Racing Dream with McDreamy

Ask Sonoma's Dane Cameron about "Doctor McDreamy" and his eyes might glaze over. Ask him about Patrick Dempsey and his eyes light up and he'll say "That's my boss."

"A lot of people might be starstruck by a guy of his caliber, but he's personable and he's great to have as a friend," Cameron said.

Cameron, 22, has climbed through the ranks of motor sports, spending half his life at Infineon Raceway, and he's finally getting his chance in the national spotlight. Cameron was seen as one of the most talented young drivers around when he signed with Dempsey's Grand-Am sports car racing team in November.

"The main way that I ended up with this ride was enough people said good things about me that Don Kitch and the others were convinced I deserved opportunity," said Cameron, who pilots the Dempsey Racing/Team Seattle No. 41 car co-owned by Kitch. "A seat became available and they had a lot of options as to who hire. I understand there was myself and a few other names in the hat. I'm fortunate enough that I've been given some time in the sport and met people with reputations who said I deserve a shot."

Cameron and co-driver James Gue are tied for 11th place in the Grand Touring standings after three races this season. They struggled to a 16th-place finish in the April 9 Porsche 250 at Birmingham, Ala., after starting on the pole. The two were 14th in Miami in March. The season started strong with a 10th-place class finish, 24th overall, in the star-studded Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance race in January.

"We're pleased with the results overall, but I was disappointed with the last results," Cameron said. "We've been close and we've run up front this season. … The team is making progress, we're getting better and better. One of these races will fall our way shortly. James and I formed a good pairing and we're working together."

The Grand-Am Series doesn't come to Cameron's home track, but it does stop at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, July 8-9. The next race is May 14, the Bosch Engineering 250 at Virginia International Raceway.

Kitch founded Team Seattle to raise money to benefit the Seattle Children's Hospital's Cardiac Infant Care Unit. Dempsey, the Grey's Anatomy star, shared the interest in helping the Seattle Children's Hospital. The team raised $540,000 for the hospital in its first full season in 2010.

Cameron recently toured the Infant Care Unit. "One image I remember is of a newborn who was hooked up to every machine in the place. That memory will stay with me for a long time. It really sunk in," Cameron said. "The doctors there are developing technologies and procedures and sharing that with hospitals around world. All that benefits more than that one hospital and it's a pleasure to be a part of that."

Cameron comes to the team with a blue-chip resume that started with his success on the go-kart circuit at age 12. He's always been a part of the family business, Cameron Karting at Infineon Raceway.

"One of the tough things to adjust to, living here in Atlanta, is this is actually the first time in 13 years I haven't had a kart at my disposal," Cameron said, decrying the lack of a go-kart facility near his new home. "It's strange growing up in the back of a kart shop and now not having one."

Cameron moved to bigger cars and bigger tracks after he earned a scholarship to the Jim Russell Racing School and was a 2004 semifinalist in the Red Bull driver Search. He won the 2005 Russell Series Championship, 2006 Palmer Audi Winter Championship and 2007 Star Mazda Championship as a rookie. He also enjoyed a stint in open-wheel racing during 2008 in the Atlantic Championship Series.

After making nine starts and finishing 14th in the GT standings with Racers Edge Motorsports in 2009, Cameron found himself adrift in 2010. He didn't land an extended contract with any team and made just two starts.

"That made me hungry for this year," Cameron said. "This is the first time in years I'm able to come back and do something for a second year with a team. Last year was always a one-off or limited racing The teams never had the money for the next year. It's good to be with a team that has a proper budget."

He's also enjoying his relationship with his new boss.

"I met (Dempsey) last year and the first thing you notice is he's really passionate about motor sports in general. He's new to the sport and the passion he brings to the track is great to see," Cameron said. "With me, someone who's been doing this for a while, it can get to the point where this is just my job and my job is to win races. I've never seen someone who enjoys racing the way Patrick does. He's a high-energy guy. He made me feel welcome as well."

Dempsey, who drives the No. 40 car with Joe Foster, is tied for 17th in the GT standings.

“Dempsey Racing continues to grow as a team and we made a big step in 2010 by expanding to two Mazda RX-8 GTs and getting our first professional race win,” Dempsey said in a release. “This season will be another year of progress as we continue the fundraising push for Seattle Children’s Hospital on behalf of Team Seattle. Additionally we are grateful to John and Jeri Graham of Global Diving & Salvage for making it possible to support this cause while also allowing a Mazda ladder system graduate like Dane Cameron to race for the win with James in the No. 41 car.” 

Cameron is learning more about his boss. "My girlfriend is a sucker for Grey's Anatomy, so I'm getting sucked into that," he said. "I'll probably watch his next movie Transformers 3 in July. That's more my thing."

PIT NEWS

• The ponies will be prancing as the Ferrari Challenge returns to Infineon Raceway this weekend. Some of the flashiest and most powerful cars ever made will be on display and on the track. Practice is today, with racing Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $20 each day.

• The Big O Tires Racing Season at Infineon gets into gear May 11-15 with the AMA West Coast Moto Jam. One highlight of the event will be the 3Js Motor Days charity track day on May 11. The cost for the track day is $225 and goes to benefit Speedway Children's Charities.

• Drifters are invited to come out to Infineon Raceway on Wednesdays as the inaugural competition officially gets underway. Drifting was added to the STP Wednesday Night Drags slate two weeks ago with an exhibition event.