Victory for Hoffmann, Second in Championship for Unser at Road Atlanta

Shift Up Now Athletes Erika Hoffmann and Loni Unser left their mark on the record books during a history-making Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama season finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on September 11-14, 2025. Not only did Hoffmann secure her first victory, Unser clinched second place in the championship and the duo earned the first female one-two finish in series history.

Unser, fresh on the heels of a win in Watkins Glen, piloted the No. 4 “Be Your Own Hero” car for Kellymoss Racing. Hoffmann drove the No. 21 entry, also competing for Kellymoss.

Thursday’s schedule included two official practice sessions in preparation for qualifying the following morning. The Shift Up Now drivers were familiar with the 2.55-mile, 12-turn track, with both having competed there previously in the World Racing League (WRL). Their experience showed, with Unser running in the top five and Hoffmann in the top ten for both sessions.

Friday morning’s qualifying session was the first time that the Porsche Sprint Challenge series was running the newest iteration of the Cayman GT4 RS. Track temperatures were cool, and Hoffmann capitalized on the optimal track conditions - coupled with the grip from her new Yokohama tires - to run her best qualifying performance yet in the series. She set the second- fastest time to start on the outside of the front row for both races.

Meanwhile, Unser also had a strong run, qualifying fourth and starting on the outside of row two.

Later that afternoon, the field lined up two-by-two for the drop of the green flag. After a clean start, Hoffmann held her second-place position while Unser got a great run on the outside into turn one. She held her line up the hill toward turn two, changing to the inside where the track changes direction, and then cleanly completing the pass into turn three.

Taking the third-place spot set up a cat-and-mouse race between Hoffmann and Unser that would continue through the remainder of the 35-minute-plus-one-lap competition. The gap between them rarely exceeded half a second as the teammates raced hard and cleanly.

In turns five and six, Unser’s car appeared to have more speed as she looked for the inside pass several time, but Hoffmann withstood the pressure.

With just two minutes left in the race, the leader’s car had an issue and came to a stop on track. This promoted the Shift Up Now Athletes to a battle for the lead. When the stranded car caused a full-course caution, the running order was frozen for the final laps. Hoffmann earned the first win of her rookie season while Unser’s second-place marked her eighth consecutive podium, and both drivers celebrated history in the making with the series’ first-ever all-female one-two finish.

“I couldn’t be happier to get my first win in Porsche Sprint Challenge,” said Hoffmann. “This season has been a huge development year for me and to cap it off with a win feels amazing. I want to give a big thank you to the whole Kellymoss team - they have been incredibly supportive and encouraging all season long. I can’t say enough good things about the people, the level of excellence and the atmosphere. Racing with Kellymoss has honestly been a dream come true.

“This weekend was a big step forward for me, and I wouldn’t be here without my family and the amazing support of my sponsors: Coverly Home Protection, SWBC, Kaufmann de Suisse, Solairus Aviation, Mobil1 and Shift Up Now.”

Race two began on Saturday morning at 8:30am EST under sunny skies. Similar to Friday’s qualifying session, temperatures were cool, creating ideal track conditions. Both Hoffmann and Unser were lined up in the same starting grid positions as the day before, second and fourth respectively.

After two pace laps, the green flag flew. The Shift Up Now drivers were each challenged from the different drivers behind them but maintained their spots in the order. But before the end of the first lap, chaos ensued when the fifth-place car made a run at Unser’s position. The two made side-by-side contact at the apex of turn one, causing the other car to get loose on cold tires and get collected by another car, bringing out the first full-course caution.

The race restarted with 20 minutes - plus one lap - remaining. The leader got a great restart and the field stretched out heading into the first turn. On the next lap, the third-place car made the pass to get ahead of Hoffmann into turn 10. She tucked in behind at the apex, knowing the pass was for overall position and not in class.

The resulting lineup became a continuation of the previous day’s battle, as the Shift Up Now Athletes and Kellymoss teammates raced each other for the podium spots in class. Hoffmann and Unser crossed the finish line second and third in the ProAm class.

Unser initially thought her championship prospects were more dire due to early-season incidents. However, her 11th podium finish of the season - and ninth in a row - awarded her a spectacular comeback to finish second in the points.

“Going into the weekend, I was tied for second in the championship,” said Unser, “so I knew I had to be on my game and finish higher than the driver I was tied with. I couldn’t be happier to say that I did just that with the help of my amazing team and partners - Speedway Motors, Acumatica, Mobil1, Yokohama Tire, SVA Consulting and Shift Up Now.”

Just because the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama season is over, the action isn’t done! Shift Up Now fans are invited to come out to M1 Concourse to watch Unser compete against the clock in the upcoming American Speed Festival Ladies Race of Champions competition. The fastest female driver in one of M1’s fleet of radicals will be awarded a $10,000 check for the Shift Up Now Foundation. Get your tickets HERE!

Victory in Class and Pole Position for Hayes in GT4 America at Barber

Shift Up Now Athletes Laura Hayes, Hannah Greenemeier and Hannah Grisham competed in rounds 10 and 11 of Pirelli GT4 America at Barber Motorsports Park on September 5-7, 2025, where Hayes brought home a class win on Sunday.

Driving for Thunder Bunny Racing (TBR), Hayes and teammate Allen Patten piloted the No. 606 BMW M4 GT4 (G82) EVO in the Am class. “The Hannahs” competed for Heart of Racing (HoR) in the No. 26 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO in the Silver class.

The Barber weekend featured a unique schedule due to the first race from the previous event weekend at Road America being rained out. It was then added to the Barber racing schedule, with the starting grid set from the Road America qualifying results.

On Thursday, cars took to the track for the first time for testing and practice one. Practice two then took place on Friday morning before the rescheduled race later that day.

For HoR, Greenemeier was lined up on the outside of row six - in 12th place - for the 3:35pm CST start time. Hayes was behind the wheel first for TBR, starting on the inside of row nine.

At the drop of the green flag, the field had a clean start and Hayes immediately went into attack mode, picking up a position on the first lap. She was in a nose-to-tail chain with the two class leaders on the 2.38-mile, 17-turn road course where passing is notoriously difficult.

For most of her stint, Hayes battled with the class leaders, looking inside and outside for opportunities to pass. The three cars were separated by inches but raced clean for her entire stint.

Meanwhile, Greenemeier had her sights set on making the pass for 11th. She made her move and then began chasing down the 10th-place car.

In the battle for the lead in the Am class, the two front cars made light contact at the esses, causing the leader to spin into the barriers. Hayes, now running second in class, reacted immediately and pulled into the pits in anticipation of the caution. When the yellow flag flew, she was on pit lane at exactly the right moment.

The HoR team also had a good stop, gaining several positions overall as Grisham took over the car. Twenty minutes remained when green flag racing resumed and Grisham picked up where Greenemeier left off, setting fast times and picking off competitors one at a time. She crossed the finish line in sixth overall.

Patten was behind the wheel for TBR in the second half of the race. Despite a chaotic stint, the team took the checkered flag third in class to earn their third podium of the season.

With the Road America makeup race in the books, it was time to focus on qualifying and the two regularly-scheduled, one-hour races at Barber.

Qualifying took place on Saturday morning, with Hayes behind the wheel first for TBR. The Wilton, California native put the car on pole for the first race, and eleventh overall. Then teammate Allen qualified second in class for race two.

A technical issue with the HoR Aston Martin forced the team to bring the car back to pit lane after only a couple laps, putting them on the back of the starting grid for both races.

Saturday afternoon, the field lined up for the start at 4:50pm CST. Hayes rolled off from the inside of row six and had a strong start again, flying side-by-side with the 10th-place car through the first several corners.

When the technical issues continued for the HoR team, Grisham had to pull the car into the pits and retire after just a few laps.

Hayes kept pace with the lead group, leading her class, and fighting cleanly and fast inside the top ten. She was 3/4 of the way through her stint when the car’s left front tire began to lose air, causing handling issues and a loss of pace.

Just one lap before the pit window opened, the tire gave up. Hayes’ five-second lead in class disappeared as she limped the car to pit lane for a tire change. Because the stop was outside the pit window, TBR also wasn’t allowed to switch drivers, so the additional stop only a few laps later put the team down one lap for the remainder of the race. They would finish 18th overall and third in class.

On Sunday, the start of Barber’s race two began at 11:10am CST, with Patten behind the wheel for TBR in 15th, and Greenemeier starting for HoR from the back of the field.

After a clean start, two mid-pack cars made contact heading into turn 13. Greenemeier took advantage and picked up multiple positions. By the end of the first lap, she had advanced to 16th, then moved to 15th within a few more laps.

Just ahead of her, Patten was maintaining his position in 12th overall, and second in class.

When the pit window opened at the halfway point, teams held off as long as possible in case of a yellow flag. Both TBR and HoR had clean, quick pit stops and driver changes before debris from a competitor’s blown tire caused a full-course yellow as the pit window closed.

After a short caution period, 18 minutes remained in the race. During a frantic restart, two lead cars made contact, causing an accordion effect for the rest of the pack and sending another car off track in turn four. Hayes and Grisham were in the middle of the action but kept their cars clean.

By the end of the first green-flag lap that followed, Hayes was running behind the leader in class. She got a run to make the pass into turn one and take the class lead, running 10th overall. Grisham was able to follow her through and slotted into 11th overall, and fourth in the Silver class.

For the next several laps, Hayes and Grisham raced closely and cleanly. The two Shift Up Now Athletes were knew they weren’t racing each other in class, but aware that Grisham was aiming to advance further up the field overall while Hayes maintained her lead buffer.

On the penultimate lap, the car in front of Hayes spun at the bottom of the corkscrew. She narrowly avoided contact and a loss of momentum while holding her position in the lead of the class.

In the first turn of the final lap, Grisham ran slightly wide, allowing the second place in Hayes’ class through and onto her tail for a last-lap showdown for the win. Hayes withstood the pressure and crossed the line as the victor, finishing ninth overall, and just 0.4 seconds ahead of second place.

“I’m really happy to wrap up our SRO season with the win,” said Hayes. “We know we’ve had the potential to bring home victory many times this season, so the validation felt great. We’ve learned a number of lessons along the way and I’m excited to take that into next year.

“I’d like to send a big thank you to the TBR crew, Oore Jewelry, Shift Up Now, and everyone who kept fighting alongside Allen and I. We can’t wait for the 2026 season!”

The season finale for Pirelli GT4 America is next on the calendar as the series heads to the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for rounds 12 and 13, on October 16-19, 2025.

Second-Place Podium for Carter in TC America Debut at Barber

Shift Up Now Athlete Alana Carter earned a second-place finish during her SRO debut driving for Ricca Autosport in Touring Car America powered by Skip Barber Racing School. Rounds 12, 13 and 14 of the championship took place at Barber Motorsports Park on September 4-7, 2025.

Driving the No. 74 Hyundai Elantra N1 TC EVO, Carter was returning to the 2.38-mile, 17-turn road course for the second time this year. In February, she raced in the World Racing League (WRL) with AE Victory Racing, after winning the team’s annual shootout. In July and August, the 26-year-old driver then showcased her versatility by competing in four different cars and series - Toyota GR86, Toyota Supra GT4, Dirt Track Late Model and running in the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto Grand Prix in the Emzone Radical Cup Canada.

With no testing ahead of the event, Carter hit the track for the first time on Thursday for two practice sessions. She used her time wisely to get up to speed with her new car and team.

Friday’s track schedule was packed with qualifying and two the first two 25-minute races. After qualifying, Carter noted that she was thrilled with the fourth-fastest time in her best session of the weekend so far.

This put her on the outside of row two for the start of the race one. The field ran two-by-two toward the drop of the green flag at 12:10pm CST. Carter had a strong start for her TC America debut race, keeping pace in turn one and then setting herself up on the inside for a pass in turn two. By the end of the first lap, she had advanced to second place.

For most of the competition, Carter’s teammate kept the pressure on, threatening passes for her position, but she created separation in the last part of the race and crossed the finish line in second place. Her podium finished also awarded her the top-finishing Hyundai.

“My first weekend in TC America with Ricca Autosport was nothing short of incredible," said Carter. "I had three very different races but all were fun and brought their own unique challenges, plus it was awesome to take home some hardware. Ricca Autosport was such a dream to work with and I’m so grateful to them and Hyundai for this opportunity."

Later that day, race two began at 4:50pm CST. Near the start of the 25-minute competition, Carter had contact with another car, causing her to lose a couple positions. When the checkered flag fell, she brought home a sixth-place finish.

On Saturday morning, race three began at 11:10am CST, and Carter was aiming for redemption after her finish in race two. Just like the first race, she was lined up on the outside of the second row for the two-by-two start.

She had another strong start but was unable to gain positions this time, despite running side- by-side multiple times during the first lap. In a reversal of race one, Carter was the one on the attack, focused on passing the car ahead for position.

Carter then set the second fastest lap of the race as she put the car ahead under pressure and looked to pass. Despite several attempts, she ceded to her fourth-place spot as rain began to fall with 10 minutes left in the competition.

When the light rainfall turned to a downpour, the entire field struggled on dry-weather tires. Even in the tricky conditions, Carter was able to maintain a pace similar to her experienced teammate and finished in fourth place, earning her third place in the Hyundai Trophy Cup.

In three weeks, Carter will be on track again in Utah, competing for AE Victory Racing again in the Mid/West Championship Finale of WRL at Utah Motorsports Campus on September 26-28, 2025.

Victory for Unser in Thrilling Triple-Header Weekend at Watkins Glen

Shift Up Now Athlete Loni Unser earned her first win on Saturday during round six of the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama championship, at Watkins Glen International Raceway on August 29-31, 2025.

Fellow Shift Up Now Athlete Erika Hoffmann also made her return to the cockpit at Watkins Glen after missing the previous event due to a lack of funding.

The unique weekend featured two regularly-scheduled sprint races on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, plus an additional make-up race on Sunday afternoon. The third race was the result of a rained-out event during the previous race weekend at Road America.

Both Shift Up Now Athletes Athletes competed in the ProAm class for Kellymoss Racing in Cayman GT4 RS cars. Unser drove the purple No. 4 “Be Your Own Hero” car, with Hoffmann behind the wheel of the No. 21 entry.

The 3.4-mile, 11-turn race track was damp but drying during the first practice on Friday, which meant some of the competitors opted not to run. Despite the tricky conditions, Unser and Hoffmann both went out, and Unser topped the scoring charts.

Later that day, the track had dried for the second practice session and Hoffmann took the spotlight when she recorded the second-fastest time.

Qualifying took place on Saturday morning with cool track conditions, which caused several drivers to make mistakes. The resulting red flags created a disjointed session, where drivers essentially had time for two flying laps to set their starting positions for both races.

For race one, Unser would start third with Hoffmann in seventh. Then for the second, Unser would start in second and Hoffmann in eighth.

Later that day, cool conditions continued for the start of race one at 12:55pm ET. Unser was lined up on the inside of row two, with Hoffmann two rows back on the inside of row four, for the 35-minutes-plus-one-lap competition.

After two pace laps, the field ran side-by-side to the green flag. Unser had an impressive start, tucking in behind the pole sitter, and then making the pass for second as they approached turn one. Hoffmann also had a solid start, advancing from seventh to sixth through the first turn.

By the end of lap one, Unser and the leader pulled away from the rest of the field, already creating a 1.5-second gap. Then on the second lap, Unser set the fastest lap of the race so far as she chased down the leader, where she would stay within a half-second as the laps ticked by.

Meanwhile, Hoffmann was involved in a turn-one incident with another car, stalling her momentum and dropping her back to ninth. She stayed focused forward and advanced back to eighth overall. With her sights set on the seventh-place - third in class - position, she attempted the pass but was given a drive-through penalty for incident responsibility, dropping her to the back of the pack. She would ultimately recover to finish 11th overall.

With ten minutes remaining, Unser was still running within a second of the leader. A full-course yellow emerged with five minutes on the clock, and after a quick cleanup, race control opted for a one-lap shootout under green.

The pace car’s lights went out with the field running single-file behind. Unser left no doubt about her intentions as she clung to the leader’s bumper. When the green flag fell, the lead car went early on the way to the final corner but Unser got the better exit out of turn one. She then had a strong run through the esses and picked up a tow heading up the hill, allowing her to pop to the inside, and make the pass to take the lead at the bus stop. She crossed the finish line as the victor, earning her first Porsche Sprint Challenge win.

“I am extremely proud to have brought home the win last weekend in the “Be Your Own Hero” livery. Myself and the whole Kellymoss team have worked so hard for this, and to do it at a historic track with my Dad by my side was extremely special. Ultimately, I couldn’t have done with without my incredible team, Kellymoss Racing and group of partners supporting me- SpeedwayMotors, Acumatica, Mobil 1, SVA Consulting, Shift Up Now, Yokohama Tire, CVSTOS and Sabelt!”

On Sunday morning, the second sprint race began at 8:30am ET under clear skies and cool conditions. This time, Unser was on the outside of the front row with Hoffmann on the outside of row four.

After the green flag, the lead cars went three-wide into turn one, forcing Unser to check up and dropping her back to third. She then spent the next 30 minutes pressuring the car ahead and maintaining just a half-second gap.

Meanwhile, Hoffmann held her position in eighth overall, and fourth in class.

Then, almost exactly like the day before, a full-course yellow flew with five minutes remaining. And after another quick cleanup, the field readied for a one-lap shootout under green. The leaders ran nose-to-tail through the bus stop.

Unser had a solid run through the boot and pulled alongside the car ahead on the outside heading into turn eight. They ran side-by-side with Unser on the outside for the second-place spot. When she couldn’t make it stick, she slotted back into the final podium position as they crossed the finish line.

Hoffmann was able to gain a position in the overall standings to finish seventh at the checkered flag, and fourth in class.

Later that afternoon, the rescheduled Road America race began at 12:30pm ET. Because Hoffmann had not participated in the previous event’s competition, she was not allowed to run the make-up race.

Unser lined up on the outside of the front row in the 70-degree weather under clear, blue skies. When the green flag flew, she had a powerful start but braked late into turn one. She and the leader ran side-by-side into the corner, where she held the outside but didn’t get the same drive on the exit, so she settled back into second place as the field headed toward the esses.

At the halfway point of the competition, Unser was running about a second behind the lead car. By the time only ten minutes were left, she had closed the gap to roughly half-second, before she began to apply pressure for the lead.

In the dirty air, she reduced the lead to only two-tenths of a second as the clock showed five minutes remaining. Unser got a run heading to the bus stop, forcing the leader to defend. She kept on his bumper coming off the toe of the boot, into turn eight, and for the full next lap. On the final lap of the race, she made another big run into the esses, right on the tail of the leader as they drove through the carousel, but couldn’t quite make the pass. They crossed the line with Unser in second, just four-tenths away from a second weekend victory.

Next up, Unser and Hoffmann head to Braselton, Georgia for the seventh and final round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama championship at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on September 12-14, 2025.

Mott Keeps “Top Finishing Female” Streak Alive in MX-5 Cup at VIR

Shift Up Now Athletes Sally Mott and Ashlyn Speed competed in rounds 11 and 12 of the 2025 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin at VIRginia International Raceway on August 22-24, 205.

Both Athletes recently earned the “Top Finishing Female” award during the recent Mazda race weekend at Mosport, and at VIR, Mott continued the streak with an 11th-place finish. Driving the No. 15 Iron Dames inspired livery for JTR Engineering, Mott is a Collision Careers supported athlete.

The race weekend began on Friday with two practice sessions, and was Speed’s first time on the 3.27-mile, 16-turn track. She piloted the No. 31 Whelen Engineering entry for Hendricks Motorsport.

Both practice sessions were chaotic, with an abundance of red flags that limited the amount of laps turned. As a result, Speed ran just six total laps before it was time to prepare for the following morning’s qualifying.

On Saturday, the red-flag theme continued. Before most of the 33-car field had a chance to record a flying lap, an incident and subsequent cleanup created a one-lap shootout at the end of the session.

Despite a strong lap for Mott, traffic in the final corners cost her significantly, leaving her with a 21st-place spot on the starting grid for race one. Speed suffered a similar fate, only getting to run a few laps and qualifying 26th.

Later that day, the first 45-minute race began at 5:50pm ET. After the qualifying incident, 31 cars would start the competition. Following one pace lap, the field lined up two by two for the start, with Mott on the inside of row 11 and Speed on the outside of row 13.

Mott made a good start, staying toward the inside as the field fanned out four-wide into turn one. Then, as the track switched back to the left for the NASCAR bend, she slotted in line and kept to the inside, emerging in 18th place after the first few corners.

Before the end of the first lap, a full-course yellow emerged, and after a short cleanup, Mott was immediately back to progressing through the field. During the short green flag before another yellow, she advanced to 15th.

Twenty minutes remained after the second yellow cleanup. This time, Mott got shuffled back a few spots on the restart, but maintained her spot in the lead pack as it broke away from the rest of the field. Over the next 15 minutes, she took advantage of opportunities that advanced her up to 12th place.

The final yellow flag flew with five minutes left in the race, and race control opted to throw the white flag with the double yellow flags, meaning the field would end the race on the next lap, under caution.

Mott’s 12th place made her the “Top Finishing Female,” and she advanced an additional spot to 11th after a post-race penalty was assessed to one of her competitors. In addition, her fastest lap in race one gave her an eighth-place starting position for the second race.

“I feel like I really improved my pace, mindset, race craft and aggressiveness on track,” said Mott. “I stood my ground and made up ten positions. I’m proud of my race, but not fully satisfied with the result. Every race still feels like drinking from a fire hose - I’ve got a lot to learn, but I’m getting better each time out.”

Meanwhile, Speed set her personal-best lap times of the weekend and had a strong run, advancing nine spots to finish in 17th.

On Sunday morning, race two began at 10:40am ET under bright, sunny skies. Mott started on the outside of row four, and Speed on the outside of row 13.

During the pace lap, Mott’s tire started going flat, causing her to lose the ABS before the first turn on the first lap. When the field went four-wide into turn one, contact with another car sent her into the right side of the track. The contact was reviewed and deemed to be a racing incident, but Mott was forced to retire from the race.

Speed also got caught up in the chaos when the incident in the front caused an accordion effect throughout the field. She was assessed a penalty for contact, but safety car periods allowed her to recover to the back of the pack. She made her way back to 21st before the checkered flag fell.

Next up, the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Series heads to Braselton, GA for rounds 13 and 14 of the championship, at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on October 8-10, 2025.

AE Victory Racing Earns First All-Female Driver GTO Podiums in WRL History

Shift Up Now Athletes Sarah Montgomery, Ashley Freiberg and Alana Carter made history by becoming the first-ever, all-female team to earn a World Racing League (WRL) GTO podium on Saturday, and then backed it up with another on Sunday, competing for AE Victory Racing (AEVR) in the GTO class at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on July 25-27, 2025.

Freiberg recently joined Montgomery and Carter - the team’s full-season drivers - to fill in for team owner Erin Vogel, who is expecting a child this December with fiancé and team co- founder, Aaron Snair.

Driving the No. 119 Toyota Supra GT4 EVO2, the trio prepared for one of the most competitive weekends on the WRL schedule. Road Atlanta features “the short lap” and intense Georgia heat, with temperatures in the 90s and high humidity. Drivers need the mental toughness for the adverse conditions on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn road course, where setup and running clean through traffic are critical.

The race weekend began on Thursday with a “Max Track Time” event, where all three drivers got seat time and felt optimistic about the following day’s qualifying.

Qualifying for the sixth round of the 2025 championship took place on Friday. In one of the tightest fields of the season to date, the fifth-through-12th qualifying spots in the GTO class were separated by less than half a second. After qualifying 11th in class and 20th overall on Yokohama tires with a 1:32.2 lap time, the AEVR team would start the first endurance race on the inside of row six.

On Saturday, track conditions were greasy and slick at 9:00am EST as the field prepared for the start of a physically-demanding eight-hour race under clear skies and rising heat. Montgomery took the first two-hour stint, navigating early full-course cautions and a red flag within the first hour, and gaining six spots to move the team into fifth.

Next up, Carter was behind the wheel and advanced the Supra to third in class before handing the car over to Freiberg just before noon. Just after the halfway point, Freiberg had taken over the lead. After various pit-stop strategies and cycles, the checkered flag fell with the trio earning a third-place finish - their first podium of the 2025 season - and hungry for a repeat performance the following day.

On Sunday, brutal heat continued to challenge the drivers, with the two-hour mandatory break offering much-needed relief from the seven-hour competition. Just like the day prior, Montgomery took the wheel first, and completed a 90-minute stint. Throughout the day, she, Freiberg and Carter would take part in some of the most competitive racing of the season to date, making the race even more physically demanding.

During the harsh afternoon heat, Montgomery managed the longest stint of the day at a full two hours, and the AEVR team opted to enlist the help of an additional driver. Another Shift Up Now Athlete - Laura Hayes from Thunder Bunny Racing - happened to be on the timing stand for the weekend, helping the team with strategy. Hayes took a one-hour stint to offer some relief for the AEVR lineup before relinquishing the car to Carter to finish the grueling competition.

Carter rose to the challenge, crossing the finish line in second for the team’s history-making, second consecutive podium finish.

“This weekend was an every-emotion weekend,” said Montgomery. “It was incredible to see us on the podium for both races after knowing the hard work everyone has put into this. The heat was strenuous but every single person on the team was able to push through as we crave victory. I’m grateful to be a part of this team and am looking forward to getting the win soon!”

Team owner Erin Vogel added, “This weekend is both the culmination of two years of effort and also the beginning of so much more success. We've been building a program and a team since 2023, and honing in on what it takes to make a positive environment for both driver and team development. The strength of effort from everyone that's been involved over the past two years has been inspiring, and there are more people to thank for our arrival here than I can list in one acknowledgement - just know how much I love and appreciate you all!”

Next up, the World Racing League heads to Colorado for the seventh round of the 2025 championship, at High Plains Raceway on August 29-31, 2025.

Local Indianapolis Companies Lucas Oil and West Fork Whiskey Step Up as Sponsors for “A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation”

The Shift Up Now Foundation is honored to announce that Lucas Oil and West Fork Whiskey have come on board for the second-annual “A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation” presented by PenFed Credit Union and Tom Wood Porsche, taking place on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at the Tom Wood Aviation Hangar and event space at the Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport in Fishers, IN.

Lucas Oil has stepped up as a Gold-level event sponsor, and will be offering a match for the first $5,000 raised from the event. Founded in 1989, Lucas Oil Products, Inc. is an American manufacturer and distributor of automotive oil, additives and lubricants. Recently named a 2025 Culture of Good Community Impact Award Winner, Lucas Oil is known in Indianapolis for both their philanthropic and racing efforts.

Now in its third year of partnership with Shift Up Now, Lucas Oil has been a consistent sponsor of the Indianapolis 500 for more than 20 years. Shift Up Now CEO Pippa Mann first began collaborating with the iconic company more than a decade ago when she was driving in the Indy Lights series (now called Indy NXT).

“We are so proud to continue our support of the Shift Up Now Foundation and be part of an event that’s making a real difference for women in motorsports,” said Katie Lucas, President of Lucas Oil. “This cause is close to our hearts—not just because of our deep roots in racing, but because we believe in creating real opportunities for talented athletes who deserve a shot. Watching what Pippa and the Foundation are building is incredibly inspiring, and we’re honored to play a small part in growing and helping the next generation of female racers chase their dreams.”

West Fork Whiskey, a company that loves both motorsports and its Indianapolis hometown roots, will be the official whiskey partner for A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation. Founded in 2015 by three Indiana natives - two brothers and a childhood friend - West Fork Whiskey is “hell-bent on creating great whiskey.” Every drop of their crown-jewel product, Old Hamer whiskey, is distilled, aged, blended and bottled in Indiana - a true embodiment of the state's spirit.

West Fork Whiskey will be available throughout the evening at A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation. VIP guests will also enjoy a West Fork Whiskey welcome cocktail, curated by Cunningham Group, during the VIP reception from 6-7pm.

“We’re proud to support the Shift Up Now Foundation and be part of an event that’s pushing the future of motorsports forward,” said Alex Schmitt Partnership and Community Engagement Coordinator, West Fork Whiskey co. “At West Fork, we believe in backing those who break barriers and that’s exactly what this night is about. As a locally founded company with deep ties

to racing and Indiana, we’re excited to raise a glass with our community and help drive real impact.”

The goal of the second annual “A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation” event is to raise funding for Shift Up Now Foundation grantees for the 2026 season. Last year, the inaugural event raised more than $80,000. These grants 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.

Shift Up Now CEO Pippa Mann commented, “As we build on the success of our inaugural event in 2024, I’m thrilled to see support for the 2025 Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation presented by PenFed and Tom Wood Porsche continue to grow. I love that we have these local Indianapolis brands stepping up to help us elevate the event, and take our fundraising to the next level.

I’m delighted that we’re welcoming back Lucas Oil for their third year supporting the Shift Up Now Foundation, and I’m so glad that ‘local whiskey made me do it’ as we welcome West Fork Whiskey for the first time.”

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for companies and brands that want to support the Shift Up Now Foundation and its mission. Please reach out to foundation@ShiftUpNow.org to learn more.

Guests have two ticket options, starting at $150 or upgrading to VIP for $250 to attend an early-entrance cocktail hour beginning at 6:00pm. Members of The Inside Track by Shift Up Now can log into the dashboard to get a $25 discount. More event details and ticket purchasing can be found by clicking HERE.