BUFFALO TWP - She's succeeded at every level of racing she's tried.

Rookie of the year awards, newcomer awards, track records - Erin Crocker has been there, done that.

Now the 23-year-old World of Outlaws rookie Sprint driver - the first female to ever race the series on a regular basis - has yet to finish among the top 10 in an Outlaws feature this season.

Has Crocker finally met her match?

Car owner and crew chief Mike Woodring doesn't think so.

"Erin will be driving in NASCAR, an Indy car, whatever she wants to do, within two years," Woodring said. "Nothing's going to stop her from getting where she wants to be.

"She has the driving ability, the intensity, willingness to learn, desire - everything she needs," he added.

Crocker is racing the Outlaws circuit as one of the Mean 15 drivers committed to running the full schedule. She is 15th in points and finished 18th in the Outlaws Commonwealth Clash held May 25 at Lernerville Speedway.

She's been driving a 410-cubic inch Sprint car for fewer than two full seasons.

"That's what impresses me most about her," Woodring said. "Every other Outlaws driver, even the rookies, have years of experience racing these cars at some track somewhere. Erin doesn't.

"Yet, she's not the least bit intimidated by anyone in this series."

Woodring is an eight-time track champion Sprint driver from Buffalo, N.Y. He's known Crocker for four years and once let her drive his backup car to see what she could do.

"She had lost a ride because they ran out of money and I was looking for someone to drive that car," Woodring said.

Crocker, of Wilbraham, Mass., wound up winning five Empire Super Sprint features in New York in 2002. The pair have been a team ever since.

"He runs the car and everything is first class," Crocker said. "I've learned a lot from him.

"I love dirt track racing, and I want to succeed at this level, but I want to make a name for myself in racing. The reality of that is to eventually get on asphalt, whether in NASCAR or Indy Car," she added.

Crocker has been involved in racing since age 7, when she raced go-karts. Her older brothers, Bill and Seth, drove racecars as well.

"I fell in love with it when I was little and wanted to race," Crocker said. "I used to watch my brothers do it. I couldn't wait for my turn.

"My family supported me. My Mom wasn't thrilled - racing wasn't exactly what she envisioned her little girl doing - but she didn't discourage me," she added.

So Crocker began climbing the ladder - quickly.

At 16, she won the rookie of the year award in winged mini-Sprints at Whip City Speedway in New York State. She became the first female feature winner and youngest feature winner there along the way.

She won the Empire Super Sprints Outstanding Newcomer Award, won seven fast-time awards, set track records at Mercer Raceway Park in the 360- and 415-cubic inch Sprint cars and received the Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year Award.

Last year, Crocker became the first female to qualify for the Knoxville Nationals championship feature.

"I like to think I pick up on things quickly and can become competitive quickly," Crocker said. "I'm confident I can succeed at any level of racing eventually."

Crocker stands only 5-feet-6 and weighs 130 pounds. Yet she handles the rigorous work of maintaining control of her Sprinter on dirt.

"It's tough and I get worn out, but so does everybody else," she said. "I work out four or five days a week and keep a toned upper body."

Crocker was selected as one of only four female race drivers to be evaluated nationwide by Ford Racing recently for potential to develop into a winning NASCAR driver.

Female racing legend Lyn St. James was one of the evaluators.

"I'll keep trying to improve in this (Outlaw) series as long as I'm here," Crocker. "I'll eventually get to where I want to be. I know that."