Febe Wolf Finds Joy in Mentoring Kids

Febe Wolf is a Senior at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis and will graduate in May 2022 with an MET degree, Certificate in Motorsports and a Lean Six Sigma Certification – Green Belt. She is studying for her Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering Technology degree. She has a 15 year-old brother who races as well.

Febe has been racing for 10 years. She now owns and operates Febe Wolf Racing - a driver development coaching opportunity for racers, plus she has a race car that she rents out for races.

A piece of advice that Febe received is “Never let those around you dictate what you become. My mom Heather Wolf has always told me this. She has taught me that if I want it, I have to work for it and not let those around me change my dreams.”

Something most people do not know is that she was born into racing. “My dad was a racer, my uncle was a racer, and my grandfather was a racer. This makes me a third-generation racer.”

Febe works at Dana Incorported Off-Highway division as an intern in the test lab. She and her Co-workers always talk about how the weekend went and they always ask questions. Most of them do not know that she races or owns a race team because when she is at school, she is totally focused on school all the time.

Her goals after she graduates in May 2022 is to continue growing her race team and help drivers of all ages develop as a racer. “My long-term career plan is to own an entire racing operation and spend every day around racing. Whether this be at the track, in the shop performing engineering tasks to better the team or meeting new potential drivers. I want to keep adding to the business and in the end, be known as the first female to own a midget team, sprint car team, and any other form of racing that fits the future of (Febe Wolf Racing) FWR.”

Febe maintains balance in her life by planning out every day, Monday - Saturday, down to the times she is driving and in what class so she is not late to an event. On Sunday’s she spends the day doing whatever seems interesting at that moment.

When she has some free time, she enjoys hunting, fishing, hanging out with friends, and watching racing.

Febe starting racing quarter midgets at the age of 12. She got started the year after her brother, and he inspired her as well as her dad. She played soccer but decided she wanted to race instead.

Her most memorable moment so far in her racing career was watching the first kid she mentored, Parker Bupp, drive for her and use her resources that FWR provides to win at US 24 Speedway.

Her family helps with her racing, including her fiance Kole Kirkman, her father Doug Wolf, her mother Heather Wolf, and her crew consisting of Charlie, and the families of the three cars that are part of FWR.

Her best finish is winning her first Midwest Thunder Race in Ohio and winning the Championship in that USAC series. She won 2 features at Circus City Speedway and at US 24 Speedway. The highest finish for FWR would be 6 feature wins and many top 5 finishes.

When she has a bad day at the track, she tries to keep calm and work to make it better. “I remind myself that this is a learning experience for all that are involved and should be remembered for next time.”

She races at US 24 Speedway in Logansport, IN; Circus City Speedway in Peru, IN; Southern Illinois Raceway in Marion, IL; Wayne County Speedway in Wayne City, IL; and Coles County Speedway in Mattoon, IL. She drives a 600cc Micro Sprint, and races a Junior Sprint in a non-wing and outlaw non-wing class. She also races in the restricted class in Junior Sprints.

Febe’s long term goal is to be able to race as her career. “I want to own a racing empire that provides all customers’ needs in one spot from building, designing, fabrication, engineering top products, and coaching drivers. I want to have a great team that can travel and provide for drivers looking for that little extra.”

Her favorite part of being a driver is knowing what being in the seat feels like so that she can coach a driver because she has personal experience behind the wheel. “I think that you have to have some experience before you can coach because if you try and teach someone something that you do not know then you do not understand what they are going through while in the car. I still get in race cars once in a while to check out the cars or to try out a new track to see what it feels like or what the track races like to better my customers driving or the races cars.”?

Her cars are maroon, grey and white, and the numbers are 23m, 7 and 51b. These are the cars she has mentored or built. She does not have a race car of her own that she drives continuously.

Her race day routine is to get up before 8 and she heads to the shop. She gets the cars completely ready, then has lunch and tries to relax before the loading process begins. “Getting the cars ready normally consists of putting the body on and firing all the cars to just do a last check.

Then we load the race cars around 1:30 and have everything locked down so that we can be on the road by 2. That gets us to the racetrack by 3:30. We get all the cars and awnings out so that there is shade and we start bolt checking the cars. Lastly we put the wings up and be ready to set tire pressures when hot laps start.?

When Febe gets into her car, she would always be thinking about what she has to do to get the outcome she wants.

Febe tries to interact with her fans by signing autographs if the opportunity arises. “We also have t-shirts we sell and autograph cards we give out.?Keeping them interested in the sport is an important aspect as well as being in the seat.” ?

“I am not sure that I have made a large impact on the motorsports industry yet, but I hope that through helping young kids develop and build their confidence in a race car that I will leave a mark on a lot of people’s lives. Right now, I work hard to make sure that I am getting the equal treatment as the men in the motorsport’s world. I choose to work harder than most and am always ready for a challenge that will set me apart from my peers.”

Febe would like to improve on her ability to multitask. “I am pretty good at this now, but I feel that there is always room to improve on this subject.”?

At the end of her racing career Febe hopes to have a well-known female ran sprint car and midget team. She hopes to be a person that young females look up to as a role model for how to be successful in the motorsports field. She also hopes to be an inspiration to those that are special needs. “I truly love to see the smiles on people with special needs when they come to the track and are having the time of their lives because I made it special for them.”

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Febe does not have a simulator or use iRacing but she does believe it helps a ton. She uses Social Media by posting every week, giving updates, and introduces her drivers and their accomplishments.

“Being a female in a male dominated sport is a very special case and provides a ton of opportunity. Being a female can be challenging but you must form an understanding that not all males look at females as incapable. There are definitely some that see females that way, but you as a female must prove them wrong. I work hard and do my thing to achieve my goals.”??

Her advice for any young girl is to not let anyone tell you that you cannot do it. “Dig both feet in and make that dream come true.”

You can follow Febe at Febe Wolf Racing -FWR on Facebook.?

Febe’s Favorites:

Food: Ice cream and Chick-fil-A

Lucky number: 00

Candy or Dessert: Ice cream?

Racetrack: Kokomo Speedway?

Vacation destination: Panama City Beach Florida?