Podium Finish for Hoffmann in Porsche Sprint Challenge at Sonoma

Shift Up Now Athletes Erika Hoffmann and Loni Unser competed in round two of Porsche Sprint Challenge North America presented by Yokohama at Sonoma Raceway on April 4-6, 2025, with Hoffmann earning a third-place finish in class to put her on the podium for the first time this season.

Competing for Kellymoss Racing, Hoffmann piloted the No. 21 Open Lending Porsche Cayman GT4 RS, with Unser behind the wheel of the No. 4 in the “Be Your Own Hero”livery.

The first practice of the weekend took place on Thursday afternoon under sunny skies with light cloud cover, and similar weather would continue throughout the weekend. Unser ran fourth on the time sheets with Hoffmann in sixth. The following morning, Unser was sixth for the second practice, with Hoffmann in ninth.

Qualifying took place on Friday afternoon on a hot and greasy track, which caused a slower pace for the entire field. After the session was interrupted by a red flag, Unser qualified sixth with Hoffmann in seventh, right behind her Kellymoss teammate. Unser noted her frustration with not being able to put together a better lap, but felt confident in her race car over long stints.

Race one began at 8:20am PST on Saturday on the 2.52-mile, 12-turn road course. Unser started from the outside of row three, with Hoffmann on the inside of row four. After two pace laps, the 35-minute-plus-one-lap sprint race started with the pole sitter making a strong jump at the green.

Unser went around the outside of the fast, uphill turn one, which put her on the inside for the crest in turn two. She cleanly completed a pass as the field headed for turn three. On her heels, Hoffmann attempted to follow her through and make a pass for sixth in turn three. When she elected to back out of the attempt, she slotted back into seventh.

The cars in third through sixth raced tightly together, and Unser had her sights set on the pass for third in class. As the field spread out, she increased the pressure to fight for a podium spot.

Unfortunately, the driver ahead made a mistake in the chicane, causing the car to go sideways. Because Unser was underneath the rear wing at the moment, the two cars connected wheels and both drivers lost control. The contact sent Unser’s Cayman GT4 RS off track. She missed the tire barrier and made hard contact with the concrete, causing heavy damage that would not only take her out of race one, but likely put race two in jeopardy as well.

Only ten minutes remained after the full-course yellow and the field lined up for a single-file restart. Hoffmann was running fifth overall and third in class. When a car ahead spun after the

restart, she gained a position. Hoffmann would take the checkered flag third in class for her first podium finish of the season in just her second Porsche Sprint Challenge race weekend.

“It feels amazing to stand on the podium in just my second Porsche Sprint Challenge weekend,” said Hoffmann. “I want to give a huge thank you to the entire Kellymoss team for giving me a great car and helping me improve every session. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and excited to keep building from here.”

Later that day, race two began at 2:00pm PST, and the afternoon heat meant slick track conditions once again. Hoffmann was lined up in seventh.

Unser was meant to start from sixth, but the team elected to line up at the back of the field. Although all hands were on deck from the Kellymoss Racing team to repair the car enough to at least start the race for valuable championship points, Unser had to ensure that she wouldn’t interfere with someone else’s race if she had to pit immediately after the restart.

After two pace laps, the field made a clean start and Hoffmann advanced one spot to sixth overall.

Just as Unser expected, and despite her team’s best efforts, she would have to “start and park” the car, pulling into pit lane after just one lap and retiring for the day.

Hoffmann spent the remainder of the 35-minute-plus-one-lap sprint race running within one second of the fifth-place car. But at such a difficult race track to pass on, she would have to settle for sixth-place overall - and fourth in class - when the checkered flag fell.

Next up, Hoffmann and Unser will head to Texas for round three of the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America presented by Yokohama championship at Circuit of the Americas on May 16-18, 2025.

Through My Eyes: First to the Finish and the Road That Got Me Here

Written by Shift Up Now Athlete Sally Mott

Growing up as the daughter of a race car driver, our home was lined with shelves overflowing with trophies, and my weekends were filled with the roar of engines on the TV. You’d think I would have started racing go-karts as soon as I could walk. And believe me, my dad tried. His dream was to mentor the next great race car driver with the last name Mott. As his only child, I was his best shot.

At eight years old, he took me to the go-kart track, hoping to spark that same passion in me. And while I enjoyed our track days together, my dad wasn’t just letting me have fun—he was laying the foundation. He never let me practice the wrong line, just in case I ever changed my mind. Foreshadowing...

He was strategic, too. He set lap-time goals for me, turning my competitive spirit into motivation. “Whatever you want—break your record of 43.65, and it’s yours.”

As an eight-year-old, I always picked the most extravagant rewards. A massive blow-up pool for the backyard? A full day at Fun Fun City with my friends? Done deal. If I ran out of gas, we refueled and went back out until I hit my goal.

I was getting fast. Fast enough that my dad finally asked if I wanted to actually start racing, instead of just running time trials. I said no. Looking back, the only reason I can think of is that I was scared to race against the boys. I wish I could go back and say yes, but I believe everything happens for a reason.

At 15, I realized I was missing out—not just on racing, but on an opportunity to bond with my dad and do something no one else at my high school was doing. So, I told him I wanted to give this “racing thing” another shot. After some training, I entered my first race.

It was a disaster.

First lap, first corner, first green flag—I got spun out by someone who wasn’t even in my class. Not exactly a dream debut. My dad didn’t say much on the car ride home, waiting to see how I’d react. Ten minutes in, I broke the silence: “That was actually really fun, you think we could do more?”

I was all in after that.

In just a few years, I went from karts to racing in IMSA’s Mazda MX-5 Cup, the most competitive spec racing series in North America. I even landed a spot in a docuseries about my rookie season. What I thought would be a small project turned into a pretty big deal.

First to the Finish, premiering exclusively on Amazon Prime tonight (March 25th), follows myself, Heather Hadley, and team owner Shea Holbrook as we battle through the 2024 MX-5 Cup Championship while balancing life outside of racing.

At the beginning of the season, all I knew was that there would be cameras. What I didn’t know was that this would turn into an Amazon Prime series. Or that it would land us interviews with Forbes, People and national news outlets. Or that I’d get to do a media tour in Toronto with Mazda Canada.

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect Mazda to push this series to such a massive platform. Their belief in me has changed my career forever.

That belief in me also opened new doors. Last year, I got an unexpected GT4 race opportunity with AE Victory Racing. Erin Vogel, the team’s owner, trusted me to drive her Audi R8 GT4 for a World Racing League (WRL) race at Sebring. Until that moment, I had only ever raced a Miata. The leap was huge.

I was nervous. About my performance, the team dynamic, and proving I belonged. But by the end of the weekend, despite some mechanical issues, I had learned so much and earned Erin’s trust. We bonded so quickly that we ended up rooming together at the WIMNA Summit shortly after.

Spending those three days with her changed my perspective. Erin wasn’t just an incredible driver—she was a leader for women in motorsports, using her platform to help female racers get funding and opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have. That made me realize something: That’s my mission too. Maybe not today, but in the future.

A few months later, I was confronted with a harsh reality: despite my relentless networking and tireless efforts to secure sponsorships, I didn’t have the funding to continue for another season in the Mazda MX-5 Cup. My season, my career—everything was on the line.

Out of desperation, I called Erin. “Is there any way you can help me keep racing?” That phone call changed everything. Erin stepped up in a massive way, helping me get back on the grid. Without her, I don’t know where I’d be in my career. Now, I represent AE Victory Racing proudly on my car and suit—because Erin’s mission is my mission, and Shift Up Now’s mission.

More women. More opportunities. More victories.

It’s easy to get caught up in the media hype, the fame and the success that comes with a platform like Amazon Prime. But this journey has taught me something far more important: Stay humble. Remember who helped you. And be the person who makes a difference.

Want to join the mission with me, and provide more opportunities for talented female racers? Become a member of The Inside Track for as little as $10 per month. And don’t forget to order your If She Can See Her, She Can Be Her gear in the Shift Up Now store as well!

Sally Mott is currently competing in Mazda MX-5 Cup with JTR Motorsports in a pink Iron Dames inspired livery. Her next race weekend will be May 3-4, 2025, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. Be sure to watch the first episodes of ‘First to the Finish’, debuting tonight on Amazon Prime and follow Sally on Instagram @SallyMottRacing.

Top Ten Finish for Freiberg in Porsche Carrera Cup Season Opener at Sebring

Shift Up Now Athletes Ashley Freiberg and Sabré Cook opened up the 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup North America season at Sebring International Raceway on March 12-15, 2025, with Freiberg earning a top-ten finish in her series debut.

As a lead-in to the Mobil1 12 Hours of Sebring race weekend, the Porsche Cup cars first hit the track on Wednesday for practice. Driving the No. 22 “Be Your Own Hero” livery for Kellymoss Racing, Freiberg spent her practice time - and the official testing time a week prior - learning the car for her series debut race.

Cook, a Hagerty-supported Athlete, piloted the No. 37 privé products/ PenFed Credit Union entry for JDX Racing, and continued to get acclimated with her new team.

The 32-car field had two practice sessions Wednesday in the hot Florida weather, followed by qualifying on Saturday morning. Freiberg ran in the top ten for her first official Carrera Cup practice session, and both racers were inside the top 15 later that day, with Cook in 11th and Freiberg in 12th.

Cooler track temperatures on Thursday morning meant fast lap times around the 3.74-mile, 17- turn race track. Unfortunately, a red flag interrupted the session and thwarted many drivers’ attempts. Nevertheless, both Shift Up Now Athletes qualified inside the top 15 on their Yokohama tires. Cook would start 13th and Freiberg 15th for Round 1 of the 2025 season.

The first 40-minute race began at 4:55pm EST on Thursday. After one pace lap, the green flag flew and the field went four-wide heading into turn one. Cook made it through safely, then fought side-by-side through multiple turns before completing a pass on the outside of turn seven. She then put the pressure on the car ahead for the remainder of the lap, and made the pass midway through the final corner. When she caught the pack in front of her, she made another pass heading into turn 10.

Right behind them, Freiberg was engaged in her own side-by-side battle, where she completed a pass onto the front straight. The cars in seventh though fourteenth formed and maintained a tight pack for the first third of the race. Freiberg advanced another position and started to lay down faster lap times than the cars ahead.

In what would end up being a green-flag race all the way through, Cook continued to stay with the pack until she picked up a braking issue. It would cause her to fall back to 14th place, maintaining that position until the checkered flag. Freiberg finished in 13th.

The following evening, race two began at 6:25pm EST on Friday. The 40-minute race into the sunset saw Freiberg starting 13th and Cook 14th, based on their second-fastest qualifying laps.

Once again, the field completed one pace lap before coming to the green flag, with the front row nearly touching as they pushed the boundaries of side-by-side racing.

Freiberg made a strong start as the field fanned out to four-wide again, heading into turn one. She picked her lines through the first several turns, gaining two places and advancing to 11th. As the field exited turn five heading toward the back straight, Freiberg was at the back of the lead pack, with minimal distance behind her to the 12th-place car.

From turns one through seven, Cook fought side-by-side before making a pass. However, as she and the field approached turn 10, a slow car on track caused all the drivers to check up. This resulted in Cook’s 992 getting hit from behind, pushing her into the car ahead and causing too much damage to continue. She was forced to retire her car for the day.

The full-course caution left 26 minutes remaining on the restart. Freiberg advanced to 10th place, once again immediately attaching herself to the back of the lead train. The top ten then continued to create a gap to the remainder of the field.

Freiberg’s lap times continued to improve as she looked to start putting pressure on the ninth- place car. Without enough time left to make the pass, she crossed the finish line with a top-ten finish in her Porsche Carrera Cup debut weekend.

“I’m really happy with a top-ten finish in my first Porsche Carrera Cup North America race,” said Freiberg. “The field is stacked with incredible drivers, past champions and race winners, so I’m definitely going to be pushed this year, which really excites me. I felt like the whole weekend was full of growth, and I’m really excited about the rest of the year. Qualifying was tough with the red flag, as I was on my flier going into turn seventeen when it came out. It didn’t give me the full opportunity to show our pace, but lesson learned!

“I have to give a huge thank you to my team, Kellymoss Racing. They are the heart and support behind this result and my program, and I couldn’t be happier to have such a strong foundation of people behind me. Thank you to my sponsors, Yokohama, Mobil1, Shift Up Now, Dream Giveaway, Radius Drive, my family, Josh and Enzo, and my fans. I absolutely love representing the ‘Be Your Own Hero’ car out on track!”

Next up, Freiberg, Cook and the Porsche Carrera Cup North America series will head back to Florida for Round 2 at the Miami International Autodrome on May 2-4, 2025.

Top Ten Finishes for Hadley & Mott in MX-5 Cup at St. Petersburg

Shift Up Now Athletes Heather Hadley & Sally Mott earned top-ten finishes in the first street course event of the season, alongside fellow Shift Up Now Athlete Ashlyn Speed, competing in rounds three and four of the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin on February 28 - March 2, 2025, in St. Petersburg, FL.

To kick off the race weekend, drivers and teams were invited to the premiere of First to the Finish, a documentary that follows the trials and tribulations of drivers Hadley and Mott as they navigate the 2024 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup season, plus the non-stop schedule of BSI Racing team owner Shea Holbrook. The documentary will debut on Prime Video on March 25, 2025.

Thirty-five cars - including five female drivers - were entered in the two 45-minute races on the 14-turn, 1.8-mile street course. The MX-5 Cup event took place as a support race for the NTT IndyCar Series race on Sunday afternoon.

Practices one and two took place on Friday, followed by practice three and qualifying on Saturday.

Driving the No. 15 Iron Dames-inspired livery for JTR Engineering, Mott hit the track Friday for her first-ever outing on a street circuit. The same was true for Speed, driving the No. 31 Whelen / Mazda Motorsports entry for Hendricks Motorsports. Both drivers spent the first two practice sessions learning the track and finding speed.

Meanwhile, Hadley, who had raced at St. Pete in 2023 and scored her first top-ten MX-5 Cup result there, wasted no time getting up to speed. Behind the wheel of the No 54 “reverse Oreo” livery and driving for Hendricks Motorsports, she was immediately inside the top 20 in the very first practice session, among incredibly tight times throughout the field.

Both practice sessions ended up being interrupted by red flags due to crashed cars on the course, limiting track time. On Saturday morning, this meant teams had a decision to make regarding the third practice, which was effectively a short, 20-minute warmup that led almost immediately into qualifying. The field was split, with half electing to run, with the other half not willing to take the risk.

During qualifying, Hadley found herself a few tenths short of her pace goal, putting her 22nd on the starting grid. Meanwhile, Mott got up to speed quickly but made a small mistake and spun, then was immediately collected by another car spinning at the same corner. She would start 32nd. Speed, in only her second event in the series, and with very little seat time in the MX-5 Cup cars, continued to keep her focus on learning, and personal improvement. She would line up in 31st for race one.

Despite the ideal weather conditions for most of the weekend, overcast skies appeared for the start of the first race, making the track slick. After two pace laps led by the First to the Finish Mazda pace car, the field made a clean start. However, the back half was not able to pack up for the green flag, so they found themselves immediately playing catchup.

Hadley was able to move into the top 20 within the first few laps of the race, and set her sights on the 19th-place car. Mott also started picking off competitors one by one from the back of the pack.

As the racing continued, cars rubbed and bumped as they ran side-by-side, causing oil to collect at the entry to turn 10. As a result, a multi-car incident ensued, with several cars ending up in the barriers or on the escape road. All three Shift Up Now Athletes made it through unscathed, picking up positions along the way.

After a lengthy caution period, only 12 minutes remained in the race. As the field lined up for a single-file restart, Hadley sat in 13th, with Mott in 20th and Speed in 22nd. Just a couple laps later, Mott picked up another position to move into 19th, then 18th on the next lap.

With just six minutes remaining, another full-course caution flew for a spun car. After a quick clean-up, the field had three minutes before the checkered flag flew. Mott continued her climb, making a pass for 17th. When another car found the barriers on the last lap, the corner was covered under local yellow, and the rest of the field drove through to the finish.

After post-race penalties were assessed for various incidents throughout the race, all three Shift Up Now drivers were rewarded for their clean driving, and moved up in order. Hadley was awarded a 10th-place finish, and winner of Mazda’s First Female Racer award.

“Race one at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg was incredibly hectic,” said Hadley. “Having to start in the lower half of the field due to a qualifying performance that didn’t reflect our true potential meant I had my work cut out for me. I’m incredibly proud of what the Hendricks Motorsports team and I accomplished together. Being able to salvage a top-ten after starting twenty-second is no easy feat at St. Pete, and I can’t thank my team enough for giving me a car capable of doing it.”

Mott finished 14th in class, advancing 18 positions from her place on the starting grid, and earned the Penske Shocking Performance / Hard Charger award for passing the most cars in the race.

Speed finished 18th in class, up 13 positions from her qualifying spot, continuing her trend of improving pace with each track session and improving her racing skills.

Later that afternoon, brighter skies and warmer temps made for an even more slick track for the start of race two. Starting positions were set by the second-fastest qualifying lap, and the Shift Up Now Athletes were ready to advance forward through the field.

After two pace laps, the field managed a much tighter formation and cleaner start than the day before.

Mott immediately got to work, passing seven cars going into turn one, and setting her sights on earning another Hard Charger award. Speed followed her past several of the same cars and moving into 27th place.

A lengthy green stint ensued and the field spread out. With 12 minutes remaining, Hadley was running 15th, Mott 20th and Speed 21st. It was then that a single-car spin brought out the full- course yellow.

The restart, with six minutes left in the race, was clean at the front. However, Hadley was tipped into a spin on the entry to turn one. She was able to get the car rolling without causing another yellow, but lost time and positions as a result.

On the next lap, Mott was mid-pack. When the cars ahead fanned three-wide onto the front straight, she kept a watching brief in their draft, then moved into the top 15 with three laps to go. At the same time, Speed advanced into the top 20.

When one of the race leaders hit the wall on the final lap, taking two front-running cars out as well, race control elected to finish the lap under green, with a local yellow covering the incident in the final corner. Mott took advantage of the chaos, making passes to finish with her first top- ten of the season. She was also the top-finishing female and earned the Penske Shocking Performance / Hard Charger award by advancing 20 places from where she started.

“This weekend started off rough, with both races forcing me to start from the back,” said Mott. “But that only fueled my determination to prove myself. I pushed myself beyond my limits, passing more cars than any other driver in both races an earning double Hard Charger awards, a top ten, and a top-finishing female award. I’ve never had a more confidence-inspiring weekend. I stepped out of my shell, pushed myself harder than ever, and left St. Pete a stronger, more determined driver than when I arrived.”

Next up, the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin series heads to Birmingham, AL, for rounds five and six on May 2-4, 2024, at Barber Motorsports Park.

In the meantime, members of The Inside Track by Shift Up Now can race Mott on the Barber Motorsports track in the first-ever iRacing Spring Sprints, taking place Tuesday, March 18th. Register HERE to reserve your spot! And don’t forget to catch the First to the Finish documentary, debuting on Prime Video on March 25th.

Unser Sets the Bar High for 2025 with Two Second-Place Finishes at Sebring

Shift Up Now Athletes Loni Unser and Erika Hoffmann made a statement to start the 2025 Porsche Sprint Challenge North America season. Unser stood on the podium after both races with back-to-back, second-place finishes, while Hoffmann earned two fourth-place finishes in class, during her series debut weekend at Sebring International Raceway on February 28-March 2, 2025.

Testing and the first official practice for the 22-car, Cayman GT4 Cup field took place on Thursday. Due to the Porsche Endurance Challenge taking place on Sunday, the weekend schedule was condensed, so that the second practice, qualifying and the first race all took place on Friday.

For the 2025 season, Unser is driving the No. 4 “Be Your Own Hero” car for Kellymoss Racing. The “Be Your Own Hero” campaign is aimed at helping young, talented drivers - especially women and minorities from all backgrounds - succeed in racing.

Unser immediately made her presence known on the timesheets, running in second place in the first practice at 2:11.2, and just 0.16 seconds off the session leader. She used the cooler temps on Friday morning to work on race setup, in preparation for the second race on Saturday morning, which would run in similar track conditions, and ran a 2:10.3.

Hoffmann, piloting the No. 21 car for Kellymoss Racing, ran inside the top ten for practice one with a 2:12.4, which she bested in the second practice with a 2:10.9, putting her in fifth. She noted getting more comfortable with each session as she got acclimated to the car, making significant improvements and preparing for her debut race.

Later that day, qualifying would prove to be the closest session of the weekend so far on the 3.741-mile, 17-turn road course. Unser just missed the pole position by 0.02 seconds, putting her on the outside of the front row for race one. Hoffmann backed up her strong practice runs to qualify sixth, rolling off from the outside of row three.

On Friday at 3:05pm EST, the green flag flew in the continued sunny, warm temps for the first 35-minute-plus-one-lap competition. Unser had a strong start, holding a side-by-side run through the notoriously fast and bumpy first turn, but dropped into second place as the field approached the brake zone in turn three. She was slightly offline into the carousel as she attempted to make the pass for the lead, but sacrificed her exit a bit. She continued to keep a close eye on her mirrors, ensuring the Cayman GT4 in third place didn’t get a run on her. By the exit of turn seven, the three lead cars all settled into running one car length apart as the field headed to Cunningham.

Hoffmann also had an adventurous first lap, dropping a couple wheels on the exit of turn three. She was able to continue on and take the strip for the first time in seventh place, just before a full-course yellow flew.

At the restart, the field ran single-file and clean. Unser slotted into second place, within a second of the leader, and the two would begin to build a gap of more than four seconds. Unser kept the pressure on until the finish, taking the checkered flag less than two seconds behind the winner.

In her Porsche Sprint Challenge North America debut, Hoffmann crossed the finish line in fourth place in class, and seventh overall. However, a post-race penalty for one of her competitors advanced her to sixth overall.

Race two began on Saturday at 9:30am EST, with Unser lined up once again on the outside of the front row. This time, Hoffmann was starting from fifth place on the inside of row three. Both drivers had a clean start.

Unser tucked in behind the leader earlier that the day before, instead of trying to force the issue around the outside. The two immediately began to pull away from the pack, running 2.5 seconds ahead of the field by the end of the first lap. Meanwhile, Hoffmann began to engage in what would be in a tough battle for positions four through eight.

By lap seven, Unser and the leader had created a ten-second gap to the rest of the pack. At this point, she began applying pressure on the car ahead, and didn’t let up for the next 20 minutes. She forced the leader offline multiple times per lap as she looked for an opportunity to pass. Despite multiple solid attempts, she crossed the finish line in second place, this time just 0.6 seconds behind, and earned the fastest lap of the race.

“I am incredibly grateful to be back racing with Kellymoss, and expanding on what I learned in 2024, into 2025,” said Unser. “To start the race season with two second-place finishes and a fast lap was very promising.

“The weekend was made even sweeter when we got to see the impact of the ‘Be Your Own Hero’ livery. A young go-kart rockstar named Mila came and visited us, sat in the car, and even signed it! I hope young Mila carries that experience with her throughout her career as motivation to accomplish whatever she sets her mind to. Ultimately, I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds.”

Hoffmann continued to impress in her debut weekend, starting strong and finishing in fifth place overall, just one place off the podium in class.

Next up, the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America series heads to California for round two of the 2025 championship, at Sonoma Raceway on April 4-6, 2024.

Hagerty Returns as Shift Up Now Partner to Sponsor Sabré Cook

Shift Up Now is proud to announce that Hagerty will continue its partnership in 2025 by sponsoring Athlete Sabré Cook as she competes in the 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup North America series.

Headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan, Hagerty began as a niche insurance agency offering coverage for wooden boats. After expanding their coverage to classic cars in 1991, it has since grown into a global automotive enthusiast brand, and the world’s largest membership organization for car lovers.

Hagerty’s purpose of saving driving and car culture for future generations includes a strong focus on women in motorsport. The partnership with Shift Up Now began in 2021, and has continued to advance year over year.

This year, Cook will be in attendance for The Amelia, one of the world’s most iconic automotive lifestyle gatherings. Celebrating its 30th year of speed and style, The Amelia will take place at the Golf Club of Amelia Island and The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island resort from March 6-9, 2025. Fans are invited to join Cook at the event: CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.

Cook, who became the first woman ever to race in the Porsche Carrera Cup series in 2023, will make her debut with JDX Racing, driving the iconic Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car. The Grand Junction, CO native plans to continue her already-impressive career, which began in karting at the age of eight.

“Hagerty’s dedication to uplifting female athletes in motorsports isn’t just inspiring, it’s game- changing,” said Cook. “Their support through Shift Up Now has fueled my career for four consecutive seasons, allowing me to compete in highly-competitive series. I’m honored to continue this partnership in 2025 and hope to use this opportunity to inspire others, and open doors for the next wave of female racers.”

Eva Gregory, Senior Manager of Marketing Partnerships at Hagerty, echoed Cook’s excitement, saying, “Hagerty is proud to continue our partnership with Shift Up Now in 2025, supporting their mission to empower females in motorsport. As part of this commitment, we are excited to sponsor Sabré Cook through Shift Up Now, furthering our dedication to championing talented drivers and expanding opportunities in the racing community.

“As an organization focused on driving inclusivity in the automotive and motorsport industries, we recognize the incredible impact Shift Up Now has made in breaking barriers and paving the way for the next generation of racers. We look forward to another exciting year of collaboration, helping to fuel the future of women in motorsport.”

The 16-round Porsche Carerra Cup North America season will begin with rounds one and two on March 12-14, 2025 at Sebring International Raceway. Fans can follow along on as the races are broadcast live on on Peacock, IMSA TV, and the IMSA YouTube Channel.

Three Shift Up Now Athletes Kick Off 2025 Season in MX-5 Cup at Daytona

Shift Up Now Athletes Heather Hadley and Sally Mott, along with Development Athlete Ashlyn Speed, endured the chaos of an eventful season opener in rounds one and two of the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship presented by Michelin at the Daytona Road Course on January 22-24, 2025.

The Daytona weekend marked the start of Hadley’s third season of MX-5 Cup competition, driving the No. 54 “Reverse Oreo” livery for Hendricks Motorsports.

Competing in her second MX-5 Cup season, Mott drove the pink No. 15 Iron Dames-inspired livery for Jared Thomas Racing (JTR).

Speed, the 2024 Mazda Women’s Initiative Scholarship winner, made her MX-5 Cup debut in the No. 31 car for Hendricks Motorsport.

The three Shift Up Now Athletes - plus three other female racers - were part of a record- breaking 36-car field on the 3.81-mile, 14-turn road course.

The race weekend began on Wednesday with two afternoon practices in unusually-chilly conditions. The first started out under damp conditions that gradually dried throughout the session. Later that day, practice two was dry, and teams worked to find a tow in preparation for qualifying the next day.

On Thursday, qualifying took place just before noon. Prior to the session, race control anticipated drivers not wanting to lead the pack and jockeying to be in a tow from multiple cars, so a warning was issued that intentionally-slow paces would not be tolerated. Despite the warning, most of the field opted to run slowly and not warm up their tires. As a result, the entire field was bunched up and running on cold tires at the drop of the green flag. Several cars made contact, creating more havoc within the field.

Hadley got separated from the pack but found her way back into a position for a strong tow, which catapulted her up the charts. Unfortunately, she - along with many of the other drivers - had her time deleted post-qualifying.

Mott was caught up in the midst of the qualifying chaos, making and ceding passes, but working hard to stay in the tow. She emerged from the session with the best qualifying of the Shift Up Now Athletes, putting herself just outside the top 20 for race one, and only narrowly missing the top ten for race two with her second-fastest lap.

Speed elected to stay clear of the drama, and spent most of the session running solo. This allowed her to gain more seat time and experience, in preparation for that evening’s race.

Race one began at 5:30pm ET on Thursday. The 45-minute competition, traditionally run at sunset, was darkened by heavy cloud cover, and accompanied by rain and rapidly-falling track temperatures. Race control declared a wet race as the field lined up on the grid, forcing everyone to start on wet weather rain tires. Then the field was given two pace laps to assess track conditions before lining up side-by-side for the start.

Despite having the full 2024 season under her belt, Mott was racing in the rain for the first time in an MX-5 Cup car. She rose to the occasion, battling back and forth around the 20th-place spot for the entire race. However, as laps ticked by, her rain tires began to overheat, creating tricky handling conditions for her to contend with.

Hadley, starting from the back of the field after her qualifying times were deleted, showed her experience in the dreary conditions. She made her way forward throughout the competition, advancing 11 positions to finish in 18th place and securing her spot as the top-finishing female.

Speed endured some of the toughest-possible conditions for her first-ever MX-5 Cup race, and continued her learning curve. She accepted the challenge, keeping her nose clean and completing every lap.

Race two began at 10:15am ET on Friday under sunny skies with 35 cars lined up to take the green flag. In one of the most memorable MX-5 Cup starts to date, two cars at the very front of the field made contact almost immediately, with the ensuing ripple effect causing significant damage to more than half the field.

When the incident occurred, Mott checked up to avoid making contact with the car ahead, but was hit into a spin by the car behind, sending her into the outside wall.

Hadley darted through the carnage and was also pushed into a spin from the car behind. After doing a full 360 on track, she continued forward but made contact with another spinning car ahead, causing irreparable front-suspension damage.

Speed made a cautious start, which slowed her enough to avoid the massive incident. She began to pick her way through the stopped, spun and damaged cars all over the track.

The full-course caution was changed to a red flag, allowing the safety teams time to remove the cars that were unable to continue. Any team that was able to repair their car was given the chance to do so, given that so many others were out of contention.

The JTR team elected to make repairs, allowing Mott to join the tail of the field as the pack left pit lane behind the safety car with just 20 minutes remaining in the race. Despite not having competition-level speed, she was still able to gain valuable points by crossing the finish line.

After the race restarted, Speed continued her drive to another clean race, finishing just outside of the top 15 and earning recognition as the top-finishing female in her second-ever start in the series.

Next up, the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship presented by Michelin heads to the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, for rounds three and four on February 28 - March 2, 2025.

Meet the AE Victory Racing Shoot-Out Winner

My name is Alana Carter. I’m a Canadian racing driver and most recently - the winner of the AE Victory Racing (AEVR) Shootout! My introduction to motorsports actually started on the oval track, having grown up doing a bit of paved oval and dirt oval racing up until my switch over to circuit racing a few years ago. It’s been an incredible journey and a steep learning curve so far, but I’ve loved every minute of it.

Similar to other drivers, budget has been the most limiting factor in my racing career. As a result, I’ve raced random, one-off events here and there with whatever funding I could scrape together. However, last season I became the first woman to compete in Radical Cup Canada, my first full championship! I’m forever grateful for Robert and April Burgess of Radical Canada East for that opportunity.

When I first saw the social media posts about the AEVR Shootout, I didn’t waste a minute in applying. I was the first person to submit an application because I had pulled over into a random parking lot on a drive home from Pittsburg to record the application video. I was NOT going to miss out on this opportunity.

A few weeks later, I was absolutely elated to receive the email from Erin Vogel letting me know that I was one of the four drivers selected to attend the shootout. I knew that this was my time to buckle down and make the most out of this experience. I pushed hard with my physical and mental training over the holidays, and on the simulator.

Although shootouts are typically stressful, this one from AEVR was genuinely so much fun. In my opinion, the positive environment they created allowed them to see everyone at their best.

When we arrived at Inde Motorsports Ranch, we received a warm welcome from the team and checked into the cutest trackside casitas. We got to meet everyone and enjoyed a lovely team dinner before the two days of evaluations.

The first day started with a seat fitting in the morning, followed by warm-ups with some autocross, and then we got acquainted with Claudia Fulga, our mental performance coach. That afternoon, we were out on track for two sessions in the Audi R8 LMS GT4 (Sophie). We received some valuable coaching, and did some media work as well.

On the second day, we had longer track sessions to test our consistency and endurance. It was evident from the start that the team sought to make the event a positive learning experience for everyone. Although there would only be one winner, Erin was adamant that everyone gained something from the experience, and she was absolutely successful in that.

I knew choosing a winner would be a hard choice for the AEVR team considering how amazing the other candidates were. It was even hard for us as we had become such close friends over

the span of two days. I knew I was going to be happy for whoever won the spot, as everyone was deserving of the opportunity.

Prior to the announcement, I felt confident in my performance but knew that I was up against tough competition, so it was hard to know where I stood. When the decision was announced, I was thrilled to find out that I was the driver selected for the team.

Winning this seat is such an incredible feeling. For the first time in my career, my full season is on the calendar, eliminating the stress of scrambling to get funding and last-minute planning. This means I now have the capacity now to put that extra energy into training and ensuring that I make the most out of this opportunity.

It’s also very special to be working with two drivers that I look up to, and a team that is in it for all the right reasons. It’s already clear to me how genuine everyone at AE Victory Racing is in wanting to support and uplift female drivers. I’m excited to have Erin, Sarah, Claudia and everyone else on the team as mentors and role models, to help me navigate this unique industry. And I think we’re going to have a TON of fun along the way.

I’m confident that 2025 is going to be an incredible year for the AE Victory Racing team and I can’t wait to show the world what we’re made of!

Make sure you're following @ae.victory_racing, @alana.carter, @sarahmontgomery124 and @erin.vogel.racing on Instagram, and other social media platforms, to follow their 2025 season.

Sally Mott Joins Shift Up Now Athlete Roster Ahead of Second MX-5 Cup Season

The Shift Up Now Athlete roster continues to grow with the addition of Sally Mott, whose 2025 plans include a full season of racing with Jared Thomas Racing (JTR) in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin.

Mott made her MX-5 Cup debut in October 2023 during the Petit LeMans weekend at Road Atlanta, where she earned the “Top Finishing Female” award in race two. The following month, she was awarded the Mazda MX-5 Cup Women’s Initiative Scholarship.

The Central Texas native then went on to be the top-finishing female overall during her rookie season in 2024, earning a 12th-place spot in the championship standings. She scored seven top-15 finishes, her best being sixth at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Ontario.

Now, driving the No. 15 MX-5 Cup car with her new team, JTR, Mott has her sights set on cracking the top five, and becoming the first woman to stand on the podium since fellow Shift Up Now Athlete Sarah Montgomery.

Rounds one and two will take place on January 22-24, 2025, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona Road Course. The weekend begins with a practice session on January 22 from 1:00-1:40pm ET, followed by practice two from 4:15-4:45pm ET. Qualifying and race one will take place on Thursday, and race two on Friday.

Mott is excited to debut a bold, Iron Dames-inspired livery and suit for the season, featuring her sponsors, Ribtect, Coble Commercial Properties, AE Victory Racing, Smart-Energize.com and Shift Up Now.

“I’m very excited about my sophomore year in MX-5 Cup, as I’ve been working very hard behind the scenes to come back stronger than ever,” said Mott. “My goal is to have consistent top-fives and multiple podiums this year. I know I still have a lot of work to do, but I’m more determined than ever to make my goals a reality.”

Fans can learn more about Mott by checking out her Athlete profile on ShiftUpNow.com or by visiting her website at SallyMottRacing.com.

Shift Up Now Foundation Opens Applications for 2025 Grants

The Shift Up Now Foundation is proud to announce that grant applications are now open for the 2025 season. Female racers competing at a professional or semi-professional level are invited to apply, from now until Tuesday, January 21st at 11:59pm ET.

Applications can be submitted online here: https://shiftupnow.org/grants/

The foundation, which lives alongside the Shift Up Now for-profit business, strives for gender equality for female athletes in motorsport, and furthers the mission by accepting tax-deductible gifts, donations and grants.

Funds raised are used to award opportunities to racers believed to have the talent and aptitude to succeed in motorsports, giving them access to more competitive equipment, seat time for testing and practice, and resources to help grow their careers.

In 2023, the Shift Up Now Foundation awarded its first-ever sponsorship grants. The organization then eclipsed its grant goal in 2024 after raising more than $80,000 in a multi- faceted fundraising effort.

A majority of the total came from an in-person event, the inaugural “Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation presented by PenFed Credit Union.” The remainder of the funding came from an online effort called “25 for 25,” in which Lucas Oil matched the first $5,000 in donations.

“Despite the fact that we’ve only just celebrated the foundation’s second birthday, I’m in awe that we’re about to write more than $100,000 worth of grants for racers to help them compete in the 2025 racing season,” said Shift Up Now CEO Pippa Mann. “This has been made possible due to the tireless work from our Board Co-Chairs, Rebecca Bormann and Jim Bork, and the Shift Up Now Foundation CEO, Ariel Ream. They’ve all been incredibly focused and dedicated in helping us meet this goal.

“In addition, we’re so honored to have received so many incredible donations, both from race fans and individuals like James Schenck, who is personally helping us support women in this sport. It’s our mission to make a difference, and while this will be a milestone year for us in terms of growth, we’re just getting started.”

To kick off the 2025 racing season, the foundation has also launched a new fundraising challenge, called the “Race to $25K.” James Schenck - a dedicated Shift Up Now Foundation supporter - has offered to personally match any donation to the foundation during the month of January, up to $25,000.

To join the challenge, race fans and Shift Up Now supporters are invited to make a donation in any amount until January 30th. Donations can be made on the website at https://shiftupnow.org.