Story of girl drag-racer keeps up a lively pace

The testosterone-fueled world of drag-racing was set on its ear in 2000 when a Houston teen named Erica Enders captured rookie of the year honors, and her inspiring story is winningly portrayed tonight at 8 in the lively Disney original movie “Right on Track.”

Beverley Mitchell (“7th Heaven”) stars as Erica, who seems driven from toddlerhood to follow in the footsteps of her race-car-driving dad (Jon Robert Lindstrom of the ABC soap “Port Charles”). Before long, little sister Courtney (Brie Larson) gets in the act too, despite the serious misgivings of Mom (Jodi Russell).

The girls begin competitive racing while still in grade school, piloting their sleek vehicles (pink, of course) at speeds of more than 60 mph down the quarter-mile track. Mom wonders aloud if the sport is safe for anyone, let alone her pre-pubescent daughters, but her husband waves away such concerns, saying, “The playground’s more dangerous.”

But older sister Erica confronts plenty of obstacles on her way to the winner’s circle. There’s an ugly confrontation with the father of her chief rival, ostracism by her female classmates and even some sibling jealousy as Courtney begins her own rise in the ranks.

As the story jumps forward, Erica starts to question whether her single-minded dedication to drag-racing has robbed her of the joys of youth and, more important, her chances for landing a boyfriend.

But Disney movies, even when they’re based on true stories, never allow the melancholy to linger for long, and as the pounding rock score propels the action, Erica gets the guy, beats the rival and makes peace with her sister.

If they can only get Mom to get behind the wheel, the Enderses, who are still racing, might have another movie in them.