Cochran: From Bull Riding To Cars

Sheryl Cochran took a unique route to the world of short-track racing.

Four years on the Professional Women's Rodeo Association Tour, followed by three years of winning regularly in Central Florida mud racing circles, brought her to Limited Late Model racing for the past five years at East Bay Raceway Park.

"It took me a long time to convince Jerry Miguel, my mud racing crew chief, that I really wanted to go dirt racing," the 36-year-old driver said. "Sometimes it's hard to get people to believe that all that makeup, hair and nails, doesn't mind getting dirty."

Starting her professional sports career in the rodeo bull riding ranks proved to be a tough road, but Cochran was only a few championship points from getting an invitation to the Women's National Finals Rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas, when a ride in Atlanta ended with a shattered heel. She asked for a temporary cast so she could ride her final bull of the event to gain the few points she would need for the trip, but no orthopedic surgeon would put the shattered bones in a cast.

"The only reason I walked away from bull riding then was the five weeks I missed from work, without pay," Cochran said. "I just could not afford to lose that much time from work and not have any money coming in."

Her stay in mud racing was marked by win after win.

"It actually got a little boring at the end," Cochran said. "I was winning everything in a well-prepared ride."

She moved to Limited Late Models, because she thought the East Bay street stocks "seemed to be a very rough class."

"At first it was very difficult to convince people to take me seriously," Cochran said of the first year at East Bay. "Three years later, these guys are finally deciding that I'm not going away, and they will have to deal with me 'til I decide it's time to move on."

AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY: John Hansen won the 18-car Race Cars of Yesterday feature during the weekend. Other winners were Aaron Williamson (Sportsman), Brandon Morris (Street Stock), Brandon McSwain (Mod-Minis), Williamson (Mini-Stocks), Matt Cohen (Young Guns Trucks), J.R. Garcia III (Pro Stars Trucks), Bobby Baldwin (Open Wheel Mods) and Carla O'Riley (Scramblers).

CITRUS COUNTY SPEEDWAY: Winners were Mike Bresnahan (Super Late Models), Richie Smith (Street Stocks), Mike Veltman (Sportsman), Clint Foley (9th Mini-Stock win), Jeff Eberly (Four Cyl Bombers), Bill Ryan (Pure Stocks) and Eddie Rosasco (Rookie Thunder Stocks).

DESOTO SUPER SPEEDWAY: Winners were Alex Patten (Magic 4's), B.J. McLeod (AACS Twin-125 No. 1), Jeff Scofield (AACS Twin-125 No. 2), Gregory Krom (Street Stocks), "Rocketman" Wayne Jefferson (Open Wheel Mods) and Jerome Watland (Bombers).

EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK: David Schmauss' fifth-place finish earned him a mathematical lock on the 2007 Late Model Championship. Other winners were Jackie Nosbisch Jr. (Late Models), Steven Johnson (Street Stocks), Jeff Mathews (Open Wheel Mods), Tim Gay (Limited Late Models) and Chad Rose (Outlaw 4's). The ASCS 360 Sprint Cars for the annual Fall Brawl will be Friday and Saturday night.

Local points standings, Page 11