By NICK SCHWIEN

nschwien@dailynews.net

A 14-year-old girl who weighs perhaps 100 pounds soaking wet might get lost in the normal high school crowd.

Except for Connor Atkinson.

The girl who would pass for a normal teenager in any high-school hallway is turning heads on the dirt tracks of Kansas this summer as she competes in her first full season with the 305 sprint cars of the United Rebel Sprint Series.

"I've been racing for seven or eight years, and racing has always been my favorite sport," Atkinson said. "It's not going to get me a scholarship, but it will keep me going for the rest of my life."

Atkinson will be one of many URSS drivers competing this weekend during a three-day swing of northwest Kansas. On Friday, the series hits WaKeeney Speedway for a 7:30 p.m. show, then moves on to the two-day fourth annual Wheatshocker Rebel Nationals at RPM Speedway in Hays. There, the winner of Sunday night's feature will pocket $2,000. Races both nights in Hays begin at 7 p.m.

But for the soon-to-be freshman at Hutchinson High School, it's not about winning the whole kit-and-kaboodle. Instead, it's about gaining experience each time out and getting better every night.

"We only worry about getting into the A and trying our best," Atkinson said about the Wheatshocker show. "We don't worry about the payout. Just do your best and that's it."

Atkinson, who is a fiery competitor on the track, cut her teeth on go-karts before moving into cage-karts and eventually micro midgets. This year, she took the leap to the 305 ranks of the URSS, one of the fastest growing series of sprint cars in the nation.

"She's really, really hard on herself," said her father, Brad. "She wants to be the best. I keep telling her these guys are good. It's going to take a lot of seat time. She's just been telling me how bad she wants to earn her right to be in that A feature."

As the season has progressed, Atkinson has become more confident in her driving and the car. That was evident Saturday night in one of the B-mains at the Great American Dirt Track at Jetmore Motorplex.

She was running sixth as the laps dwindled, and only the top five advanced to the A-main.

Atkinson, on the final lap, went hard into the third corner and to the outside of the fifth-place car. Then she muscled the car back down the track in front of the other car to move into fifth place to snag the final transfer spot.

"I was very happy and proud of myself,"  Atkinson said about grabbing the final qualifying spot.

"At the beginning of the year, I was a little hesitant and everything. But after a while, you get to know how everybody is and where your marks are. You just have to do what you have to do."

Atkinson went on to finish 17th in the feature that night. The next night, the teen finished sixth at Beaver County Raceway in Beaver, Okla., easily her best finish of the year.

"Connor is very smart, has a good head on her shoulders," her father said. "She doesn't really make stupid decisions out there most of the time. And this series has some good drivers. They're professionals. They've been behind the wheel a lot, been doing it their whole lives pretty much. From the way she drives, I knew they would respect the way she drives. She respects them, and in turn, they do the same for her."

Other drivers on the circuit have aided Atkinson, her father and grandfather, Terry, this summer, offering tips and tricks of the trade.

Those drivers include Jason Martin, who spent time on the World of Outlaws series a few years ago.

"I've been really impressed with her,"  said Martin, from Liberal. "From Day 1 in micros, she's listened very well. She'll tell you she doesn't know what to do if she doesn't know exactly. But the thing is she listens really well and uses what you tell her."

Atkinson is appreciative of every bit of help she gets.

"Jason's a big help to our sport,"  Atkinson said. "From the set-ups to anything we needed, he tells us to come ask him if we want.

"I guess when I'm with these big guys, it just kind of makes me want to run with them. Like Jason Martin used to run with the World of Outlaws, and he still does every now and then. It's just that I want to race with guys like that."

Atkinson dreams of one day running on the 410 circuit with the WoO.

But for now, the RevHoney sponsored sprint car she's piloting fits the bill perfectly as she earns her stripes on the dirt ovals and becomes more than just another teenager in the crowd.

"I have this big thing that if you're going to run with the big dogs, you've got to be like one," Atkinson said. "You can't take any slack from any of them."