Meet the Athlete: Ashlyn Speed

Shift Up Now fans and supporters, it's time for another round of our “Meet the Athlete” series!

Our goal is to tell the Athletes’ stories in a fun Q&A format, so you can get to know each one. That way, you’ll have even more reason to cheer for them, and show your support by being a Shift Up Now Member.

So without further ado, meet Ashlyn Speed!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Growing up, one of my fears was not knowing what I was going to do with my life. All throughout school, as young kids, we were told you need to go to college, but that never appealed to me. I’ve always envisioned myself having a husband and big family of my own. While that is still attainable even having attended college, it still wasn’t the way for me. To this day, even after discovering my love for motorsport and now owning my own business, specializing in Russian Manicures, that is still one of my ultimate goals in life.

Where and how did you get started in racing?

One day after school, when I was seven years old, my dad asked me if I had any homework and if I knew what a go kart was. I answered “no” to both. That day, we went to K-1 Speed, a rental electric go kart facility. After taking my first laps, I thought nothing of it. Waiting for my next session on track, a worker walked up to us and said I had one of the fastest times of the month! She asked how long I had been racing for, to which I replied it was my first time. I began competing in their monthly league night and won the championship for the two years I competed.

Describe how you progressed through your early days to where you are now.

Since the start of my involvement in racing, THE KEY I’ve found to being successful is making connections. The way I got into racing cars was through a relationship I had made six years prior to my transition to cars. When I moved from the electric to high-speed, outdoor, gas-powered go karts I got to know the Snyder family.

That relationship persisted through my years of karting. Then randomly, Mr. Snyder asked me if I wanted to race his car. From that I was able to build more connections with people and eventually get the opportunity to compete at the 2024 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout.

The shootout is held by the series annually to discover and develop drivers. After the three-day competition between 12 drivers, three are selected to receive a large scholarship to race the MX-5 Cup for the following year. In 2025, I was selected as the first-ever female ambassador for Whelen Engineering, the title sponsor of the series.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?

Everyone knows how expensive motorsports is. It is a constant struggle to find funding for racing. As a driver I am constantly in search for sponsorship. It’s just a matter of being in the right spot and knowing the right people. Eventually a lead will emerge, but the commitment from a company is rare.

What are some of your greatest achievements so far, or the things you’re most proud of?

My greatest achievement was winning the Women’s Initiative Scholarship for Mazda MX-5 Cup at the end of 2024. This was just proof that my 10 years of hard work and constant grinding was worth it. It showed how much people believe and want what’s best for me. Now being amidst the paddock in MX-5 Cup, Mazda has shown me how much support there is. Mazda will always have a special place in my heart.

What are you most looking forward to this upcoming year?

I’m looking forward to growing my race craft and social skills. Being thrown into a professional series has forced me to learn and adapt quickly. I know that whatever I end up doing long term in life, I will be able to bring all the lessons I’ve learned through racing into that. Growing up in a competitive environment has no doubt molded me into the person I am today. I wouldn’t have been able to acquire the skills I have without my involvement in motorsports.

What’s your favorite hobby, or way to spend your free time, outside of racing?

I own my own business doing nails, specializing in Russian structured gel manicures. This involves a deep cleaning of the cuticle and preparation of the nail plate, insuring that the nails last and don’t lift. Through this, I’m able to let my creative side shine! I love making other ladies feel good about themselves.

What’s your “cheat meal” of choice?

My cheat meal of choice is ice cream. I love eating clean, as it fuels me to make me feel good and it tastes yummy. If you ask me to go get ice cream though, I will not say no!

Where are you racing next?

On June 6-8, Mazda MX-5 Cup will be racing in Mid-Ohio. I’m so excited, as it is my first time at this track. I’m enjoying my time with Hendricks Motorsports and can’t wait to see what we can do as a team in a couple of weekends.

Want to support Ashlyn and the other Shift Up Now Athletes? CLICK HERE to become a member of The Inside Track today!

Meet the Athlete: Tatiana Calderón

Shift Up Now fans and supporters, it's time for another round of our brand-new series, “Meet the Athlete.”

So without further ado, meet Tatiana Calderón!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I was always passionate about sports, so I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a professional athlete. I had to choose between tennis, soccer, and motorsport.

Where and how did you get started in racing?

I started racing when I was nine years old, thanks to my sister Paula. She took me to a rental go-kart track near our home in Colombia, and we both fell in love with speed and adrenaline!

Describe how you progressed through your early days to where you are now.

I was incredibly passionate and happy every time we went to the race track. None of my family members had raced before, so we had to learn everything from scratch. I won several karting championships in Colombia before moving to the U.S., where I won the Stars of Karting East Coast Championship in the JICA category. I soon aimed to transition to single-seaters, starting in the U.S. before moving to Europe to pursue my dream of reaching F1. I’ve had the opportunity to compete in F3, F2, Super Formula, IndyCar, WEC, and ELMS, and even served as a test driver in F1. Currently, I’m racing in IMSA in the GTD class.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?

As a woman in a male-dominated sport, it hasn’t been easy to earn respect both on and off the track. Finding sponsors and visibility has been tough, and there’s also the challenge of adapting racing ergonomics and training specifically for women. There’s a common misconception that men and women are the same in this sport, but we are different in many ways. Since there have been so few women in racing, we don’t have enough data to fully understand what works best for us, which has been a significant challenge.

What are some of your greatest achievements so far, or the things you’re most proud of?

Becoming the first Latin American woman to drive an F1 car
Being the first woman to stand on the podium in British F3 and the Formula 3.5 World Series
Becoming the first woman to compete in the F2 Championship

What are you most looking forward to this upcoming year?

This year, we have a new car—driving the Ford Mustang GT3. It’s an exciting challenge to get to grips with this new machine, and I love challenges. I’m also thrilled to be racing in the U.S. and visiting the amazing tracks there!

What’s your favorite hobby or way to spend your free time, outside of racing?

I love sports in general, so I enjoy playing tennis, water skiing, and grabbing a good cup of coffee.

What’s your “cheat meal” of choice?

Pizza.

Where are you racing next?

I’ll be racing in the historic F1 race at Paul Ricard at the end of April, and my next IMSA race will be June 22nd at Watkins Glen.

Want to support Tatiana and the other Shift Up Now Athletes? CLICK HERE to become a member of The Inside Track today!

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.

Meet the Athlete: Erika Hoffmann

Shift Up Now fans and supporters, it's time for another round of our brand-new series, “Meet the Athlete.”

So without further ado, meet Erika Hoffmann!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a CEO—I was drawn to leadership, building something meaningful, and making an impact. I didn’t know what industry I’d end up in, but that drive to create has always been part of who I am.

Where and how did you get started in racing?
I had almost no exposure to racing growing up. I assumed you had to start young, have a lot of money, and live in Europe to become a racing driver. I didn’t even realize there was racing in Canada. But I was always drawn to it, and after getting my driver’s license, the desire to get on track only grew. Eventually, I found out about Calabogie Motorsports Park and started lapping my street car. From that moment, I was determined to find a way to race.

Describe how you progressed through your early days to where you are now.
I started with grassroots lapping in 2019. After COVID, I entered the Formula Woman International Driver Search, competing against 1,000 women from 35 countries. I was inexperienced compared to many of the drivers, but I made it through all the elimination rounds, and placed 1st in the final. This earned me a spot racing a McLaren 570s GT in the UK’s GT Cup Championship in 2022. In 2023, I represented Canada at the FIA Rallystar competition and was the top North American female driver. I also co-founded Slate Racing, Canada’s first female-led racing team. Now, I’m competing in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America with Kellymoss for the 2025 season.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
Starting late with no industry connections, I had to learn everything from the ground up. I couldn’t afford to race on my own, so I had to figure out sponsorships to fund my career. That also meant limited testing, often going straight into races with minimal preparation. Navigating these challenges has taken creativity, resilience, and a lot of persistence. I've learned that success often comes down to persistence—refusing to quit, even when things aren’t going your way.

What are some of your greatest achievements so far, or the things you’re most proud of?

Winning the Formula Woman International Driver Search in 2022 was a turning point, especially since I had no prior wheel-to-wheel racing experience. Competing in the UK’s GT Cup Championship and representing Canada at the FIA Rallystar competition are also moments I’m incredibly proud of. But one of my biggest achievements is co-founding Slate Racing, Canada’s first female-led racing team, focused on creating opportunities for women in motorsports and helping drive change in the industry.

What are you most looking forward to this upcoming year?
The chance to race a full season in the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America with Kellymoss. I’ve never had the funding to do a full season before, so I’m excited to get consistent seat time and the opportunity to develop as a driver. I feel extremely grateful to be working with Kellymoss, they are a top-tier team and focused heavily on driver development. And everyone I’ve met on the team has been incredibly kind and welcoming.

What’s your favorite hobby, or way to spend your free time, outside of racing?
I love spending time with my family, friends, and my Australian Shepherd, Piper. I also enjoy snowboarding, surfing, and being by the water.

What’s your “cheat meal” of choice?
Anything carb-heavy! Processed sugar gives me migraines, so I’m definitely a savory-over-sweet kind of person.

Where are you racing next?
Sonoma Raceway on April 4-5, 2025, for the second round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America. I've never been to Somoma before so I'm excited to experience it.

Want to support Erika and the other Shift Up Now Athletes? CLICK HERE to become a member of The Inside Track today!

Meet the Athlete: Taylor Ferns

Shift Up Now fans and supporters, we’re excited to bring you a brand-new series called “Meet the Athlete.”

So without further ado, meet Taylor Ferns!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A race car driver or a lawyer.

Where and how did you get started in racing?

I come from a racing family - my uncles raced late models and stock cars in the 80s and 90s. A neighbor of ours had Quarter Midgets and my dad thought that might be something my siblings and I would like to do. We always had quads, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, side-by-sides, etc. around, and I loved going fast. We found a car for sale in nearby Lansing, MI. When we went to check it out, I had instant butterflies as soon as I sat in it. My parents had to pull me out of the car after an hour. I started racing in 2002 at the age of six. My local track was MMRA / “Waterford.”

Describe how you progressed through your early days to where you are now.

To be honest, when I first started in Quarter Midgets, I wasn't very good. Then, as I got more seat time and experience, I became really competitive. The same thing happened when I started racing dirt Micro Sprints at nine or ten years old. I was terrible the first year. I just couldn't get a hang of throwing the car sideways, and the whole "dirt" racing concept.

The following year, I won about 12-15 races and was super-competitive from that point on. I was always very smart so it was almost as if I had to test the waters a little bit before I went all out. But after I gained experience in a lot of different race cars, I became aware of my tendencies and hit a certain level of maturity. In my opinion, that made me a strong competitor in most of the cars I raced from the age of 13 and beyond - from Focus Midgets, to full-size Midgets, Sprint Cars, Silver Crown, Late Models, Stock Cars, etc. Those early years gave me a foundation of being patient and learning to let things play out. I also worked my attrition - both physically and mentally, and really tested my love for the sport. Hard work pays off, and after chipping away at it during the hard times, it always worked out. That sentiment remained true with each step I climbed on the racing ladder.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?

I'm sure many other drivers can relate to this, but finding sponsorship and the proper monetary backing to keep racing is tough. Without money, we can't race. I always try to come up with innovative ways to find funding but once you get the money, you also have to work to keep sponsors happy, so that's all part of it. Another challenge is finding good people to work with that you can trust, and that have the best intentions. There are so many other things that come up as a driver, and especially as an owner, so you just have to deal with them as they come. You have to be gritty in this business and willing to dig deep to get to where you want to go.

What are some of your greatest achievements so far, or the things you’re most proud of?

A few things I am most proud of include my USAC Regional Midget Championship in 2011, winning my first-ever Sprint Car start at 14 years old, podiuming in my first USAC Silver Crown race right after taking five-ish years off from racing, and winning the Joe James/Pat O'Connor Memorial Sprint Car race at Salem Speedway last fall (September 2024). The latter was super special to me, not only as a driver, but because that was my first official win as a team owner. It was a tough road to get there, even during the race itself. We overcame a lot of adversity with the car, so it was a huge relief, and just a super-proud moment overall.

What are you most looking forward to this upcoming year?

This year, I'm looking forward to:

Racing my Sprint Car and Silver Crown as much as I can.
Taking the bar exam and officially becoming an attorney.
Working on my non-profit - The Safety Bank - and getting that on its feet.

What’s your favorite hobby, or way to spend your free time, outside of racing?

I love going for walks/runs or some form of exercise, and listening to music.

What’s your “cheat meal” of choice?

Pizza!

Where are you racing next?

TBD!

Taylor is one of our Athlete's taking part in the upcoming Fan Forum presented by Callies on February 26th at 7:30pm Eastern, so if you want to meet Taylor via zoom, and learn more about her make sure you Sign up here!

If you can't make the Fan Forum, but still want to support Taylor and the other Athletes of Shift Up Now, Click here to become a member of The Inside Track today!

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.

Passing the Torch: A New Era for Shift Up Now Membership

By Sarah Montgomery

Sometimes, change is a good thing. It can be big and scary, but necessary for continued growth.

My parents always taught me that if I work hard at everything I put my mind to, good things will happen. It’s why I force myself to try things outside of my comfort zone. For example, racing is still something where I find myself uncomfortable.

Just this past weekend, I was sitting in the driver’s seat on the starting grid in the pouring rain at COTA. My belts were tight and I couldn’t see much past my extremely foggy windshield. I was uncomfortable. When we finally got rolling, they made us do extra pace laps in an attempt to move puddles off the racing line. I had butterflies in my stomach just wanting the green flag to drop so we could get the cold, rainy start over with.

I have been working with Shift Up Now for many years in different aspects, both professionally and personally. This past year, I was tasked with the Membership Director role, which has been a fun learning curve. First, it allowed me to connect more closely with a few of Shift Up Now’s biggest supporters, and some of the Athletes I hadn’t connected with prior. And second, it has been heartwarming to see how much these people want to see our Athletes succeed.

One of my favorite tasks as Membership Director has been the monthly Members’ email. I have a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Lafayette, and I enjoy designing marketing materials to see what kind of content appeals to people most.

As a fun side note, my parents wouldn’t let me race without completing school, and although I would never admit this to them, I’m grateful that they made me do it because it’s given me opportunities to grow.

Another fun project I was tasked with was sorting all of the Shift Up Now Athletes’ photos, which made me realize what a cool, unique bunch of women are part of this organization. And along with that, we’re so lucky to have an amazing group of supporters, making it fun for me to find giveaways that appealed to everyone.

Now that the 2024 racing season is coming to a close, a new opportunity has presented itself and as a result, I felt it was a good time to pass the baton to Monica Hilton, another dedicated member of the Shift Up Now team. Watch for more details coming soon!

For now, I am so excited to announce that I have accepted a position with a government contractor, working as a security defense driver trainer in Virginia. Believe it or not, this is my first full-time job as a young professional, and I could not be more excited about the health

benefits! This also means that I’m moving from Atlanta to Virginia, another area where I’m forcing myself out of my comfort zone to try new things.

I’ve been asked about my future involvement with Shift Up Now, so I just want to confirm that yes, I will still be around. And YES, I will still be racing!

Thank you all for your continued support of my racing career, and for helping me launch the new membership website this past year. I’m excited to pass this role on to Monica, as I know it will be in good hands. Along with it, this change will bring growth to Shift Up Now and I can’t wait to see that happen.