KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - NewsSanta Maria Drag Racing Team Raises Money For Season

Santa Maria Drag Racing Team Raises Money For Season

SANTA MARIA - A high school drag racing team is looking to rev up support here on the Central Coast.

The team is made up of 12 qualified girls and five boys in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.

About 200 cars across California, including the student race cars, were the big attractions at its fundraiser at Santa Maria High School.

"The whole program is to keep them in school, get them to do their best, particularly those students who are at risk of dropping out because they don't feel connected to the school if they're not in sports, bands, things like that," said Lorin Cuthbert, auto shop teacher at Santa Maria High School. "For those students, maybe this is the outlet they're looking for."

It drew hundreds of people who donated money for the race, travel and hotel expenses.

"They don't want this sport to die. It's very important that these kids are being generated. These kids have to see what the future is like," said Art Foster of the Saints Race Team.

The team needs to raise $10,000 this season.

"This is just a great opportunity being one of the few girls in a male-dominated sport," said Jayme Llamas, student racer.