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Photo from Delaney Photography courtesy of the Sebring International Raceway Rickie Albritton, daughter of Scott and Diana Albritton, is this year's Miss 12 Hours of Sebring.

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published: Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Albritton named Miss 12 Hours of Sebring

By BARRY FOSTER

News-Sun correspondent

SEBRING - The 61st running of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring will have a new race queen, but as many of her predecessors, this year's Miss 12 Hours of Sebring is no stranger to the race.

"I have been coming to the Race every year for the last 21 years," said Rickie Albritton from her cell phone on campus at the University of Florida.

In short, that means she has been at the races each year since she was born. Her father and mother, Scott and Diana Albritton, generally view the action from a motor home parked along the front straightaway at the Sebring International Raceway.

Albritton will receive the tiara and scepter from longtime friend and last year's queen, Hanna Shoop. When asked if Shoop had given her any advice, Albritton's answer was simple and direct.

"She told me I'm going to meet a lot of people and have a lot of opportunities to represent the track. She said it will be a lot of fun," Albritton said. "I told her 'I'm ready.' "

Because she is a Race fan, the Sebring native said she also has followed the sport. On track, it has been Audi that captured her heart as her favorite competitor.

"It is so exciting that they are going to be here with two of their new cars," she said.

Audi has been successful in 10 of the last 12 years at the endurance classic and will bring a pair of their e-Quatro machines for the last appearance of Le Mans Prototype cars in competition here.

Last year Albritton worked with Fast Lane Promotions, which manages the activites for the raceway's "greet girls." That gave her the opportunity to meet driver, team owner and actor Patrick Dempsey.

"That was really cool," she said. "I met him in one of the suites and had my picture taken with him."

Also like many of her predecessors, Albritton said serving as an ambassador as the Race Queen has been a lifetime ambition.

A local girl, Rickie Albritton is no stranger to local radio listeners - under the name Rickie Vann, she ran the popular Saturday Night Party program on 99.1 FM WWOJ playing requests and doing dedications.

"I still consider that the highlight of my career," she said.

Albritton was a "most valuable player" and captain of the volleyball team during her years at then-South Florida Community College. Since that time she has moved on to UF where her career in broadcasting has taken off, working both the campus television station WUST-TV as an entertainment reporter as well as sports radio WRUF in Gainesville.

The Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring will run March 13-16; the American Le Mans Series cars will be here Feb 5-8 for its annual winter test. This year's race will be the last run under the ALMS banner.