appearances, interviews, television and radio appearances and flying back and forth across the country to work with his team at Bill McAnally Racing.

Harraka is in the shop in Antelope, Calif., as often as his schedule allows, at least three days a month. When he can’t be at the race shop he’s on the phone, conversing daily with team owner Bill McAnally and his crew chief, Duane Knorr.

“It’s all about the chemistry and the people,” says Harraka. “It’s my rookie season in the Camping World Series West, but the team already has chemistry. We spend a lot of time communicating, whether it’s about the race car, the team, an upcoming event or what we did during the week – we always make sure everyone is on the same page, even if we’re not in the same place.”

Harraka has no issue with traveling to the West Coast to race, even though he currently attends school in North Carolina.

“Driving for Bill McAnally Racing is the attraction to racing in the West,” he says. “BMR is a top-notch operation and I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to drive for them through the Drive for Diversity program. I’m more than willing to fly across the country to race for BMR.”

Harraka is halfway through his rookie season in the NASCAR Camping World Series West and one year into his university education at Duke. It’s important for him to balance racing and education.

“It’s three-fold, really,” he says. “I can tie racing and my education together by learning things in the classroom that I can apply on the race track; being a student at Duke sets me apart from other drivers and is helpful in obtaining sponsorship and ultimately, you never know what’s going to happen so it’s always good to have an education to fall back on.”

Harraka doesn’t plan on having to fall back on his education, though.

“I have not yet achieved all of my goals in this sport; I’ve achieved some, but I still have others and I’m extremely blessed that I get to chase my dreams.”

Paul Harraka is a third-year participant in the Drive for Diversity initiative, the industry’s leading on-track development program for minority and female drivers and crew members. Follow Harraka’s progress all season long by visiting D4D.tv.