*  Andrew grabbed the Most Improved Open Wheel Driver award consecutively in 1998 and 1999.

   * 2001-2005 He was voted Most Popular Driver by his fellow racers.

   * In 2001 Andrew was awarded the prestigious Driver of The Year Award by the Syracuse Geddes Microd Club.

   *  In 2004 He added to his resume by securing the Driver of The Year Award on the NYSMA state level.

   * 2003 brought 35 feature wins for Andrew amongst his three classes of microds.

   * After completing his final season of microds, He had accumulated well over 163 feature wins throughout his nine year career.

   * Roaring on into his rookie Mod Lite season in 2006 and came home with the ESDCA Mod Lite Rookie of the Year Award.

   * He placed 4th in a field of 43 cars in his rookie season in the ESDCA Mod lite tour.

   * At Brewerton Speedway and her sister track Fulton Speedway, Andrew brought home a 7th and 6th place finish in points respectively.

Andrew Schartner hasn't let personal obstacle and tragedy slow his dream of someday racing in NASCAR.

The 20-year-old Weedsport, N.Y., native began racing quarter-midget style cars called microds in 1998 at a club in nearby Syracuse. Starting out in the lower-level classes, Schartner quickly began winning races and making a name for himself at Syracuse as well as other microd tracks around New York.

Before his career in microds was complete in 2006, Schartner had two Driver of the Year awards to his credit, numerous track and state championships, and approximately 130 feature wins in just eight years of competition.

"Racing microds was a great time in my life," Schartner said. "We had a lot of fun and met a lot of great people who are still great friends today. The time taught me so much about racing and I'll use the skills and knowledge I gained in microds for the rest of my life."

One of the people Andrew met while racing microds who continues to have a lasting impact on his life was Team Full Throttle founder and vice president Tom Baker. Schartner was one of the driver development program's initial members when the business was still based out of Memphis, Tenn.

Baker speaks wonders about what Andrew has meant to the program throughout its initial years and during its relocation to North Carolina.

"Andrew signifies what this program is all about," Baker said. "He has always represented TFT with class, and he understands what the program is all about and how to utilize its resources. He and his parents are wonderful people and we've been happy to help them as clients and friends throughout their time in the program."

The time wasn't without difficulty; however, as Schartner dealt with adversity in the form of a hearing problem he developed after birth that caused him to lose 80 percent of his hearing. With only 20 percent of his hearing available, he uses the assistance of two hearing aids.

Schartner also dealt with personal tragedy in the form of accidents that took from him two of his closest companions.

"A few years back, my brother Joe and my friend Gary were both killed in separate accidents. They were prominent figures in my racing, and each could make me laugh in completely different ways. I miss both of them and since they never met each other I think it would be great for the three of us to spend a day together," Schartner explained.

Andrew and his father, Karl, decided to move out of the microd division after the 2005 season and try their hand at mod lite racing at Syracuse-area dirt tracks. Schartner continues to compete in the class today.