Tabor Earns Championship Runner Up Spot in Impressive 2026 ARA Season

Shift Up Now Athlete Madelyn Tabor trailed the championship leader by only two points to close out an exceptional  2026 American Rally Association National Championship season with a fourth-place L4WD class finish at the Lake Superior Performance Rally (LSPR) on October 9– 10, 2026.

Driving the No. 209 Madelyn Tabor Racing / Matrix Motorsports Ford Fiesta Rally 3 nicknamed “Jellybean,” Tabor is supported by Shift Up Now, WIMNA, Steven Redd Racing, Tabor Accounting Group, and Fox Marquette Ford.

LSPR, based in Marquette, Michigan, was the eighth and final round of the ARA national championship. Known as one of the most demanding events on the calendar, it brings competitors to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for fast forest roads, sandy surfaces, changing grip, and unpredictable fall weather.

Tabor entered the season finale leading the National L4WD championship after earning max points and her first-ever L4 class win at Overmountain Rally Tennessee.

Tabor and teammate Sophia McKee completed pre-event recce on Thursday, ahead of the competition, giving them the opportunity to write and refine their pace notes for LSPR’s Upper Peninsula roads. Compared to the tight, rocky roads of Overmountain, LSPR presented a different challenge: fast forest roads, sandy surfaces, rhythm changes, and weather-dependent grip.

The race began on Friday under sunny skies over the very fast, flowy Upper Peninsula roads. Early in the first loop, the No. 209 team developed a mechanical issue inside the car when a nut backed out and caused the shift linkage to become loose. Tabor and McKee sourced a replacement nut from another competitor, but that one also backed out. To keep the car going, a zip tie was added to hold the shift linkage in place before the final stage of the first loop as a temporary fix.

The third stage of the first five-stage loop was canceled, and despite the shift-linkage issue, Tabor and McKee continued to manage the car and work through the day with the championship picture still in mind.

The second loop brought another major challenge: dust. Visibility issues caused significant time loss and made it difficult to attack the roads with confidence. As conditions worsened, and with safety in mind, the final two stages of the five-stage loop were canceled.

On Saturday, the duo continued the race, focusing on clean execution, trusting the notes, and using the more technical road character to rebuild confidence and speed. The tighter Saturday stages suited their approach better, allowing them to find flow and continue pushing within the limits of the rally and the car.

The final Power Stage, SS16 Al’s Playground, was 7.73 miles. Tabor and McKee set an SS16 time of 7:42.6, finishing 11th overall on the Power Stage and 3rd in LN4/L4WD power-stage position.

Ultimately, “Jellybean" crossed the finish line with a total time of 1:31:26.4, placing Tabor and McKee 16th overall and 4th in National L4WD.

When the numbers were calculated, Tabor ended the season with 95 points, just two behind the ARA championship winner.

“I’m obviously disappointed we weren't able to secure the championship here, and to lose it by two points certainly stings,” said Tabor, “but I am still proud of what we were able to accomplish here at the Lake Superior Performance Rally.

“It’s been an exciting year filled with growth and so many amazing things to celebrate! This season has been all about learning, building, and continuing to grow with the Rally3. We earned our first L4 class win, fought for the championship until the final round, and proved that this program belongs in that fight.

“Huge thank you to Sophia, the entire Tabor Racing Team crew, Matrix Motorsports, Shift Up Now, WIMNA, Steven Redd Racing, Tabor Accounting Group, and Fox Marquette Ford. Being the first rally athlete recognized and funded by Shift Up Now means so much to me, and their support has helped make this year of development possible. We gained a lot this season and I’m excited to keep building from here."

Victory for Hayes in GT4 America Season Finale at IMS

Shift Up Now Athlete Laura Hayes ended the 2026 Pirelli GT4 America season with an Am class win in the second of two races, competing for Dome Motorsport at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on October 8-11, 2026.

Fellow Shift Up Now Athletes Ashley Freiberg, Loni Unser, and Erika Hoffmann were also there competing in the Silver class in Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport entries for Kellymoss. Freiberg and Unser piloted the No. 24 “Be Your Own Hero” entry supported by PenFed and Acumatica, while Hoffmann made her return after missing the prior event at Barber Motorsports Park, and competing with teammate Eric Filgueiras in the No. 73 Coverly Home Protection | Connect Invest entry.

The race weekend took place alongside the Indy 8 Hour event on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn IMS road course, where Freiberg had previous raced in 2023 when she wrapped up the Porsche Sprint Challenge 991.2 Cup Championship. Unser had also previously competed in vintage races in 2018 and 2019, however this would mark her professional racing debut at the track.

The first practice took place on Thursday afternoon. The No. 24 car continued with the quick speeds from previous race weekends, running immediately inside the top 15 overall among the 35-car field. Hayes and Hoffmann, who were both running at the famed Brickyard for the first time, focused their efforts on learning the course and getting up to speed.

On Friday morning, the second practice would prove to be one of the most important sessions of the weekend. Filgueiras placed the No. 73 car inside the top 10, with Freiberg and Unser again in the top 15, and Hayes finding speed in the top 20.

Later that afternoon, qualifying initially went to plan. Unser was first in the No. 24 for Kellymoss, and she had one of her strongest qualifying sessions of the season, putting up the 13th-fastest time on the overall time sheets. Meanwhile Hayes was first qualifying driver in the Dome Motorsport entry, and set her personal best time of the weekend to be fourth in the Am class, and inside the top 20 overall, with the top 25 cars separated by less than 2 seconds. Hoffmann was the nominated first driver in the No. 73, and set the ninth-fastest time in the Silver Class.

However a timing and scoring issue caused each teams’ second qualifying attempt to be abandoned, and the series decided that the grid for the second race would be set from the second driver’s fastest times in the second practice session.

The green flag would fly for the first race at 10:00am EDT on Saturday morning in cool, crisp conditions. After two pace laps, the field lined up two-by-two as they approached the Yard of Bricks. All Shift Up Now Athletes were lined up on the inside row, with Unser in the seventh, Hayes in the ninth, and Hoffmann a few rows further back.

Unser was initially boxed in behind a slow BMW and was forced to drop inside the turn one curb to avoid what looked like an inevitable incident, which unfortunately earned her a time penalty from race control that would have to be served at her pit stop.

To further the frustration, an early full-course yellow at the end of the first lap kept Unser from moving forward or making a gap to minimize the penalty. The race only went back to green for one lap before the pit window opened, then Freiberg took over for the second half of the race. The duo would finish eighth in the Silver class and 17th overall.

On the same strategy, Hoffmann stopped early in the pit window, where Filgueiras took over. Together, the pair went from 33rd position at the start to a 12th place overall finish at the checkered flag.

Meanwhile Hayes and teammate Ed Killeen combined for a 10th place in class.

On Sunday morning, Killeen announced that he was under the weather. As a result, GT4 America officials gave Hayes special dispensation to compete as a solo driver for this one race. However, this also meant she would have to serve a longer pit stop than her competitors as part of the penalty for being a single driver.

The green flag flew at 10:25am EDT with damp track conditions. With a dry line just starting to emerge in several periods of the track, the entire field elected to start on slick dry weather tires, knowing that the first laps would be treacherous.

After two pace laps, the back several rows of the field were still stretched out, and in a chaotic formation with uncharacteristic gaps as the field came to the green. Filgueiras was behind the wheel first, starting in sixth. Freiberg rolled off from 12th, and Hayes ended up getting caught farther back behind some of the straggling cars.

The slippery race track created several moments of contact before a spinning car in the front of the pack caused havoc halfway through the first lap. Freiberg avoided all incidents and picked her way through without damage, and into 10th place. Similarly, Hayes used the compressed pack to gain lost time and make passes through the field.

As the field crossed the line at the end of the first lap, and the caution flew for the clean up, Hayes had gained more than 10 positions overall, claiming her spot in the top 20 overall. Once the race went green again, she continued her forward progress, moving into the top five in class before pitting early in the window and reemerging in clean air.

Meanwhile, Freiberg ran into the middle of the pit stop window before handing over the No. 24 to Unser and running just outside the top 10. Filgueiras opted to run longer into the pit window before Hoffmann then took over.

As the two cars ahead of Hayes fought and slowed each other up, her heads-up driving helped her make the most of a mistake from the leader, following the second-place car for a pass. Now running in second, she immediately started to put significant pressure on the new leader in the second half of the same lap. Then on the following, she made the pass in the first couple of corners to take the class lead.

Unchallenged for the rest of the race, Hayes finished first in the Am class, and 16th overall.

"What an incredible way to wrap up the GT4 America season with a double win for Dome Motorsport!" said Hayes.  "I’m absolutely ecstatic for the entire team. We showed so much promise throughout the season, but circumstances never quite seemed to go our way. To finally put it all together and take home wins in both Pro-Am and Am was the perfect way to close out the year.
"Coming into this season, I honestly didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to compete in this series again. But at the eleventh hour, Eddie Killeen and Oore Jewelry stepped up and gave me an incredible opportunity to continue learning and growing, and show what I can do. I’ll never be able to thank them enough for believing in me and making this season possible."

Hoffmann finished out the season with a top 15 overall, just in front of Hayes on the race track, and sixth in the Silver class. Meanwhile Freiberg and Unser combined for fifth place in the Silver class, and in the top 15 overall.

“The Hannahs” Finish Fourth in IMPC Championship in Rookie Season

Shift Up Now Athletes Hannah Greenemeier and Hannah Grisham matched their season-best finish, coming home in sixth—and simultaneously securing fourth place in the championship— for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on September 30-October 2, 2026.

Piloting the Heart of Racing No. 26 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 Evo on the 2.54-mile, 12 turn permanent road course, “The Hannahs” hit the track for the first time Wednesday for practice one. Picking up where they left off during the last event at IMS, they showed strong pace immediately, with Grisham putting the duo in the top 10 on the time sheets.

On Thursday morning, practice two began at 8:35am EDT. Mist hovering over the track made for challenging conditions, but Greenemeier matched Grisham’s pace from the day before. By the end of the session, they were eighth on the time sheets.

Later that day, qualifying took place at 6:45pm EDT. Following the same driver order as the previous event at IMS, Greenemeier was behind the wheel. She set her best time of the weekend to put the team fifth on the grid for Friday’s race.

The two hour competition that would close out the Hannahs’ rookie season began at 11:40am EDT. The field ran two-by-two to the start with Greenemeier starting in the No. 26 on the inside of row three.

She had a solid start, but the car on the outside got a strong run into turn one and she dropped back to sixth. She maintained her line through turn one and completed the pass to take her fifth place spot back by turn three.

Within the first 10 minutes of the competition, Greenemeier was looking racy and setting her sights on fourth place. She made the move with an over/under pass exiting the turn 10 chicane, then began pulling a gap.

One lap later, she was on the tail of the third-place car. She looked to the inside, applied pressure and got a strong run on the back straight with a tow heading down to turn 10. Her competitor defended, so she went to the outside, looking to repeat the over/under move. When it didn’t work out, she held her position, but attempted the same maneuver again on the following lap.

In the three-wide moment that followed, the third-place car tried to defend against another competitor, slowing them both down and allowing Greenemeier to take over the third-place position.

When the first pit stop window opened approximately 42 minutes into the race, she briefly cycled into second place before pulling the Aston Martin into pit lane for the driver change, fuel, and tires.

Grisham took off to continue the momentum but also full-course caution emerged almost immediately for debris on the track. The field packed up behind the safety car, with Grisham running fifth for the restart.

Just like Greenemeier, she looked fast and repeated her teammate’s move on the back straight, getting a solid run off turn seven and trying to make the pass for fourth into turn 10.

After three attempts to pass her competitor in turn 10, she repeatedly slotted back into fifth place. However the fourth time was the charm. She got the run from turn 10, and the two competitors gave each other the bare minimum amount of space. Grisham got slightly nudged onto the dirt once again, but this time she completed the over/under pass described by the commentators as “forceful but clean driving,” and held the inside line into the infamous final corner onto the front straight.

Now running fourth in the GT4 field, she began to hunt down third place, closing the gap a few tenths at a time until she was within a second.

With 50 minutes remaining, the first of the lead cars pulled in for their final pit stop. To ensure Grisham would be able to finish the race without having to save fuel, the Heart of Racing team elected to keep her on track for a couple more laps, which cycled her to the lead of the race.

After the team’s final pit stop, Grisham still maintained her spot in a net fourth place when accounting for the cars still needing to make their final stop. She got a strong run out of turn seven, setting her focus on the final podium position. The net third-place car battled back while she kept the pressure on before eventually making the pass on the run down the back straight.

The second-place car became Grisham’s new target and she looked to the outside of turn six. Her competitor defended, and in a repeat of earlier, Grisham threw elbows with the car ahead on the entry to turn 10. Two light touches occurred, but she emerged in net second place.

With 35 minutes remaining in the season finale, the Heart of Racing car suffered a technical glitch and momentarily lost power in a high-speed portion of the race track. Grisham was able to get the car back up to speed again but fell back to tenth place.

Undeterred, Grisham focused forward and began making passes. With 15 minutes remaining, she was back up to eighth in the GT4 class, then caught up to the group running fourth through seventh with 10 minutes to go.

She made her now-signature move, with a big run coming off turn seven to take over the seventh-place position, then moved into sixth just a couple laps later. She was less than one second behind the fifth-place car with three minutes to go, when a massive incident on the front straight brought out the full-course caution. The race would finish under yellow, and Grisham crossed the finish line in sixth, securing the Hannahs’ fourth-place spot in the championship standings for their rookie campaign.

"Road Atlanta was another close but not close enough weekend for us," said Greenemeier. "We had the pace, we had the pit stops, we had strategy, we just didn’t have the luck once again. It’s hard having that electrical gremlin take away what I believe would have been a win for us but that’s how racing goes sometimes.

"I’m super proud of Hannah Grisham for how she handled that in the race and went straight back on the charge. I’m super proud of the whole Heart of Racing team for all their hard work this year and to see how all of us have grown to be a force to be reckoned with. Although we wanted the win getting P4 in the championship for our rookie season is something we can all be proud of. Thank you to the whole Heart of Racing team for a great year and everyone around me for pushing me to be better both on and off the track."

"Road Atlanta was a bit of a mixed bag to close out the season," added Grisham. "We had a really strong car and were in a great position—it felt like it was our race to win until an unfortunate electrical gremlin caused the car to shut off mid-race. It’s frustrating to end the season that way, especially knowing the pace and potential we had, but I’m proud of the fight we showed and everything we accomplished this season. A huge thank you to my entire team, The Heart of Racing, and everyone who supported me throughout the year. Finishing P4 in the championship in our rookie season is something we can all be really proud of."

Pair of Top-Ten Finishes for Cook in Porsche Carrera Cup at Road Atlanta

Shift Up Now Athlete Sabré Cook earned back-to-back ninth-place finishes in round seven of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by Solairus Aviation championship at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on September 30-October 2, 2026.

Driving the all-white privé products No. 37 911 Cup Car for JDX Racing, Cook began the penultimate event of the season (also the support race for Petit Le Mans) with two practice sessions on Wednesday.

The first session was successful, with Cook running in the top ten on the time sheets from the start on the 2.54-mile, 12 turn permanent road course. However, an issue in the second practice hindered her pace and JDX Racing team’s ability to adequately prepare for qualifying.

On Thursday morning, qualifying took place at 9:50am EDT. Despite the setback the day before, Cook set the ninth-fastest time and had the ninth-fastest of the second fastest laps in the session. She would start both of the weekend’s races on the inside of row five.

Later that day, the first of the weekend’s two 40-minute races began at 5:25pm EDT. After one pace lap, the 22-car field ran two-by-two to the green flag and onto the front straight.

Cook had a strong, clean start. The car on the outside of row five immediately tried to challenge for position heading into turn one, but she held her ground all the way up to the steep hill into turn three before the field settled into single file formation.

The race ran green from start to finish, and Cook spent a majority of her time within one second of the eighth-place car. When the checkered flag flew, she held the ninth-place spot she had started in.

Race two took place on Friday at 3:55pm EDT. In a repeat of the day before, Cook started from the inside of row five and had a strong start. This time, she took the inside line on the car one row ahead, making it three wide into turn one. However, the loss of momentum from being on the tighter line into the corner meant she was unable to complete the pass, and slotted back into her ninth-place spot.

The field then settled into a single-file line as the first half of the race mirrored the day before. Cook kept on the heels of the eighth-place car but this time, as the race went on, her tire grip started to wane. Nevertheless, she held her position and finished in ninth.

“Road Atlanta was definitely a challenging weekend with some car issues and not feeling 100%, so it wasn’t quite the weekend we wanted. But I’m proud that we were able to stay focused and bring home two clean 9th-place finishes," said Cook. "There are definitely positives to take away, and I’m excited to regroup with the team, get healthy, and keep building toward COTA. A huge thank you to everyone at JDX Racing and all of my partners for their continued support. I’m really grateful to have such a great group behind me, and I’m looking forward to getting back in the car and giving a great performance at COTA.”

Next up, the Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by Solairus Aviation series heads to Circuit of the Americas (COTA) for round eighth round and 2026 season finale on October 23-25, 2026.

Back-to-Back Top-Five Finishes for Carter in Radical Cup Canada

Shift Up Now Athlete Alana Carter continued her strong 2026 Emzone Radical Cup Canada presented by Michelin championship campaign with a top-five finish, which she then bested with a fourth-place finish, in the Labour Day Sprints at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on September 4-6, 2026.

Driving the No. 2 Emzone Radical SR3 for Radical Academy in the Pro Class and sponsored by Vibrant Performance, Carter hit the 2.459-mile, 10-turn track for the first time on Friday morning for practice. The weather was cool and overcast, and Carter had a solid session, running fourth-fastest on the time sheets.

Later that day, qualifying took place at 3:05pm EST. This time, the weather was warm and sunny, and Carter noted that the track was filled with lots of rubber from the other series.

She had a disappointing qualifying session when her engine blew just before turn eight. She was able to coast into pit entry and realized her previous lap was good enough to secure a 12th-place spot on the starting grid for the first race.

That night, the Radical Academy team worked hard to get a new motor in the car in time for the following morning’s race.

On Saturday, race one began at 9:30am EST under cool and overcast skies, which provided optimal track conditions. Carter lined up on the outside of row six for the green flag and fought her way through the field to cross the finish line fifth in class.

For race two on Sunday, Carter started second and was able to take over the lead in turn four of the first lap. She led the field for approximately five laps before a battle with the second- place car ensued. When the top three cars entered turn one going three-wide, Carter got pushed into the marbles and back to fourth place.

When the checkered flag flew for race two, she was running fifth. However, a post-race disqualification bumped her up to fourth to award her two top-five finishes on the weekend.

“It was a great note to end the season on for me,” said Carter. “The competition this year was steep and I learned a lot from it. Although I got so close to the podium multiple times without actually securing one, I’m so proud of the progress we made as a team this year, and myself as a driver.

“I owe a huge thank you to my car chief Anna Arkhipova and my team for getting my car ready in time, and my partners this year who helped me get on track. Emzone and Vibrant Performance played a huge role in my success this year. I’m forever grateful for their support.”

One-Two Finish for AEVR at Watkins Glen to Strengthen Championship Lead

Shift Up Now Athletes Sarah Montgomery, Charlotte Traynor, Hannah Grisham, Michele Abbate, and Alana Carter strengthened AE Victory Racing's position at the top of the World Racing League (WRL) GTO National Championship this weekend at Watkins Glen International, earning a 1-2 finish in Saturday's eight-hour race before adding another podium finish Sunday. With both Toyota Supra GT4 EVO2 entries delivering valuable championship points while providing another showcase of the team's all-female driver development program.

The No. 120 Toyota Supra GT4 EVO2, driven by Montgomery, Traynor, and teammate Flame Airikkala, took the overall victory Saturday, followed by the No. 119, driven by Grisham, Abbate, and Carter, in second. The result marked a strong start to the weekend for the team, which entered Watkins Glen holding the top two positions in the GTO National Championship.

Sunday brought another seven hours of competition, with the No. 120 finishing third and the No. 119 fifth. The combined results added another significant haul of championship points as AE Victory Racing continues to lead the GTO National Championship with both entries.

The weekend began with both Supras immediately showing pace, leading the charts during Thursday's practice sessions despite intermittent rain and high humidity. With the cars performing well straight out of the box, the drivers and engineering team used the available track time to experiment with setup and build confidence ahead of the weekend's endurance races.

Watkins Glen also marked a significant milestone for Flame Airikkala, who made her U.S. racing debut with AE Victory Racing after stepping in to fill 2026 Shootout winner Brenna Schubert’s shoes for the weekend. She approached the weekend methodically, learning the Toyota Supra and the 3.54-mile circuit while steadily improving her lap times throughout the weekend.

Friday's qualifying session saw the AE Victory Racing entries initially qualify sixth and 10th. Following post-qualifying disqualifications for two cars ahead, the team moved up to fourth and sixth on the starting grid.

Saturday's race quickly developed into a strategic battle. Hannah Grisham started the No. 120, while Sarah Montgomery started the No. 119. After early contact from a competitor involving the No. 119, both cars settled into a consistent rhythm as the crew managed several Code 35 periods and worked through the eight-hour race.

Fuel reserves became a key part of strategy as much of the field had already made fuel stops before both AE Victory Racing entries had to come in early on.  Late in the race, when a code 35 came, both cars were able to pit for fresh fuel and return to the track in strong positions for a sprint to the finish.

The strategy, combined with strong driver performances and efficient pit work, gave the team a 1-2 finish. Charlotte Traynor delivered an exceptional stint as noted by several teammates, while Michele Abbate was recognized by the World Racing League broadcast team as Driver of the Day.

Sunday's race presented a different challenge, with three red-flag stoppages interrupting the seven-hour event.  Once again, the team's driver changes were executed cleanly and efficiently, with the crew carefully managing track time to maximize each driver's contribution. The No. 120 ultimately secured its second podium finish of the weekend in third, while the No. 119 finished fifth after running as high as fourth late in the race.

The No. 119 was in position to challenge for fourth in the closing stages, with Traynor behind the wheel, but a red flag restart landed a prototype between the Supra and the fourth-place competitor, and limited the time available for a final push. 

Despite the interruptions, both cars finished strong, a testament to the consistency of the drivers, engineering team and pit crew. The weekend also provided another opportunity for AE Victory Racing's development drivers to build experience at one of North America's most demanding circuits.

Carter continued to show significant improvement in pace compared with her performance at Watkins Glen last year, while Traynor's strong stints demonstrated the value of the seat time and mentorship provided through AE Victory Racing's program. For Airikkala, the weekend represented an opportunity that began with the team's January Driver Shootout and has now taken her to her first U.S. race.

"To finish first and second on Saturday and then come back with another podium on Sunday is a great result for this team," said Erin Vogel, Team Owner of AE Victory Racing. "More importantly, we saw so many of the things we are trying to build through this program. I’m really proud of our team this weekend both for their performances and their willingness to continuously learn from and teach one another. These are the kinds of weekends that build championship results while also creating real opportunities for our drivers."

With four podium finishes across the two races, including a 1-2 sweep on Saturday, AE Victory Racing leaves Watkins Glen with valuable championship points and momentum as it continues its pursuit of the World Racing League GTO National Championship.

The results also reinforce the team's larger mission: to provide women drivers with the seat time, mentorship and professional opportunities necessary to compete at the highest levels of endurance racing.

Next up, WRL heads to the Utah Motorsports Campus for the eighth event of the season on September 25-27, 2026.

Melanie Johnson Races to Runner-Up Finish at NHRA Brainerd Nationals

Shift Up Now Athlete Melanie Johnson captured her first career NHRA national event runner-up finish in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. Returning to action after a seven-week break, Johnson powered the Speedmaster A/Fuel dragster through eliminations to set up an all-teammate final round against Anthony Troyer.

Johnson opened the weekend qualified third with a season-best 5.193-second effort. She advanced past Jim Lamb in round one with a 5.265 at 272.23 mph. In the quarterfinals, Johnson recorded a 5.305 at 267.69 mph to defeat Todd Bruce. She then secured her final-round appearance in the semifinals after opponent Angelle Sampey fouled at the starting line with a red-light start; Johnson capitalized with a solid, straight-down-the-groove 5.319 at 269.89 mph pass.

In the final, Johnson posted a competitive 5.250 at 274.00 mph, just falling short of Troyer's winning 5.220 at 276.63 mph.

The event held added family significance as her father, 14-time Top Fuel Championship-winning crew chief Alan Johnson, shared the spotlight by winning the Top Fuel title with Doug Kalitta on the same day.

"We've made a 180 since our last race 7 weeks ago," said Johnson. "During that time, Pops and Richie [McPhillips] took the car out for testing in Indy and were able to get it straightened out. A final round with both McPhillips Racing dragsters is a testament to their hard work. I'm so proud of all the guys that worked on these two cars this weekend. I'm feeling very confident going into the second half of our season and with Indy coming up soon, I hope the stars align to get that first win at such a special track! I wish I could have doubled up with my dad today, but I'll take a runner-up finish. I think we'll double up at some point, it's just a matter of time."

Johnson won't have to wait long to carry her momentum back onto the track. Up next, the team travels to Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the NHRA Regional race at Beech Bend Raceway, August 28–30, 2026.

This success is made possible through the invaluable support of primary partner Speedmaster, alongside Alan Johnson Performance Engineering (AJPE), ARP (Automotive Racing Products), NGK Spark Plugs, and Lucas Oil. 

Bell Techlogix Joins the Shift Up Now Foundation in Race to a Million

The Shift Up Now Foundation is proud to announce that Indianapolis-headquartered Bell Techlogix has pledged its support of women in motorsport by sponsoring “A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation” presented by PenFed Credit Union and Tom Wood Porsche on November 7, 2026, and joining the Race to a Million campaign.

Bell Techologix is a leading global information technology managed services and AI solutions provider headquartered in Indianapolis. The company’s first foray into motorsports was in 2019, sponsoring Pippa Mann, a seven-time Indianapolis 500 competitor. Since then, Bell Techlogix has continued to support Mann throughout her career, including a partnership at the 24h race at the Nurburgring Nordschleife this year.

Further, Bell Techlogix was an early adopter of Shift Up Now support before the foundation even existed, and a sponsor of Loni Unser’s 2023 program. Unser is also the featured guest at this year’s “A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation” event.

From sponsoring Mann as the only woman in the field at the 2019 Indianapolis 500 to supporting Shift Up Now’s efforts and female athletes in other sports such as golf, Bell Techlogix continues to take intentional action to advance equity for women pursuing excellence in traditionally male-dominated spaces. That commitment extends beyond motorsport to the technology industry and the communities where Bell Techlogix lives and works.

“Talent deserves opportunity and we’re proud to support organizations that are creating more of those opportunities for women,” said Ron Frankenfield, CEO of Bell Techlogix. “Our relationship with Pippa has given us a firsthand look at the work Shift Up Now is doing to help talented women build sustainable careers in motorsport. We’re excited to expand our involvement and support the Foundation’s mission.”

Mann added, "I’m thrilled that Bell Techlogix has become one of the first Indianapolis-based companies to join the Race to a Million. Their support was instrumental at the Indy 500, and they were one of my first partners to step up and start supporting more women in motorsport through Shift Up Now. I loved being able to bring them to the 24h race at the Ring with me this year, and I think it’s so incredible that they’re now going to be part of the Shift Up Now Foundation’s annual event. Because of Bell Techlogix, our goal of raising a million dollars for grants before the Foundation’s fifth birthday next November is even more achievable.

“I also want to take a moment to personally thank Ron Frankenfield for his friendship, advocacy and support. While so much of what we do at Shift Up Now has a theme of women supporting women, our male allies are so incredibly important to our mission to drive change, and equity in motorsport.”

There are several options for fans and supporters who want to get involved.

First, 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.

Second, tickets are on sale HERE but already 50% sold out, so act fast to reserve your spot. Members of The Inside Track by Shift Up Now should log into their dashboard to claim their 2026 ticket discount code.

Lastly, fans who want to join the ‘Race to a Million’ but are not able to attend the event can donate HERE.

Hayes Wins Second Victory at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Shift Up Now Athlete Laura Hayes backed up her 2024 victory with a statement win in the 104th running of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 21, 2026.

Driving a Toyota Supra GT4 for TCB Racing, Hayes was supported by TCB Energy Services, Yokohama Tire, Encore Oilfield Services, Southern Transport, JTX Forged and Toyota of Colorado Springs, and was the only Supra in the GT4 Trophy presented by Yokohama class.

After missing the 2025 event, this year marked Hayes’ third attempt at “the race to the clouds.”

Practice began on Tuesday in the middle section of the notoriously unpredictable 12.42-mile, 156-turn course. With an elevation gain of 4,720 feet, racing conditions are known to be warm and sunny at the start, and ending with freezing fog or snow at the finish. Due to several delays on Tuesday, Hayes and her competitors only got three runs in, with Hayes clocking the fastest time in class.

On Wednesday, practice in the upper section began on the “Devil’s Playground,” located just above the tree line and known for its highly-technical, fast-flowing sequence of corners. Hayes’ first run took place at 5:15am in the dark. After her third run as the sun began to rise, she was second-fastest in class.

Thursday marked the start of qualifying in the lower section. With the fastest time in class—and bettering her qualifying attempt from two years ago by two seconds—Hayes earned pole position and would roll off 10th overall on race day. 

On Friday, she was back to the middle section for practice, where she and her competitors got more run time. The preparation helped Hayes learn more about what she needed to do on race day and boosted her confidence heading into Sunday.

After practicing the course in segments all week, race day is the first attempt drivers get to connect the entire course in one run. Sunday dawned sunny with clear blue skies and ideal conditions for race.

Hayes had her sights set on a second GT4 class victory, along with besting her own record for the “Fastest Woman Up the Mountain.”

The first runs took place around 7:30am MDT, with Hayes being the 10th driver—and last GT4 car—to take her turn. She set the fastest time of the day with a 10:17.583, knocking three full seconds off her previous record, and finishing fully seven seconds ahead of her nearest in-class competitor. This also put her in the top 20 overall.

Hayes’ run looked to set her up for the “Fastest Woman Up the Mountain” title again, but was bettered later in the day by Emilia Hartford driving a Corvette ZR1 in the Time Attack 1 class with a 10:11.018.

To this day, Hayes still holds the record for the only woman ever to complete a sub-ten-minute run at Pikes Peak. However, her record-breaking run was set outside of the race weekend, and with spec modifications. Nevertheless, Hayes continues to break records wherever she goes.

“Months of prep and practice, early mornings, late nights, all came down to this,” said Hayes. “I couldn’t have done it without the entire team behind me, sponsors and partners supporting me, and all of the amazing motorsport fans and community.

“It has been incredible to watch this event continue to grow, even with such a long and iconic past. This year was full of fierce competition. Congratulations to everyone who made it to the summit!”