Maddie Campeau won both Margay Ignite main events, including a 1-2 finish with her and Jaiden Beckman (Photo: Margay - Mark Schwigen)

In a continued effort to highlight the many outstanding performances by drivers around the country, eKartingNews.com is proud to introduce the ‘Driver of the Month’ program. Each month, the staff at EKN will determine the one driver who stood out above the rest and give the viewers a chance to know exactly what they accomplished and who they are.

There is no other feeling in the sport of karting than rolling through the Daytona International Speedway tunnel after the Christmas holiday to begin the annual World Karting Association KartWeek. Once again, the historic Daytona Beach, Florida facility welcomed karters from all over the world last December to compete in the Sprint, Road Race, and Dirt events on the ground of the ‘World Center of Racing’. On December 27-30, action took place on all three venues to decide the 2024 winners and who would put their names in the history books.

Among the 2024 winners is a unique story surrounding the Margay Ignite ‘Dash at Daytona’, which was part of the WKA Daytona KartWeek Sprint event. Maddie Campeau made her return to karting, getting back behind the wheel for the first time since 2018. The 19-year-old student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill last raced at the WKA Manufacturers Cup series in 2018 at the then GoPro Motorplex, competing in the IAME Junior category. Campeau began in Kid Karts and worked her way up the karting ranks through Cadet and Junior divisions. Much of her career was spent competing as one of the lone female drivers against a talented class of drivers her age, including Connor Zilisch, Pauly Massimino, Logan and Garrett Adams, Luca Mars, Jeremy Fairbairn, Hayden Jones, and many others. Her career highlight was winning at the WKA New Castle event in 2016, which helped her to claim the WKA Yamaha Sportsman championship.

In 2018, Campeau stepped away from karting and focused on her soccer career. As a defender, she helped her high school earn multiple conference titles and championships in her four-year career. Maddie’s dedication helped her earn a Division 1 scholarship, but that was unfortunately cut short in her freshman season due to a torn ACL. She then transferred to UNC to focus on her education in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in biology with a business of health minor.

Maddie has kept up her connection with motorsports, working for Robert Noaker Racing, an IMSA Mustang Challenge Series team. Her relationship with the Noaker family dates to the early years of her karting tenure. At the end of the 2024 racing season in October, Bob Noaker suggested that Robert Noaker III and Maddie race the Margay Ignite Dash at Daytona event in Daytona.

“I was hesitant at first, because it had been over six years since I had been in a kart and I had never driven a Briggs 206,” commented Campeau. “I decided it would be a fun experience since there was nothing on the line. I’m used to always racing to be in points contention, so it would be a more relaxing race experience.”

The event began on December 28 inside the Daytona International Speedway on the newly resurfaced karting circuit that is situated by NASCAR Turn 3 and 4. The first session was on a wet circuit, providing a unique re-introduction to karting and to a Margay Ignite karting package for Maddie. The second session allowed her to get a better feel for both the track and the kart. She ended up second fastest in the session and followed it up with the quickest time in Practice 3. She and Robert partnered up for the qualifying session, however, this plan did not pan out with her recording the 10th quickest lap.

Day 2 on December 29 began with Prefinal 1 after warm-up. Campeau started 10th and kept finding ways to pass. By the end of 12 laps, she was up to third behind top qualifier and race winner Tim Hannen with Tyler Kolshorn in second.

“I did the majority of my passing in the tight, technical sections of the track,” added Campeau. “Dan Schlosser, who was the one to teach me to drive a kart 15 years ago, helped us a ton with set-up. He was on the phone with my dad all weekend giving us help with how to set up the four-stroke kart. This made all the difference for us, and I definitely wouldn’t have been able to perform as well without his help.”

Prior to the main event, a storm system rolled through Daytona Beach, hitting the track with major winds and heavy rain. WKA officials postponed the remainder of the day, revamping the schedule for Day 3 on December 30. For the Margay Ignite division, it was a warm-up with Final 1 and Final 2 to be contested, eliminating Prefinal 2.

Campeau started third for the Final and got into second quickly. By turn five, she was into the lead – a position she never expected to be when the weekend began. Eventually, Gateway Ignite regular Jaiden Beckman joined her at the front. The two battled for the lead with Maddie taking the point prior to the white flag in the same turn five. She would hold on to the checkered flag, scoring the victory.

Maddie stated “I had a great race with Jaiden. It was awesome to be battling for the lead with another woman. At some point near halfway she passed me. We had a lot of lapped traffic to deal with, but it didn’t disrupt our race too much. As soon as I saw the two-to-go signal, I knew I wanted to be leading going into the white flag lap. Just because of the format of the track and where I felt I was strongest, I only wanted to worry about defending, not trying to pass on the last lap.”

The result of Campeau and Beckman finishing first and second became the first 1-2 finish for female drivers in the Margay Ignite major program. Campeau also became the third female to win an Ignite major event. Maddie also became the first female driver to win at the WKA Daytona KartWeek Sprint event since Julia Landauer in 2008.

The starting positions for Final 2 were based on drivers’ fastest times in Final 1. Campeau placed third on the grid for the race, with a similar outcome. She moved up to second at the start and quickly into the lead. From there, she ran away from the rest of the field, pulling out to nearly a four-second advantage over Kolshorn with Noaker a close third. Noaker is a former WKA Daytona KartWeek winner, earning victory in Yamaha Sportsman back in 2015 and taking top spot in Komet Sportsman in 2014.

“For a little under half of the race, I never looked behind me and assumed at least the second and third place karts were close behind,” Maddie said. “What I didn’t know was that I was gradually pulling a large lead on the rest of the field. I eventually realized how far ahead I was and relaxed a little bit. I focused on keeping my lines clean and not making any dumb mistakes to allow them to catch up.”

Despite the event being a one-off appearance, Campeau added to her career accomplishments and put her name into the Margay Ignite history books. It is also a great example of getting a former karter off the couch and into the seat. The Ignite program is focused around the driver and Campeau’s performance proved great talent will climb to the front. Hopefully this will not be the last we hear from Campeau in karting in the future.

December 2024 EKN Driver of the Month – Maddie Campeau

Maddie Campeau (Photo: Margay – Mark Schwigen)

Bio

Born: 2/11/2004 (Gibsonia, PA)
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Height/Weight: 5’9”
Education: Junior, B.S. Biology Major, Business of Health Minor, UNC Chapel Hill (currently enrolled)
Occupation: Student, undergraduate research technician at Kash Lab (UNC School of Medicine), Robert Noaker Racing crew and media

Racing Resume

Chassis: Margay
Engine/Engine Builder: Briggs 206
Sponsors: Robert Noaker Racing
Series You Compete In: World Karting Association
Years Karting: 9 (ages 5-14)
How did you get started in karting? My father raced TZ250s at Pittsburgh International Race Complex (then, Beaver Run), took me to kart track at age 5, Dan Schlosser taught me to drive a kart.
What has been the high point in your racing career? Winning a national championship in 2016 in WKA Yamaha Sportsman, becoming just the third female in history to do so.
What are your goals in racing? Since I’m no longer racing (Daytona was just a fun, one-time thing), I’d really like to continue doing media work in racing.
In a few words, how would you describe your driving style? I’d like to think I’m a smooth, clean driver.
Funniest moment at the race track? Going to Daytona this past December and winning both races. I really was not expecting that.

Likes

Favorite Track: Pittsburgh International Race Complex (Still Beaver Run to me)
Favorite form of professional motorsports: Formula One
Favorite karting driver: Ashley Rogero
Favorite professional driver: Sebastian Vettel
Favorite website: DASHBuilderServices.com
Favorite movie: The Breakfast Club
Favorite actor/actress: Heath Ledger
Favorite music/group: Taylor Swift
Favorite vacation/activity spot: Paris, France
Favorite food: Pickles

The Real Deal

What do you do when not at the track? I’m a full-time college student, so either at school, working in lab, or hanging out with family or friends.
What are your goals outside of karting? I’m planning on graduating next Spring from UNC and would like to either get a job in racing media or get my MBA.
What type of street car do you drive? Acura ILX
What type of street car would you like to drive? Porshe 911 GT3 RS
What are your pet peeves or things that irritate you? Slow drivers, inconsiderate people
What do you think could be done to improve the sport of karting? I’d love to see even more girls racing. I was always one of the only ones when I was younger and wished that hadn’t been the case. I see female participation improving, but there’s still a long way to go. I think it’s so important for little girls to feel like they belong in racing just as much as the boys. I looked up to women like Ashley Rogero when I was little, and I know how important it can be to have role models in the sport to show you it’s possible for women to win and be successful.
What are your favorite aspects about the sport of karting? I think it teaches you so many valuable lessons, especially when you start at a young age. You learn a lot about how to lose (and win) gracefully, how to deal with disappointment, and the value of hard work. I’m so grateful to have been exposed to racing at such a young age. Not only was it such a unique and fun part of my life, but it introduced me to so many amazing people, many of whom I still know today. It was also such an amazing thing to do with my parents. It was really a family affair for us, and I’m grateful I got to do it with them.

December 2024 Driver of the Month – Honorable Mention:

– Dalton Hanes: WKA Daytona KartWeek – KA100 Senior Winner

– Isaac Malcuit: WKA Daytona KartWeek – Briggs 206 Senior Light Winner

– Colin Warren: WKA Daytona KartWeek – Briggs 206 Senior Winner

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