Racing community saddened by the passing of a fellow driver

Kathyrn “Katie” Hagar was born on March 9th, 1986. She’s the daughter of Mark and Cindy (Waning) Hagar.

Katie caught the racing bug early and spent her life pursuing a career in the world of motorsports.

Hagar passed away at her home on December 21st, 2018. She was 32.

An informal gathering has been setup by the family. The celebration of her life will be held from 1:00-4:00pm, on Sunday, January 6th at the 1812 Farm in Bristol, Maine.

She will be laid to rest in private this Spring.

Katie Hagar Racing

Kate Hager: Racing Career History

Katie Hagar began racing at the age of 11. In 1999, she claimed the Rookie of the Year title at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in her home state of Maine.

In 2003, she transitioned into slightly larger machines. The 15 year old ran with the New England Allison Legacy Series. She won five races that year and became the first female to win at Canaan Fair Speedway, a 1/3-mile New Hampshire oval that would close it’s doors ten years later in 2013.

Lyn St. James dedicated a larger portion of her life to helping females reach the world of professional motorsports. Lyn St. James hosted a driving school every year with the idea of taking the cream and giving them all the tools they needed.

St. James has since given up on that strategy, reluctantly so. However, in 2005, Katie Hager was a participant of that driving school.

Related: Lyn St. James has tried it all; She still struggles to help females get into professional motorsports

In 2008, she moved to California to pursue a career as a racing driver. She wanted to be closer to the All-American Speedway.

Hagar raced for Bill McAnally Racing that year. She collected 11 top-10 finishes of the 18 starts that season. In 2009, she was invited to drive for Golden State Racing via the 2009 Drive for Diversity program.

She ran a few more seasons in the late model division before hanging up the helmet and heading into a PR/management role within the racing industry.

Kate Hagar – Drive for Diversity Combine

Mackena Bell

Mackena R. Bell is a fellow racer. She posted the following note to her Facebook page:

“I hate these small reminders of the things we shoulda said or the things we didn’t realize, and the news of this is something I can’t seem to wrap my head around.”

“I take this moment to reflect on one of the most competitive people I had ever met. Katie Hagar and I were rivals we didn’t get along and we hated to get beat by the other. I spent a lot of my racing career battling with her, she never made it easy EVER, but I don’t think she ever realized how thankful I was for that.”

“Katie made me wanna be better always, she made me faster, stronger, (we all know her arms scared anyone away) and showed me things I didn’t know about myself, and I wished I said all those things now. God Bless the entire Hagar family ? God Speed KH. #racingfamilyalways”

Katie Hagar – Asphalt Late Model

Jonathan Smith

Jonathan Smith is a follow competitor. Smith and Katie both attended the Drive for Diversity Combine. He posted the following note to Facebook.

This news hit me hard. Katie and I became very close through your years of racing. We were cut from the same cloth; a hard working family who put everything they had into helping us achieve our dreams.”

“Katie was a strong woman, caring for others while being laser focused on achieving her goals. The racing community and the world has lost an incredible individual who will be greatly missed. Katie Hagar you’ll always hold a special place in my heart and I know the same goes for everyone you’ve touched throughout your life on this earth.

“Love ya buddy. I’ll see you again one day. ?”

Condolences and memories can be shared via this link.