Chelsie Kriegisch, the intake coordinator at Life Butler County, 231 W. Diamond St., took her hobby to work Friday, But rather than a Sudoku book or a cross-stitch project, Kriegisch's hobby is a race car that she uses to compete on dirt tracks on the weekends.

During the week, Kriegisch, 23, works at the nursing home alternative.

“I process applications and gather financial information,” she said.

But on the weekends, she dons a driver's suit, straps herself behind the wheel and races on dirt tracks from Sharon to Lernerville.

She said her boss, Jan Rogers, the marketing and enrollment manager at Life Butler County, suggested she bring her car by for the Life Butler County participants to view.

Kriegisch said, “I took it to the Ellwood City Easter egg hunt, and I took it last year to Passavant in Zelienople to show the participants there as well.”

She used to work at Passavant Retirement Community.

Kriegisch said, “I race RUSH Sportsman Modified. It's a type of class that I run. I race on circle dirt tracks. I race at Lernerville.

“The motor is a GM motor, so it's got a Chevy motor in it. It's not like a normal car at all. You build them,” she said.

She said the 350-horsepower engine can propel the car to 105 mph on some tracks.

“I've been running modified since 2014, but I've been racing since I've been 9. I started off in go-carts when I was 9. I grew up in Ellwood City, and that's where I live today,” Kriegisch said.

She said her racing season begins in the middle of April and runs until the middle of October, with every weekend finding her racing somewhere.

Kriegisch said, “Races have cash prizes for the position in which we finish our feature event that evening, and I use that money to put back into the car to keep it running.”

She said her sister, Jessica Kriegisch, 21, also races, which makes their support staff and pit crew a family affair.

Kriegisch said her mother and father, Betsy and Randy Kriegisch, along with a few of her father's friends go with her from track to track and make sure she is ready to race.

Randy Kriegisch said he used to race himself but now considers himself the crew chief for his two daughters.

“We always go to their races,” he said.

He's not afraid for his daughters' safety.

“I feel these things are safer than a street car,” he said of the modifieds his daughters race.

And Chelsie has racked up some impressive finishes along the way.

“Last year in July at the Expo Speedway in Trumbull County, Ohio, in a huge tour race, I was the first female to win at that track in the 46 years it has been open.

“I was the first female to win in this class (modifieds) since it has been created,” she said.

Kriegisch noted each race lasts 15 to 25 laps or four to five minutes, longer if there are cautions and accidents.

To be a racer, Kriegisch said, “You have to have patience and motivation and determination and definitely hard work.”

Working on a car all week to try and get it ready to race on Saturday, can all be worth it once the flag drops, she said.

Kriegisch said, “I enjoy the adrenaline rush. It's a blast. I always say it (racing) is my quiet time and my break from reality. For you are in a whole different world when you are at the track.”

Friday was the first time she's brought her hobby to work.

She fired up the engine for the participants and explained the car's features and safety equipment.

Her car brought back memories for one member of the audience, George Stettmier, 77, of Saxonburg.

Stettmier said he raced himself in the 1960s and '70s.

“I raced in Lernerville, the Butler Speedway, Blanket Hill, the North Hills Speedway and the Mercer Speedway,” Stettmier said.

“My son, he's George Stettmier too, he raced until 1993 when he got married and quit,” he added.

Life Butler County took Stettmier out to Lernerville recently.

Stettmier and other Life Butler County participants weren't able to sit in the car, because it has just the one seat, Kriegisch said.

“I am going to bring my safety equipment: my driver's suit, helmet, gloves, special shoes and special neck brace,” she said.

All that equipment came in handy last year when Kriegisch was involved in an accident at the Sharon Speedway.

“I hit another car that had stopped abruptly,” she said. “I hit it on the right side. It spun me around. It gave me a pretty bad concussion and whiplash. “

“I was actually in a go-cart the following day for a charity race and the following week I was back in the car,” she said.

During the offseason she said there is still as much work to do, just not as exciting.

“We tear them down to the bare frame,” she said of the cars. “We send out the starter, alternator, and transmission to be checked and refurbished.”

“I train in the offseason,” said Kriegisch. “I watch a lot of videos and pick up a lot of go-cart races both inside and outside.”

She said as long as they can earn enough money to keep the car on the track “and not wreck the car, we will keep it up for the future.”