A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation Raises More Than $100,000 in Grants for Female Racers

The Shift Up Now Foundation is thrilled to announce that its second-annual, in-person fundraising event - A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation presented by PenFed Credit Union and Tom Wood Porsche - raised just over $100,000.

More than 175 people showed up to the Tom Wood Aviation Hangar in Fishers, IN, for an unforgettable evening with an electric feeling in the air. Surrounded by race cars and airplanes, guests were treated to amazing food catered by Cunningham Restaurant Group and craft cocktails from Simplicity Cocktails, while listening to live music from local artist Kenna Loren and panels featuring Shift Up Now Foundation grantees and other special guests.

The event also included a massive assortment of silent auction items, in addition to a diamond pull from Master Jewelers and high-end whiskey raffle from West Fork Whiskey.

The best part about A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation was that the entire event was focused on the Shift Up Now mission: Providing opportunities to female 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 2024, the inaugural “A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation” raised more than $80,000, which went toward grants for the 2025 season. The Athletes made full use of the help they were given, winning races, podiums, pole positions and championships.

Not only did this year’s event exceed expectations by raising more than $100,000 - including just over $20,000 from silent auction items - the Shift Up Now Foundation is honored to announce that co-title sponsor PenFed Credit Union has committed to return for 2026.

PenFed Credit Union President/CEO James Schenck commented, “PenFed is honored to stand alongside the extraordinary women who are trailblazers in motorsports. Their drive, talent, and determination set new standards of excellence and inspire others to pursue greatness. By continuing our support, we help pave the way for these remarkable athletes to break barriers and redefine what is possible in racing, while encouraging the next generation to follow in their footsteps and champion excellence in all they do.”

Shift Up Now CEO Pippa Mann added, “As I take a moment to reflect on this year’s ‘A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation,’ there are so many people to thank who made it possible. From our co-title sponsors - PenFed Credit Union and Tom Wood Porsche - to our friends in motorsport - M1 Concourse, Lucas Oil, Mazda Motorsports and Polaris Talent - to our event committee, RB Consulting, and all of the other amazing donors and sponsors.

“I also want to thank everyone who attended, bid in our silent auction, volunteered or participated in whatever way they could to help us make our first event of this scale so special.

“Thank you also to Tom Wood Porsche for providing such a unique event location at the Aviation Hangar, to Cunningham Restaurant Group for the delicious catered food, and West Fork Whisky, Simplicity Cocktails, Alma de Agave Tequile and Lemba Rum for the amazing cocktails. We loved seeing everyone turn out in their favorite shades of blue as we celebrated, and raised funds for the next generation of talented female racers.”

A photo album recapping the evening is now available for viewing HERE.

For those that missed the event or simply want to be involved in joining the Shift Up Now mission moving forward, you’re invited to make a donation at www.ShiftUpNow.org.

In addition, sponsorship options are already open for the 2026 event. This is a great opportunity for businesses to network, build brand awareness while supporting a worthy cause at the same time. Please reach out to foundation@ShiftUpNow.org to learn more.

Pair of Top Ten Finishes for “The Hannahs” in Season Finale at Indianapolis

Shift Up Now Athletes Hannah Greenemeier and Hannah Grisham earned back-to-back seventh-place finishes overall during the season finale of Pirelli GT4 America at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on October 16-19, 2025.

Driving the No. 26 navy blue and yellow Aston Martin GT4 for the Heart of Racing Team, Greenemeier and Grisham took to the track Thursday for two practice sessions. They ran in the top 15 for the first, then bested their performance by moving into the top ten for the second.

Friday’s qualifying took place at 2:45pm ET under sunny skies, with temperatures in the mid- seventies. Both of the Hannahs set personal-best times on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course. Greenemeier was behind the wheel first, qualifying ninth overall for the start of race one. Then Grisham, who previously won her first race in class at IMS for Heart of Racing, took over and qualified seventh overall for the second race.

Saturday morning dawned cool and sunny for the start of the first one-hour competition. Greenemeier lined up on the inside of row five, and rolled side-by-side with the field to the green flag, which flew at 9:50am ET.

Heading into turn one, Greenemeier got squeezed but kept the car clean when a large, multi- car incident in the first turn brought out the full-course caution. Cleanup was lengthy, leaving 36 minutes on the clock at the restart.

Greenemeier was in 11th when the green flag flew again and had a clean restart, immediately completing the pass to move into the top ten. She then went straight to pit lane for the mandatory pit stop and driver change.

Grisham took over and cycled up to ninth overall after the field’s pit stops were completed. She spent the rest of the competition setting fast times and making additional passes to bring the Heart of Racing Aston GT4 home in seventh-place in the Pro Class - and overall - at the checkered flag.

On Sunday morning, the weather painted a completely different picture. A torrential rain swept through the area before the race, leaving a wet race track in its wake. When race two began at 9:45am ET, overcast skies and windy condition remained for the one-hour competition.

All cars went out on wet tires, and after one pace lap, race control elected to start the field behind the safety car due to standing water on track and poor visibility. Grisham was behind the wheel for the single-file start, running in seventh.

She held position through the first few corners as substantial “rooster tails” from the leaders severely limited visibility for the rest of the field. Grisham did her best with the tricky conditions

for the first half of the race, then advanced a few spots when the team elected to leave her on track past the opening of the pit window. As a result, she pulled into pit lane in fifth for the mandatory pit stop and driver change.

Greenemeier took the wheel as the racing line began to dry for the second half of the race. Once the cars all cycled through after the pit stop, Greenemeier was running seventh overall, and fifth in class. By the time the checkered flag flew, she crossed the finish line in seventh overall, and fourth in class, just one place off the podium to close out the season.

"It was a good weekend in Indianapolis, we had some of our strongest pace of the season," said Grisham. "Sunday made for an interesting race in mixed conditions and saw us finish one step short of the podium. Overall, our first year competing in the silver class has been a challenge, but a great learning experience. Huge thank you to The Heart of Racing and everyone who makes it possible for us to race."

The 2026 Pirelli GT4 America schedule kicks off in just 156 short days, when the series heads to Sonoma Raceway for rounds one and two on March 27-29, 2026.

Podium Finish Skyrockets AE Victory Racing to Third in WRL Championship

Shift Up Now Athletes Sarah Montgomery and Ashley Freiberg, together with teammate Charlotte Traynor, earned a third-place finish for AE Victory Racing (AEVR) to claim the final podium spot in the GTO class during race one of the World Racing League (WRL) weekend at Watkins Glen International Raceway on October 17-19, 2025.

The Watkins Glen event followed a history-making weekend at Utah Motorsports Campus, where the AEVR team earned the first all-female victory in the WRL GTO class, and were anxious to continue their championship bid. Fellow Shift Up Now Athlete Laura Hayes was also on the team’s timing stand once again, lending strategic expertise to dial in the car for the weekend.

Driving the No. 119 Toyota Supra GT4, Montgomery, Freiberg and Traynor ran in two of the three practice sessions on Friday morning before qualifying later that afternoon.

Temperatures for the qualifying session were the coldest of the season to date. However, despite the challenging conditions and a competitive field, Freiberg’s run on the 3.4-mile, 11- turn road course earned the team an eighth-place starting position for the first race.

Saturday’s eight-hour competition began at 9:00am ET with Freiberg behind the wheel for a three-hour stint, starting on the outside of row four. Heavy rain and incidents early on in the race made her stint chaotic, but she managed to keep the car clean before handing it over to Montgomery mid-day for a triple stint.

Two hours remained when 19-year-old development driver Traynor took the wheel to close out the competition. Her training paid off when she laid down the team’s fastest lap of the day - a 2:01.8 - and brought the car home third in class.

The following morning, Freiberg was behind the wheel again to start Sunday’s seven-hour race. This time, the AEVR team was starting from 11th place after several competitors were sidelined due to incidents from the previous day’s race.

After a solid two-hour stint, Freiberg was running fourth in class when it came time to hand the car to Traynor, who also completed a consistent and focused stint. Finally, Montgomery took the wheel to close out the race with approximately two hours left.

When the team executed a flawless pit stop, the No. 119 Supra advanced from third to second, as the trio anticipated an even better podium finish. However, when a sensor issue forced the car back to pit lane and then the garage for diagnostic checks, the team was forced to retire from the race.

When reflecting on the weekend after Sunday’s race, Montgomery noted, “Saturday was a great race in which everyone worked really hard, and today we were set up to have even better success. Unfortunately with the mechanical issue, we weren’t able to finish it up but I’m immensely proud of our development driver Charlotte, and the whole team for working so hard. It was a great weekend.”

Freiberg agreed, adding, “I’m super pumped for the team with our consistent podium finishes! Everyone executed really well. It was a bummer to have to pull out of the race on Sunday, but I know we will come back in COTA [Circuit of the Americas] stronger!”

Despite the bad luck in race two, AEVR currently sits third in the WRL National Championship standings. Shift Up Now Athlete and AEVR team owner Erin Vogel said, “This weekend really showed how far we’ve come as a team. Our drivers, coaches, and crew executed with professionalism and heart. To see AE Victory Racing move up to third in the national championship standings, even if that may change since we don’t plan to run Sebring, is an incredible achievement. I’m so proud of every single person who helped get us here. It’s a reflection of our hard work, and belief in each other.”

Next up, AEVR heads to Del Valle, TX for the World Racing League National Championship finale at Circuit of the Americas on December 5-7, 2025.

Cook Ends Porsche Carrera Cup Season with Lucky Sevens at COTA

Shift Up Now Athlete Sabré Cook had a season-best weekend with back-to-back seventh-place finishes in the finale weekend of Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by PenFed Credit Union at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on October 17-19, 2025.

Cook, a Hagerty-supported racer, piloted the No. 37 PenFed / privé 992 Porsche Cup Car for JDX Racing in the Pro Class.

Formula 1 headlined the weekend, which allowed just one practice session for the Porsche Carrera Cup drivers on Friday, before going straight into qualifying on Saturday. Cook ran in the top 15 for practice on the 3.426-mile, 20-turn race track.

Qualifying began at 9:45am CST on Saturday under sunny skies. Cooler temperatures provided optimal track conditions for the 30-minute session. When nearly the entire field set personal- best lap times, Cook rose to the challenge and posted the ninth-fastest time on her Yokohama tires, putting her on the inside of row five for race one.

Despite a short red flag for a car off track, Cook’s second-fastest lap was eighth-quickest of the session, so she would start race two on the outside of row four.

Later that afternoon, the Porsche Carrera Cup field was lined up for the first 35-minute race under bright blue skies with hot track temperatures. After one pace lap, they rolled two-by-two to the start.

Cook held her ninth-place spot on the inside through the notoriously-tight pinch point at turn one, and the field came through cleanly.

For the first 30 minutes of the race, green-flag racing ensued. Then, with just five minutes remaining, a single-car incident brought out the full-course yellow. Despite race officials’ best efforts, the competition ended under yellow, with Cook crossing the line in ninth. Post-race penalties were assessed to two of her competitors, advancing her to seventh.

On Sunday morning, race two brought gusty wind conditions, and drivers anticipated a challenging tail wind down the front straight and into turn one.

Cook was lined up on the outside of row four for the 35-minute race. After one pace lap, the field ran side-by-side to the green flag. The expected tail wind caused higher top speeds and an earlier brake point for turn one, but Cook had a strong start and advanced around the outside.

In the melee of the first few corners, she dropped back to ninth but stayed focused on making the pass for eighth. In a bold, side-by-side move that put her on the inside for several corners, she was able to complete the pass.

By just the second lap, she had made another pass to run in seventh. From that point forward, she defended her position, swapping places several times with the car behind. She crossed the finish line in eighth but was once again awarded a position after post-race penalties were assessed. This gave Cook her second consecutive seventh-place finish to cap off her best weekend of the season.

“I’m really pleased to end the Porsche Carrera Cup North America season on a high note,” said Cook. “Having our best qualifying yet really set us up for success, and it paid off with two solid results. The close racing was so much fun - I only wish we had more coming up!

“I’m so grateful for everyone that has supported my program this year. I couldn’t have done it without so many incredible people and companies behind me.”

The 2026 Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by PenFed Credit Union schedule has not yet been announced. More information will be released soon at www.PorscheCarreraCup.us.

Back-to-Back “Top Finishing Female” Races for Mott at Road Atlanta

Shift Up Now Athlete Sally Mott earned two consecutive “Top Finishing Female” awards when she finished 13th then 12th in rounds 13 and 14 of the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on October 9-10, 2025.

Fellow Shift Up Now Athlete Ashlyn Speed was out due to a concussion, while AE Victory Racing driver Charlotte Traynor was making her third start in the Mazda MX-5 Cup series at Road Atlanta.

In addition to being the final rounds of the points-paying season for MX-5 Cup, the weekend featured Petit Le Mans on Saturday. As a result, Mott and the rest of the 31-car field had two sessions on Wednesday, followed by qualifying and race one on Thursday, and race two on Friday.

Driving the No. 15 pink Iron Dames livery for JTR Motorsports Engineering, Mott is a Collision Careers supported athlete. Collision Careers was on site in the Fan Zone at Road Atlanta, giving Mott the chance to meet her fans and educate them about careers in collision repair.

On Wednesday, track conditions were damp for the morning practice but dry later that afternoon. Mott ran in the top 20 for both sessions on the 2.54-mile, 12 turn natural terrain road course.

Qualifying began at 8:00am ET on Thursday. A pair of red flags plagued the session, with several calls missing the maximum lap time by running slow laps as they looked for a tow. Mott qualified 13th, earning her fourth top-15 qualifying in the last five races.

That afternoon, the first 45-minute race began at 2:10pm ET. Because of the melee in that morning’s qualifying, several of the fastest cars were starting from the back. Mott was lined up on the inside of row seven, and ran two-by-two with the field to the green flag.

Just a few minutes into the race, the top 15 began to break away from the rest of the pack as Mott set her sights on the 12th-place car ahead. When a mid-pack car suddenly spun and sent a competitor into the concrete wall between turns five and six, a full-course yellow emerged.

Thirty-two minutes remained after the cleanup and the field ran single-file on the restart. Mott maintained her 13th-place spot, running with the front pack. As the field approached turn six, she was hung out to dry on the outside and dropped back to 16th.

Shortly thereafter, she made a pass to claim the 15th-place spot and was promoted to 14th after a contact penalty was assessed to a car ahead. Then with five minutes to go, she lost a tow from the front pack and crossed the finish line in 14th. An incident at the checkered flag

caused another penalty, moving Mott up to 13th and continuing her top-finishing female streak.

The following morning, race two began at 9:35am ET. Mott started on the outside of row 10 under sunny skies with cool track temperatures. After two formation laps, the field had a clean start and Mott moved up to 18th by the end of the first lap.

Just one lap later, she had gained two additional positions, running in 16th and focused on making a pass for 15th, which she accomplished a couple laps later.

With 30 minutes remaining in the 45-minute competition, the car ahead of Mott spun on the high-speed Road Atlanta esses. She was able to avoid major contact and continue, but during the ensuing full-course caution, she had to assess the damage from the impact to the right front of her race car.

The cleanup was lengthy and left only 19 minutes at the restart. Mott had advanced to 12th place and took off with the lead pack, gaining an additional spot by the end of the first lap.

Another incident brought out the full-course caution again with eight minutes left in the race. Then when just over a minute remained on the restart, the green and white flags flew together.

Mott was forced to defend into turn one but held her spot in the top ten all the way to turn ten. As the field went into the chicane on the final lap, she was shuffled back to her 12th-place finishing position, still claiming yet another top-finishing female award.

The finish also put her 12th overall in the 2025 points standings for her sophomore season in the Mazda MX-5 Cup.

“My second year in the Mazda MX-5 Cup has been such a valuable step in my growth as a driver,” said Mott. “I’ve really refined my race craft and car control, and I feel so much more confident and composed behind the wheel, compared to my rookie season. It’s amazing to see how far I’ve come in just two years competing in this series.

“None of it would have been possible without the incredible support from my partners - Coble Commercial Properties, Collision Careers, AE Victory Racing, Shift Up Now, the Shift Up Now Foundation, and everyone who’s believed in me this season.”

The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin series has one final, non-points race to finish the season, taking place at Martinsville Speedway - a 0.526-mile oval in Martinsville, VA - on October 23, 2025.

Hayes Wins Inaugural Ladies Race of Champions at American Speed Festival

Shift Up Now Athletes Laura Hayes, Pippa Mann, Taylor Ferns and Megan Meyer competed in the inaugural Ladies Race of Champions (LROC) - with Hayes bringing home the victory - at the fifth-annual American Speed Festival at M1 Concourse (Pontiac, MI) on October 4-5, 2025.

The LROC was part of a new, multi-event partnership between M1 Concourse and the Shift Up Now Foundation, culminating on October 25th with the foundation’s second-annual fundraising event, “A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation.” In addition, Hayes was awarded $10,000 for her victory, which goes directly to the mission of providing funding and opportunities for talented female racers.

Fellow Shift Up Now Athlete Loni Unser was also invited to participate but had to withdraw due to illness.

The competition consisted of four 20-minute sessions, pitting the racers from various disciplines against the clock. Hayes’ portfolio includes SRO GT4 America and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, where she was named the “fastest woman up the mountain.” In addition to being a seven-time Indianapolis 500 competitor, Mann has also raced the Nurburgring 24H and Barcelona 24H. Ferns has competed in Short Track Midget and Sprint cars, and Meyer is a drag racing specialist.

With support from Team Stradale, the Athletes competed on a 1.5-mile, 10-turn road course in Radical SR3 race cars. The ultra-light construction and aerodynamics of the Radical SR3 allow it to pull more than two Gs of lateral grip, and deliver an exceptional power-to-weight punch.

The four sessions of competition took place over two days, with Saturday’s schedule featuring sessions one and two, followed by three and four on Sunday.

Hayes immediately set the pace in session one on Saturday morning. Having run against other American Speed Festival entries with much higher horsepower outputs, she made a statement early by posting one of the fastest times of the weekend to that point. Mann was right on her heels, while Ferns and Meyer worked to learn the course and the Radical race cars, honing their road course technique and gaining speed with each lap.

Later that afternoon, warmer weather and higher track temperatures made for more challenging race conditions, but Hayes wasn’t phased as she bettered her time from the first session. Once again, Mann was second-quickest, with Ferns and Meyer showing continuous improvements.

On Sunday morning, the quad of Shift Up Now Athletes hit the track again, with Hayes leading the charge in LROC, and running second-fastest overall. Coupled with Mann’s second-place LROC run, the two secured the top two podium spots for the weekend. However, Ferns and Meyer continued to gain confidence with each lap, battling for position and leaving the final podium spot up for contention going into the final round.

Sunday afternoon featured the fourth and final session, under light cloud cover. Hayes led the pack, matching her time from the morning session and just shy of her best lap of the weekend. Meanwhile, Mann ran her best laps of the weekend in the Radical, closing the gap to just 0.5 seconds between her and Hayes. Ferns and Meyer also had their best runs of the weekend, with each dropping another second from their previous personal-best times, set earlier that day.

For Hayes, fresh of a GT4 America win less than a month ago, the dominant weekend proved just how versatile she truly is.

“I can’t say enough about the incredible experience I had with my Shift Up Now sisters at the M1 Concourse Club,” said Hayes. “We had an absolute blast driving the Radical SR3s - learning, finding speed and enjoying such a fun platform.

“I want to give a huge thank you to Team Stradale for a first-class experience. Also, thank you to Iris Frase for the inception of the inaugural LROC event, and to Paul [Zlotoff] and his team at M1 for their warm hospitality, and support of the Shift Up Now mission. This was so much fun and I can’t wait to come back next year!”

Francesco D’Avola, owner and founder of Team Stradale noted, “Working with the four women from LROC - each coming from a different discipline of motorsport - was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had. They brought unique perspectives, pushed each other naturally, and before long, they were all faster and more comfortable together. Their mutual support, curiosity, and competitive spirit turned what could’ve been a challenge into pure synergy.”

About her experience at the inaugural event, Meyer said, “Coming into the Ladies Race of Champions, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew I had a lot to learn from my lack of experience on a road course. The Stradale team and staff at M1 Concourse have been very welcoming and incredibly helpful making me feel comfortable behind the wheel of the Radical car. I am improving with each session and growing confident in my driving skills here, which transfers into me being a better driver overall. We’ve had an amazing experience, and the M1 facility and the American Speed Festival have exceeded my expectations.”

Ferns echoed these sentiments, saying, “This entire LROC experience has been amazing and completely unexpected in the most positive way. Coming from a generally sprint-car based background, I have very minimal road course experience. The challenge of learning the car and track, shift and brake points, and car placement, among other things, presented a unique and and exciting challenge to do within a couple days, but it was worth every second. I look forward to applying a lot of what I learned to my genre of motorsports and staying connected with everyone we met. I also want to give a massive thank you to the M1 Concourse group, Team Stradale, and Shift Up Now for having us. They were first-class throughout the entire event, and I hope to do it again!”

Fans and supporters can learn more about M1 Concourse and the American Speed Festival HERE. To attend the upcoming, second-annual Shift Up Now Foundation event, purchase your ticket for “A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation” HERE.

First All-Female Win in Class for AE Victory Racing at Utah

Shift Up Now Athletes Sarah Montgomery, Alana Carter and Ashley Freiberg made history by claiming their first-ever World Racing League (WRL) victory - and the first all-female victory in the GTO class - during the second race of the “Crossroads Endurance Challenge” event weekend at Utah Motorsports Campus (Burt Brothers Motorsports Park) on September 26-28, 2025.

Driving the No. 119 Toyota Supra GT4 for AE Victory Racing (AEVR), the trio first hit the track on Thursday for the Max Track Time event, where they worked on car setup and adjustments. The WRL weekend would be Montgomery’s and Freiberg’s first outing on the 3.048-mile, 15- turn outside track, so practice time was also spent learning the layout.

By Friday’s qualifying session, the Shift Up Now Athletes were prepared and confident. Freiberg’s season-best qualifying run on her Yokohama tires put the team in third place for race one, starting from the inside of the second row.

Saturday’s eight-hour competition began with Freiberg behind the wheel. The AEVR team ran most of the race in podium contention, however a mechanical issue just past the halfway point forced their Supra into the garage. After more than an hour of repairs, they returned to the track for several testing laps. Ultimately, they opted to retire the car and begin preparation for race two on Sunday.

The following morning, Freiberg was behind the wheel once again for the drop of the green flag, this time starting from fifth for the seven-hour race. During the first stint, she advanced to the second-place spot, then Carter took over to continue executing a steady strategy before Montgomery took the wheel.

When the lone full-course caution flag flew, the field was reshuffled. After losing a lap to a competing team, AEVR gained it back when that team received a two-lap penalty. Montgomery held her second-place position and closed the gap to within 16 seconds of the leader as they crossed the finish line.

After the race, the leader was disqualified when they didn’t pass tech due to altitude. This moved AEVR to the top of the podium, continuing their podium streak and awarding them a history-making victory.

Team owner Erin Vogel commented, “This victory is a testament to our team’s persistence, preparation, and trust in one another. We had a lot of challenges, but we never gave up and I’m really proud of the incredible effort everyone put forward.” With this promising result, AE Victory Racing solidifies their place as one of the most exciting teams in WRL and sets the stage for continued success.”

Next up, the AEVR team has a quick turnaround as they head to New York in just a couple weeks for the next round of the WRL championship, at Watkins Glen International Raceway on October 17-19, 2025.

Mazda Motorsports Provides Impactful Support for “A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation”

Shift Up Now is proud to announce that Mazda Motorsports has stepped up with a generous donation to the upcoming annual in-person event, “A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation,” on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at the Tom Wood Aviation Hangar and event space at the Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport in Fishers, IN.

Providing opportunities for women in motorsports is at the heart of everything Mazda Motorsports believes in as an organization, brand and motorsports group. The Irvine, CA company leads the industry in support of talented female racers, from scholarships to championship prize money and per-race payouts.

In addition to debuting the “First to the Finish” docuseries on Amazon Prime this year, the 2025 season marked the sixth year of Mazda Motorsports’ Women’s Initiative Scholarship. The scholarship which was birthed by the desire to bring more women into the MX-5 Cup driver’s seat, and ultimately, into sports car racing. Mazda Motorsports believes that, although women have been part of the MX-5 Cup competition over the last 20 years, they are underrepresented.

The scholarship is valued at $100,000 and offers a combination of cash, consumables (tires, entries, fuel), marketing support, race equipment (firesuits), and B2B relationships for connection and sponsorship opportunities. Four of the five scholarship winners to date are Shift Up Now Athletes: Laura Hayes (2022), Heather Hadley (2023), Sally Mott (2024), Ashlyn Speed (2025).

This perfectly aligns with the mission of Shift Up Now, as both the for-profit and non-profit sides work in tandem to provide opportunities and funding for talented female racers.

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, and the Foundation awarded more than $250,000 in grants for 2025.

Mazda Motorsports’ donation will go toward the overall grant total for 2026.

“Mazda is honored to partner with Shift Up Now as two organizations that practice what we preach,” said Jonathan Applegate, Senior Manager at Mazda Motorsports. “It is our hope that by partnering with Shift Up Now, we will be a contributing factor in transforming motorsports. Shift Up Now has a proven track record in being the change agent needed within the motorsports industry, broadening and deepening the awareness of inclusivity and opportunities for girls around the world. To be intentional, all the while knowing there’s organizations like Shift Up Now and Mazda that would humbly accept the opportunity to support their ambitions.

It is my hope that we see not just an influx in female drivers, but in all areas of the sport: mechanics, engineers, crew chiefs, team owners, pit crew, executive leadership, etc. I believe this is the future that we’re helping to shape, and we are honored to do so.”

Mott, the 2024 scholarship winner echoed the importance of the partnership saying, “It’s amazing to see Mazda Motorsports, a brand that already does so much for women in racing, teaming up with the Shift Up Now Foundation. The Mazda Women’s Initiative Scholarship is the reason I got my start in the MX-5 Cup, and that opportunity completely changed the trajectory of my career. Racing at this level has challenged me and helped me grow in ways I never imagined.”

She added, “Now, being selected as a Shift Up Now Foundation grantee means I get to continue chasing this dream with Mazda’s support behind me. It’s hard to put into words how much that means, but I’m so grateful to be part of it.”

In addition to the donation, Mazda Motorsports will also host a drivers’ panel during “A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation” event. Shift Up Now Athletes - and Mazda MX-5 Cup drivers - Sally Mott and Ashlyn Speed will participate, sharing their stories of how Mazda’s support has significantly impacted their careers.

Tickets are on sale now for the event HERE, and 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.

Lastly, fans who are not able to attend the event but still want to participate should watch for information in the coming months about the silent auction, which will also be available online.

About Shift Up Now Foundation, Inc.

Shift Up Now Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping talented female racers in motorsport. By providing financial support to females in motorsport through corporate giving, gifts, donations, and grants, the foundation aims to create opportunities for women in motorsport to succeed and thrive.

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.