5-year-old Veronica Hendrix already keeping family tradition

Five-year-old Veronica Hendrix is focused on two things in life, the color pink and four-wheeling.

"I have a pink bike that goes fast," said Veronica, wearing her pink jacket and holding her doll, who happened to be wearing a pink dress. "I even put my Dora the Explorer doll on the front to help get me through my race."

Racing in the Hendrix family runs three generations deep. Veronica's grandfather began racing as a young man before he quit to show his own son the tricks of the trade.

His son, Jeff Hendrix, became interested in the sport at the age of 15 after his dad bought him his first four-wheeler. Since then, Jeff Hendrix has been an adamant racing enthusiast.

Together, the two found a pastime they could enjoy together. Jeff Hendrix took the wheel while his father coached from the stands.

"Racing is definitely a tradition of ours," Gary Hendrix said. "I loved it when I was young and eventually Jeff felt the same way about riding. Now that Veronica is on board, you can call it a family affair."

Jeff Hendrix, who lives in Jackson, wanted his daughter to train on a dirt bike at first. However, Veronica had trouble handling the bike and after a few falls on the dirt bike, the Hendrix family decided to switch her to a four-wheeler, which had better balance.

Jeff Hendrix contacted Billy Clayton, a director of racing at the Sikeston Race Park in Sikeston, Mo., in 2012. There she could get a feel for what kind of track she would be racing on once the indoor session began at Flickerwood Arena, an indoor track in Jackson where Clayton also helps organize races.

"The first time she got out there, she was real good at getting around the track," Clayton said. "Most of the time, at that age, they can hardly get around the track without their parents help. She kind of took to it on her own."

In her first year of racing, Veronica has surpassed the expectations of her father, grandfather and others.

"I've only seen a few others as good as her around the track, but they're very rare to come by," Clayton said. "Most of the time it's the boys who pick it up quick, but she jumped right into it and took off like the boys. It's very impressive to watch."

Veronica competes in the Midwest Extreme Dirt Track Racing Circuit. The circuit tours through cities in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

On the circuit, classes are divided up by engine size. Veronica rides in the 50 cc to 90 cc class, meaning her bike is not as fast or as big as some of the others she competes against.

Seven races into the indoor season, Veronica is in second place in the points standings for her class. In her first indoor racing season, she has two wins and 173 points, just seven points out of first place. Veronica is the youngest in her class at the age of 5, while her oldest competitor is 10.

Veronica also was voted the Youth Rider of the Year on the circuit. Every youth rider, ages 16 and under are eligible for this award. Racers in the 50 cc to 90 cc class and 100 cc to 200 cc class were each given a ballot and one vote. Out of 16 riders across all classes, Veronica was voted the rider of the year.

Jeff Hendrix has taught his daughter that it's not all about winning races.

"She is learning some very valuable lessons on sportsmanship and hard work," Jeff Hendrix said. "She practices a lot because she likes to win. If she doesn't, she always congratulates the winner anyways and says, 'I will get you next time.'"

Practice for the Hendrix family takes place on Gary Hendrix's four-acre farm. Gary Hendrix and his son built a dirt track compatible to all kinds of dirt racing automobiles.

Gary Hendrix said the time varies on when they go out and practice, but every time they do, Veronica learns by watching Jeff Hendrix.

"She likes to mimic what he does. That's how she learned how to do donuts and accelerate out of turns," Gary Hendrix said.

Clayton says hard work eventually will pay off for Veronica.

"It's so important to start at a young age in this sport," Clayton said. "Most of the professionals will tell you that they got their start at around 4 just as she's doing. The more time you get, the more experience you get, and that's what it takes to be successful."

While she may be too young to understand the concept of practice makes perfect, it is evident that she is learning by doing at a rapid pace.

"Daddy taught me how to go slow around turns and then gas it," Veronica said.

Hendrix will stay in the same class but move up in engine size to a 90 cc four-wheeler. This means her four-wheeler will increase in size.

"Right now, we're building her a bigger bike," Jeff Hendrix said. "I want her to get used to the 90 cc before she actually races, but I don't see it being a problem for her."

After all, more speed is Veronica's favorite part of the racing experience. It has proven to be something she does not fear.

"I know if I go fast I will win, and it's just the best," Veronica said. "If I go fast, I'll get a bigger trophy than my dad."