By Brad Brickel
Thursday, November 03, 2011

Forest Hill, MD - Go-karts can reach speeds of up to 50 mph as they race around the one-eighth-mile track at Shellhammer’s Speedway in Ontelaunee Township, PA. That’s nothing when you ask TeamRAACE driver Dakota Kohler, 2011 Track Champion in the Rookie Blue Heavy & Rookie Blue Light divisions.

Each week, every Saturday, and some Sundays, from mid-April through late September, more than 130 racers both young and old gather at the small dirt-banked ellipse to test their driving skills. With the Schuylkill River some 20 yards away, the family atmosphere and the drive to win in the air, makes a day at Shellhammer’s Speedway a great way to spend time with family and friends.

Dakota has had a long history of success at the speedway. He was Rookie Purple Light Champion in 2010. He has many track records including: Rookie Purple Light 8 lap record - 1:22.50, Rookie Purple Light 15 lap record - 2:35.00, Rookie Purple Light 20 lap record - 3:27.81, Rookie Purple Heavy 20 lap record - 3:26.97, and the 30 lap Rookie Blue Light record - 4:57.22.

Dakota is a regular participant and volunteer with The Checkered Flag Fan Club and is learning the value of giving back at an early age. His impeccably prepared go-kart has also won many awards at car shows all over the area including the annual Reading Racing Reunion at Fairgrounds Square Mall in Reading, PA. The RAACE Foundation would like to congratulate Dakota on his tremendous accomplishments both in 2011 and beyond all as a member of TeamRAACE.

The RAACE Foundation would also like to thank Dakota and the entire Kohler family for their tireless efforts to help expose the hidden epidemic of child abuse; they want everyone to know that until every child is safe from abuse, their race has no finish line.