NASCAR newbie Maryeve Dufault got her start as 'Price Is Right' model, Hawaiian Tropic gal

Danica Patrick may need to check her rearview mirror. Maryeve Dufault is the latest beauty to make the jump to the NASCAR circuit. While Patrick crossed over from Indy cars to the big leagues, Dufault jumped from the ARCA circuit to race in a NASCAR Nationwide race in her home country: Canada.

“I started riding motocross at the age of four,” Dufault told FOX411.com. “My dad and brother race motorcycles, so I grew up at the racetrack. Ever since I was one or two years old, my mom took me there every weekend while my dad was racing.”




Dufault moved to California in 2000, and quickly landed a job as a model on “The Price is Right,” despite her shaky grasp of English.

“I wasn’t speaking English really well and I didn’t want Bob Barker to know that my English wasn’t very good,” says the French speaking native Quebecer. “But I had good time, it was fun and a great experience.”

HOT SHOTS: Maryeve Dufault.

And for someone with an expensive racing habit, looking good can help to pay the bills.

“Growing up, I didn’t have the wealth of my parents to support me with the best equipment,” explains Dufault. “One year I showed up to the track with a four-year-old chassis. The other guys had brand-new chassis. So, I had to find a way to make it work. When I won the Miss Hawaiian Tropic, I used the money to fund motorsports. Basically, I did modeling on the side, like an actor would work in a restaurant. But modeling pays much better money than working in a restaurant.”

Dufault may turn heads, but she’s happier when she’s racing at a breakneck speed. “When you start really young in racing, you’re not really fearful,” said Dufault of topping speeds up to 193 MPH. “Because if I was scared of speed, I wouldn’t be here today. On the freeway, everyone is driving about 100 MPH, and you don’t feel like you’re going that fast. To me, going on the racetrack is like going on the freeway–everyone goes the same speed.”

Being a woman in a male dominated-sport isn’t always easy. “Guys say bad things all the time," said Dufault. “They don’t want to see you and they don’t want to get beat by you. It’s just an ego sport. Most of the negative comments are behind my back–they don’t say it to my face. It’s more of the typical man talking, ‘Oh, women don’t belong on the race track.’ There’s women who speak out, but it’s tough. They’re just being negative when they’re all together with the guys. It’s like their own club–they don’t want to see women out there.”

Meanwhile, racing professionally against other women presents its own set of challenges. “Girls don’t talk to each other,” Dufault said of her racetrack peers. “It’s really funny. All the guys talk with each other, but not the girls. Me, I’m so confident in myself that I don’t mind the other girls. But some girls get catty. When there’s two or three other girls on the racetrack, it’s a really funny feeling. The girls will just look at you. I’m like, ‘Wow. Okay.’”

But Dufault will be happy to go up against NASCAR racer Patrick any day. “Danica’s nothing like that,” said Dufault. “She’s really confident–she’ll see you and smile and say ‘Hi.’ Pretty much all the other (female) drivers that I’ve encountered in the past haven’t been like her. Danica doesn’t feel threatened by another woman. She’s at high level–she has the best sponsors, the best equipment, she’s secure. She’s not trying to fight to be in the best spot–she’s already got it.”

Dufault may downshift with the best of ‘em on the track, but she’s off the clock when running errands. “When I’m not racing, I drive an automatic. I used to use a stick shift, but now when I get in my own car, I relax.”

And believe it or not, Dufault finds driving in Southern California more intimidating than competing in Daytona. “Driving in the streets of the Los Angeles is scarier than driving on the racetrack, because you have to worry about the people around more than yourself–there’s some really bad drivers out there,” she said. “On the racetrack, you know that the other drivers know they’re doing.”

While Dufault is gearing up for a race in Daytona in a couple of weeks, the recently single Maxim model is ready to mingle. “I really like athletic guys, people with a lot of energy and ambition,” she said. “Chemistry is important, too. Most of my exes have been athletes, so maybe it’s time to switch that up! Maybe I’ll try someone like Ryan Gosling. Not because he's Canadian, but yeah!"

And if Gosling and Dufault ever go on a date, he’d better take the wheel. “I’m still a lady,” said Dufault. “I like to sit in the passenger seat and enjoy the ride.”

Free Money For Your Retirement-_58748

It can be more than a little discouraging to start making retirement planning calculations. You抣l usually find that to achieve the annual retirement income you want, you need to be saving a lot more than is practical.

Suppose, for example, that you use a program like Quicken or Microsoft Money to determine that your retirement savings should equal to $5,200 a year梬hich is the same as $450 a month. (This savings amount will produce roughly $15,000 a year of retirement income if you save for 20 years, increase your savings with inflation, and earn 9 percent.)

Okay. That's great information to have. But practically speaking, where do you find this money? Well. first you want to get the free money that's available.

The first source of free retirement money

While $450 a month seems like a lot of money, you may be able to come up with this figure more readily than you might think. Say, for example, that you work for an employer who抯 generous enough to match your 401(k) contributions by 50 percent. In other words, for every dollar you contribute, your employer contributes $.50.

In this case, you need to come up with $300 a month to have $450 a month added to your retirement savings. To make this calculation, you divide the monthly savings amount, $450, by 1 + the employer抯 matching percentage, 50%. The formula $450/(1+50%) equals $300.

The second source of free retirement money

Also suppose that you pay federal and state income taxes of 33 percent and that you can deduct your 401(k) contributions from your income. In this case, the actual monthly out-of-pocket amount you need to come up with equals $200, not $450. To make this calculation, you multiply your share of the needed monthly savings, $300 in this example, by 1minus the 33% marginal tax rate, which equals 67%

In this case, the actual amount you need to come up with on a monthly basis equals $200 because $300 times 67% equals (roughly) $200.

Sometimes, most of your retirement savings money can come from others

Admittedly, $200 a month is still a lot of money. But it抯 also a lot less than the $450-per-month savings you need to add to your retirement savings. In fact, most of the money in this example you need to save comes from other sources!

The preceding calculations argue for two tactics when saving for retirement. First, if an employer offers to match your contributions to something like a 401(k) plan, it will almost always make sense to accept the offer梪nless your employer is trying to force you to make an investment that is not appropriate for you.

TIP If you do want to contribute $300 a month to a 401(k) plan and need to reduce your income taxes withheld by $100 a month to do so, talk to your employer抯 payroll department for instructions. You may need to file a new W-4 statement and increase the number of personal exemptions claimed.

Second, any time you get a tax deduction for contributing money to your retirement savings, it抯 almost certainly too good a deal to pass up. As described in the preceding example, you can use the income tax savings because of the deduction to boost your savings so they provide for the desired level of retirement income.  

Debt Help - Where To Locate The Most Valued Debt Relief Companies_44351

Do you need debt help to reduce your credit card bills and improve your financial conditions? It is not hard to do so if you can get a good and dependable firm to represent you. On the internet, you can find numerous companies that are present to accomplish the same task but you need to search the right places. Use only the reliable search engines which can provide you with legitimate links for debt help. There are various links available online which counterfeit the customers.

Legitimate relief firms

The success of a settlement process does not depend on the claim that a relief company makes. Legitimacy is an important factor and a relief company is required to be legal and registered. Now the question of identifying a firm is always there. There are certain parameters which can extract the differences. The most common difference between a legitimate and illegitimate company is a structured approach. Authentic firms start the settlement process with the documentation of the customer.

This documentation contains the details of transactions and the dialogues that take place between the account holder and the bank. The communication which takes place between the money granting firm and the relief professionals is based on the details of the account holder. If he has not been paying the bank in healthy economic conditions, the bank management will provide him a reduction. A high reduction rate will benefit the customers while a low reduction rate will benefit the bank. Account holders who are unable to hire a debt help company declare bankruptcy.

This is a damaging move for the customer but more than that it is damaging move for the credit card company. The customer completely looses his reliability and no bank will provide him monetary assistance in any form. Declaring bankruptcy provides the account holder with a legal option of not making any payments to the bank. The bigger damage is taken by the money granting company which does not gain anything. Through settlement certain amount is gained under all conditions but in case of bankruptcy, the money granting firm looses everything.

This is the reason because if which banks accept the reduced amount which the customer pays after getting debt help. It is up to the customer to seek legitimate companies. Comparison is an important factor which helps in getting the right firm. The government has instructed the finance granting organizations to accept the lower sums so that they do not have to declare bankruptcy. Professional debt help can attain a considerable debt help percentage for the loan taker.

If you are over $10,000 in unsecured debt it would be wise to utilize a debt relief network instead of going directly to a debt settlement company. Using a debt relief network guarantees that the debt settlement company you choose has been certified and has established success in negotiating settlements. They are free to use and a good starting point to begin your debt relief process.

Free Debt Advice

Close Examination Of Debt Consolidation Loan Rate_37434

If you are in the process of shopping around for a debt consolidation loan, you likely are spending a great deal of time reviewing advertisements relating to this type of financing in order to come up with the most favorable debt consolidation loan rate. Because of this, you need to be aware of the fact that there can be a great deal of inaccurate and misleading statements in advertisements pertaining to debt consolidation loan rate options. Through this article, you will be provided with some tips in regard to dealing with misleading advertising when it comes debt consolidation loan rate options and availabilities.

One of the more common areas in which an advertisement for a debt consolidation loan can contain misleading information is in regard to the debt consolidation loan rate. It is vitally important that you closely examine the advertised debt consolidation loan rate together with all of the adjacent small print to make certain that you do understand exactly what will be charged when it comes to a debt consolidation loan.

Oftentimes, an advertisement intentionally will be unclear and vague -- if not downright misleading -- when it comes to a debt consolidation loan rate. The ad will make you think that the debt consolidation loan rate is lower that it actually is in the final analysis.

You will also want to make certain that you closely consider other fees that are mentioned in the advertisement for a debt consolidation loan. As with the debt consolidation loan rate -- the interest rate -- in many instances there are other fees, costs and charges associated with a debt consolidation loan that can be tucked away, that can be hidden in an advertisement for a debt consolidation loan. With all of this noted, it really is very important that you read the fine print contained in an advertisement concerning a debt consolidation loan rate. And, if the fine print in an advertisement about debt consolidation loan rate causes you to have more questions, you will want to make certain that you get full and complete answers before you actually apply for a debt consolidation loan from any lender.

Of course, after reading and reviewing an advertisement for a debt consolidation loan, you must take the time and do your homework to make certain that you are dealing with a reputable debt consolidation loan lender. Unfortunately, there are many disreputable operators that use very compelling and completely misleading advertisements and promises in regard to debt consolidation loan and debt consolidation loan rate options.

Clear Information On Medicaid Asset Protection!_38201

As tax preparation time begins,J12, many seniors are asking to include Medicaid asset protection as part of their tax planning strategies. For those of you not familiar with the 2005 Tax Reduction Act, some of the provisions address specific transfers by seniors under the new Medicare nursing home provisions. Under the new provisions, before a senior qualifies for Medicare assistance into a nursing home, they must spend-down their assets. These new restriction have a 5 year look-back, used to be 3 years. And used to be that each spouse had a one-half interest in the marital property,fake uggs boots, it now appears that all the marital assets are to be spent-down. I have not seen specific regulations but it appears that the healthy spouse will be left without any assets if one of them gets sick.

Suggestions by seniors have been to transfer their assets to their children. Although this option is available, I'm not sure that it's a good option. What if the child decides to use the asset for themselves, what if they get divorced and the judge awards assets originally intended for the parents to the divorcing wife's decree, what if the child get's sued?

There are also tax implications. If the assets are transferred to the child for less than fair market value, then it's a taxable gift. Even worse, if this type of transfer to the child is completed before the 5 years-look back, -is it a "fraudulent conveyance?"

Medicaid asset protection has to be done very carefully. Planning in this area is evolving. There are a lot of eldercare law firms popping up all over the place. I have been approached by such a firm to send them clients. They claim that they can structure a new deal whereby the nursing home won't be able to attach assets even after they enter the nursing home.

I know this much,fake rolex watches, any method used to deflect assets from the original owner has to be done at it's fair market value. For example you just can't transfer your house from you to your child. There are tax consequences. Did you just sell your house? Or did you just gift your house? Who will determine the fair market value? Did you get a genuine appraisal? If therefore, it's at less than fair market value (willing buyer and willing seller, neither under compulsion to buy or sell, each acting in their best interest) did you just create a more challenging problem?

Any method whereby there's an element of strings attached, it's revocable and therefore you have done nothing to disassociate yourself from your asset. One can challenge your intent, to divert assets for the purpose of defrauding a potential creditor and failure to have filed a gift tax return has statutory penalties, and interest, worse- if Medicare intended, criminal?

I am aware of only one method of disassociating yourself from your asset (personal residence, your CD's, your investments, vacation spot) is to give it away. Period. You can gift it to your children, pay the tax and that's it. The problem is that you no longer have any control and you are at the mercy of your child's good intentions and a blessed spouse. Risky? You bet,hermes birkin bags!

An irrevocable trust with an independent trustee (not related to you by blood or marriage) will fit the bill.
An irrevocable trust, is an irrevocable contract between you and the independent trustee to manage the assets for the benefit of all beneficiaries. You and your spouse can become beneficiaries along with your children and grand children.

Timing is extremely important. If the transfer (repositioning) of your valuable assets is done before the 5 years, chances are good that it will stand-up in court. What if it's before the 5 years are up? Is your Medicaid asset protection plan still good? In my book it's better to have done something than nothing.  

Security is mostly a superstition.

Security is mostly a superstition.
It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
- Helen Keller

Sharpen your pencil as you create the story of your life.
Ask today as you consider the many choices in your view -
what is the highest and best use of your talents, skills and abilities?
When you answer that, seize the opportunity to sharpen those qualities
even more sharply by applying your focused effort.
- Mary Anne Radmacher

It is never too late to be what you might have been.
- George Eliot [George Eliot was the pen name of English novelist Mary Anne Evans (1819-1880)]

Strong Quotes for Women

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
- C. S. Lewis

It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
- Chinese proverb often quoted by Eleanor Roosevelt

Lord, grant that I might not so much seek to be loved as to love.
- St. Francis of Assisi

Don't let one cloud obliterate the whole sky.
- Anaïs Nin

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
- Reinhold Niebuhr

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. - Winston Churchill

Forgive yourself for your faults and your mistakes and move on.
- Les Brown

Being defeated is often a temporary condition.
Giving up is what makes it permanent.
- Marilyn vos Savant

Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.
- Oscar Wilde

Success is not final, failure is not fatal.
It is the courage to continue that counts.
- Winston Churchill

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
- William Shakespeare

Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.
- Confucius

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
- Winston Churchill

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.
- Henry Ford

Don't let anyone else take the measure of your worth and capabilities.
Always stand proud in who you are!
- Margaret Spellings

We all go through life bristling at our external limitations,
but the most difficult chains to break are inside us.
- Bradley Whitford

It is time to begin moving on in life whenever you feel stuck in a job, relationship, or other situation

It is time to begin moving on in life whenever you feel stuck in a job, relationship, or other situation. If you have had a relationship break up, or have been fired, find constructive ways to let go of the past, move on, and build a great new life.

Is it easy to move on? No, it is almost never easy to let go of the past. Often, gathering the courage to move on in your life can be one of the hardest challenges you have ever faced. It is completely natural and the essence of human nature, to want to cling to the familiar and to shy away from the new and the unfamiliar. We are creatures of habit. We want to believe that tomorrow will be just like yesterday - even if yesterday was unpleasant. It takes courage to make the difficult choice to change how one lives, where one calls home, what job or career one identifies with, and who one calls friend.

When making the difficult choice to let go of a painful situation and to create a new future, do make a special effort to find those elements of your past that are still valid, and to which you can still hold firm. Identify those friends and family members who will support you in your new location, your new career, or your new relationship. If your spiritual family is not what you are moving away from, renew your connection with it. If you are not changing careers, even if you are changing employers, renew your professional connections. In short, decisively break those ties that are limiting your future, but reaffirm those connections that support your true self.

Time goes by a lot slower when you miss the one you love.

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic.
It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost,
but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.
- Arthur Ashe

Hard times don't create heroes.
It is during the hard times when the "hero" within us is revealed.
- Bob Riley

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

To go against the dominant thinking of your friends,
of most of the people you see every day,
is perhaps the most difficult act of heroism you can perform.
- Theodore H. White

Can miles truly separate you from friends?
If you want to be with someone you love, aren't you already there?
- Richard Bach

Some people come into our lives and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never ever the same.
- Flavia Weedn

It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
- Alfred Lord Tennyson

Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end.
They simply mean I'll miss you Until we meet again!
- Anonymous

Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a teardrop.
- Anonymous

Love is missing someone whenever you're apart, but somehow feeling warm inside because you're close in heart.
- Kay Knudsen

Time goes by a lot slower when you miss the one you love.
- Anonymous