Top-Five Finish for Freiberg and Unser in GT4 America at Barber

Shift Up Now Athletes Loni Unser and Ashley Freiberg earned a fifth-place finish in the Silver class (and top 15 overall) during rounds 10 and 11 of the 2026 Pirelli GT4 America Championship at Barber Motorsports Park on September 25-27, 2026.

Fellow Shift Up Now Athlete Laura Hayes also competed on the 2.38-mile, 17-turn natural-terrain road course in the No. 37 Junaid entry for Dome Motorsport with teammate Ed Killeen.

Driving the No. 24 “Be Your Own Hero” Porsche Cayman GT4 RS for Kellymoss in the penultimate event of the season, Freiberg and Unser are both supported by PenFed Credit Union, Acumatica, Mobil1, Speedway Motors, Radius, and Pagid.

The race weekend began with two test sessions and the first official practice on Thursday. Unser and Freiberg rolled off the truck looking racy and running in the top 15 overall on the time sheets for each session. Meanwhile, Hayes and Killeen hovered just outside the top 20 for the three sessions.

After one final official practice on Friday morning, the Shift Up Now Athletes were ready for qualifying. Unser and Hayes were behind the wheel of their respective cars to start the session.

Hayes put together her best lap of the weekend, slotting the Dome Motorsport entry into the 12th spot for the start of race one. Unser came within a couple of tenths of her personal best time of the weekend, and qualified in 23rd for the first race.

Next up, Freiberg took the wheel in the Kellymoss car for the second qualifying session to set the grid for race two. She repeated her strong form from the practice sessions, putting the No. 24 car in the 13th spot for the start of the second race.

On Friday afternoon, the first one-hour race began at 3:30pm CDT. After two pace laps, the field lined up side-by-side with Hayes on the outside of row six and Unser on the inside of row 12.

The start was clean, despite a late green flag and a slightly slow pace that bunched up the field. Hayes advanced to ninth in the first corners, taking her place in the class lead. Meanwhile, Unser, who had been on the inside for the first corner, got trapped on the outside through turns two and three, being forced to concede a position she had just gained.

A long green-flag run followed, and continued until the first pit stop window opened. Hayes held fast to her class lead (ninth overall) while Unser advanced to just outside the top 20.

The No. 24 car was one of the first to dive into pit lane when the window opened, while Hayes in the No. 37 car stayed out on the opposite strategy, and cycled to the overall lead. The excitement was short-lived though, when she was punted into a spin by a competitor on the entry into turn five.

Despite being able to get back into the race, the damage was done. Hayes and Killeen would later go on to cross the finish line just outside the top 20, and sixth in class.

In the meantime, Freiberg had taken over for Unser in the No. 24 car, and began making moves to advance into the top 20. When the checkered flag flew, the duo had earned a fourteenth-place overall finish, and seventh place in class.

Race two began on Saturday at 1:35pm CDT. Just like the first race, the one-hour competition began after two pace laps, this time with Freiberg starting in the No. 24 and Killeen in the No, 37.

After a clean start, the field held their two-by-two formation throughout the pack and into the first several turns. Freiberg got boxed in at turn five, leaving her vulnerable to an outside move from her competitor and going three-wide into turn seven. Then down through the corkscrew and into Museum Turn, she was side-by-side with another car before being forced to concede the position at the high-speed esses.

Once again, green-flag racing continued through the first pit stop window. Freiberg stayed inside the top 15, and stayed out when the window opened, aiming to work her way into the top 10.

And once again on the opposing strategy, the No. 37 Dome Motorsport entry was one of the first cars in pit lane. Hayes took over with the team running just outside the top 20. Unser was now behind the wheel of the No. 24 car, running in 13th place.

With 20 minutes remaining in the race, a full-course caution flew for a damaged car. After a short, five-minute cleanup, the field packed up for the restart. Side-by-side racing took place throughout the field. Unser held her position in the chaos and Hayes began making passes to move up in the order.

At the checkered flag, Unser crossed the finish line in 11th overall and fifth in class. Hayes was able to climb to 19th overall, just one place off the podium in class.

“I’m really happy with our performance as a team this weekend at Barber,” said Freiberg. “We have been showing improvement each weekend and so I’m excited to see where this takes us for the next event in Indy. I know that everyone has been working really hard and we are hungry to continue pushing forward. I’m so grateful to be a part of this crew at Kellymoss!”

Unser added, ”I am proud of the progress we made and grateful to Kellymoss, our partners, and everyone at Shift Up Now for their continued support. Now we’re focused on carrying this momentum into the season finale at Indianapolis."

Next up, Unser, Freiberg, and Hayes head to Indianapolis for the season finale (rounds 12 and 13) of the Pirelli GT4 America championship, at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway on October 8-11, 2026.

Victory for Tabor in ARA Overmountain Rally Tennessee

Shift Up Now Athlete Madelyn Tabor took over the American Rally Association (ARA) class championship lead when she and co-driver Sophia McKee earned their first L4WD class win at the Overmountain Rally Tennessee (OVRMTN) in Newport, TN on September 18-19, 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 Rusty Wallace Ford.

Tabor entered this seventh event of the season tied for second in the National L4WD championship standings. OVRMTN also brought one of the deepest ARA fields of the season, including international rally talent.

The 13 stages and 100+ competition miles of OVRMTN ran through the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, including repeated runs through stages such as Low Gap, The Gulf of Tennessee, Wasp, Weaver’s Bend, and Big Clifty before closing with the Newport Speedway Super Special Stage. One of the most demanding events on the calendar, OVRMTN is known for technical gravel roads, elevation changes, tight and twisting sections, rough rocky areas, and limited room for error.

On Thursday, Tabor and McKee completed pre-event recce, making stage notes and settling into their communication rhythm.

Friday then brought hot and humid conditions for the 11:00am EST opening of the rally. The No. 209 lined up third in class (16th overall), and started out SS1 'Low Gap' with a very competitive pace, even after hitting a rock and developing a minor vibration in the car.

The next stage was SS2, 'The Gulf of Tennessee,' with almost 15 miles of tight and twisty roads. Tabor focused on managing the car and trusting the notes. SS3 continued on this same note, then the duo was able to shave 17 seconds off the last stage of the day, ‘The Gulf of Tennessee II.’ With the National L4WD championship in sight, the team’s approach was measured and intentional.

On Saturday, warm, humid conditions continued for the 9:00am EST start. This time, Tabor and McKee were starting second in class, and 17th overall.

The first loop of three stages (SS5,SS6,SS7) started out smoothly, setting down good times. By SS6, Tabor and McKee had taken over the lead in class, with the second-place car running approximately 30 seconds behind. They pushed the pace, shaving off 37 seconds on SS8 from SS5, and 17 seconds on SS9 from SS6. The SS10 and SS12 ended up being canceled.

Ultimately, Jellybean crossed the finish line 15th overall and ninth nationally, with Tabor and McKee earning their first-ever victory in the L4WD class. This win, in conjunction with Tabor’s win in the power stage (a national-only stage near the end of the rally awarding three extra points) also gave Tabor the ARA class championship lead.

“Overmountain is such a technical event, and it takes a lot of focus to manage the car, the notes, and the road conditions from start to finish,” said Tabor. “Sophia and I came into the weekend wanting to be smart, keep building confidence, and bring the car home. Earning max points and first in class was a huge push for the championship, and I'm happy to go into the final event first in class.

“This season has been all about learning, building, and continuing to grow with the car and the team. Huge thank you to Sophia, the entire Tabor Racing Team crew, Matrix Motorsports, Shift Up Now, WIMNA, Steven Redd Racing, Tabor Accounting Group, and Rusty Wallace Ford. We’ll ride this momentum to LSPR and aim to finish the season on a high!”

Next up, Tabor heads to Marquette, Michigan for the eighth event of the 2026 ARA National Championship, the Lake Superior Performance Rally on October 9-10, 2026.

Season-Best Finish and Fourth Pole Position for “The Hannahs” at IMS

Shift Up Now Athletes Hannah Greenemeier and Hannah Grisham earned their fourth pole position of the season—two for Greenemeier, two for Grisham—and matched their best finish, coming in sixth in the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on September 18-20, 2026.

Competing in the tenth and penultimate event of the 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) season, “The Hannahs” piloted the Heart of Racing No. 26 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 Evo on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course.

The race weekend began on Friday with two practice sessions for the field of 44 cars (31 in the GT4 class). Grisham set the sixth-fastest time in practice on Friday morning, then Greenemeier followed it up with a fifth-fastest time in the second session that afternoon.

Qualifying took place on Saturday morning, with Greenemeier behind the wheel. When her flying lap clocked in two-tenths faster than anyone else in the field, she secured her second pole of the season, and the fourth for the duo.

Later that day, the two-hour race began at 2:30pm ET with Greenemeier leading the field to green, on the inside of row one as cars ran two-by-two to the famous Yard of Bricks. Greenemeier immediately pulled cleanly into the lead heading into turn one, then she and the second-place car began to break away from the rest of the pack by the end of the first lap.

Within the first five minutes, they were still nose-to-tail, with a two-second lead over the rest of the field. But when a full-course yellow emerged for a car in the tires in turn seven, it closed the gap the two lead cars had built.

After a short cleanup, green-flag racing resumed. On the restart, Greenemeier got a solid jump on the two cars behind her that teamed up to attempt a bump draft into turn one. They nearly closed the gap by working together, but Greenemeier emerged cleanly back in the lead.

Just then, another yellow flag flew when a car further back in the field suffered a broken suspension. Once again, cleanup was short and Greenemeier had another strong restart, this time without challenge. However, less than one lap later, in true racing fashion, the old “yellows breed yellows” adage came to fruition. Multiple cars sustained damage as the safety crew went to work cleaning up the melee.

On the third restart, Greenemeier again led the field to green. This time, she was forced to defend from a car in her tow. When it moved to the outside, the pair ran side-by-said through turns one and two. Greenemeier was then able to get her car fully ahead by turn three to maintain her lead.

Finally, sustained green flag racing ensued, and Greenemeier began pulling a gap on the rest of the field, and running more than a second ahead of the second-place car before pulling the No. 26 car into pit lane for the team’s first pit stop, driver change, and new tires.

The Heart of Racing team made an early call to “back time” from the end of the race to avoid trying to save fuel during the last stint.

Grisham was only on track for a few laps before the next full-course caution flew, bringing a majority of the field into pit lane for fuel and tires. The No. 26 team opted to come back to pit lane for a splash of fuel, effectively leap-frogging all teams doing full pit stops. With teams now on various pit strategies, Grisham cycled to fifth place.

After the restart, she began to methodically work her way forward, both through passes and alternate strategies for her competitors. By the time she came to pit lane for her final stop with just 40 minutes remaining in the race, she had advanced to second place.

As planned, the final stop was just for fuel. Grisham then went out for what would be a long green-flag run as the various strategies began to play out. With 10 minutes remaining, she was in fifth place and closing fast on several cars ahead that were trying to stretch their fuel to the end.

The plan was working until a competitor ran out of fuel on track with just six minutes to go. The full-course caution brought the entire field back together for one last restart. To add to the difficulty, rain began falling at IMS just as the field prepared for the final one-lap dash.

Caught behind another competitor who was also running out of fuel coming to the green flag, and in amongst lapped traffic, and mixed-class competition cars, Grisham was able to hold on for a sixth-place finish, matching the No. 26 team’s best IMPC finish to date.

"Ultimately it was a good week in Indy," said Hannah Greenemeier. "The car was really fast and the team did a great job. It was cool to get another pole and do it at such an iconic track. The end result wasn’t what we wanted as a car in front of us ran out of fuel as we went to go for the last restart. We will keep pushing to get the results that we know we can achieve. Huge thank you to the entire Heart of Racing team for all their hard work and the opportunity to drive for such a great team and cause."

Next up, “the Hannahs” head to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for the season finale of the 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series, the Motul Petit Le Mans, on September 30-October 3, 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.”

Ojibwe Forests Rally Marks Third Consecutive Podium for Tabor in ARA

Shift Up Now Athlete Madelyn Tabor earned her third consecutive second-place finish in class with co-driver Naila Deen (filling in for regular co-driver Sophia McKee) in Ojibwe Forests Rally, the sixth event of the 2026 American Rally Association National Championship, in Bemidji & Detroit Lakes, MN on August 28–29, 2026.

Driving the No. 209 Madelyn Tabor Racing / Matrix Motorsports Ford Fiesta Rally 3 nicknamed “Jellybean” in the National L4WD class, Tabor is supported by Shift Up Now, WIMNA, Steven Redd Racing, and Tabor Accounting Group.

This year's Ojibwe Forests Rally event featured the largest field since 2021 with 48 teams, and the stages spread across the sandy-based forest roads of the Northwoods. The event is known for fast, flowing gravel, blind crests, and big jumps — the organizers build the route to echo Rally Finland, and the roads deliver on it.

On Thursday, the team completed pre-event recce ahead of the weekend. Recce gave Tabor and Deen their first look at the stages together — 16 stages of fast, flowing, sandy-based Northwoods gravel that ruts with the weather and every passing car. Ojibwe's forest roads are genuinely fast: high-speed crests, rhythm sections through the pines, and a surface that rewards commitment. The pair used recce to build their pace notes and establish communication rhythm ahead of competition, but the first shot at race pace happened Friday morning.

Friday opened with two passes each of Crossroads (10.09 miles) (SS1/3) and Steamboat (SS2/4) (17.79 miles) — the long, fast Northwoods stages that set the tone for the weekend. Tabor’s approach going into the event was clear: play the long game. The forest stages here reward rhythm and consistency, and with 16 stages across two days and a new co-driver alongside her, building that rhythm was the priority from stage one.

The day closed with two back-to-back passes at Soo Pass Ranch. At just 0.42 miles each, the Soo Pass Ranch stages are sprint-format: flat-out, crowd there to see the cars up close. Tabor, running second, earned her first class stage win and was fourth overall in the stage time.

On Saturday, the event returned to the forest, however one stage was canceled. Tabor noted the cancellation interrupted her rhythm at a moment when she was building flow, however her mid-day check-in was a deliberately-strategic approach to the championship: play the long game, enjoy the shorter stages, and stay in a rhythm while avoiding any issues with the car.

The strategy worked, and the rally closed with two street stages at the Sanford Center in downtown Bemidji — 0.59 miles each. Both runs were top five overall times.

Tabor left the weekend second in the National L4WD championship with 62 points, just 10 behind the leader. Two rounds remain with a maximum of 108 points still available.

"I’ve competed at Ojibwe three times previously, so I felt very familiar with these roads and its characteristics, but with a first time co-driver,” said Tabor. “It felt like a completely new event that I needed to approach differently. Thankfully we played the long game and benefited from attrition.

“The car and crew performed perfectly all weekend. We came into this weekend fourth in the championship and we're leaving second. We’re just points from the lead with two rounds left. Dad always says 'to finish first, first you must finish’, and that's exactly what we did. I want to send a huge thank you to Naila, the entire Tabor Racing Team volunteer crew, Matrix Motorsports, Shift Up Now, WIMNA, and Steven Redd Racing. Being the first rally athlete recognized and funded by Shift Up Now means everything, and this result is for all of them.”

Next up, Tabor heads to Newport, Tennessee for the seventh event of the 2026 American Rally Association National Championship, the 2026 Overmountain Rally Tennessee on September 18-19, 2026.

Top Five Finish for Lahlouh in GT World Challenge at Road America

Shift Up Now Athlete Therese Lahlouh earned a fourth-place finish in the Pro-Am field, and a sixth-place finish overall in round five of the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season at Road America on August 28-30, 2026.

Driving the No. 242 Porsche GT3 R car with teammate Thomas Merrill for Wright Motorsports, and sponsored by Byers Auto Group, Mobil1, and PMNA, Lahlouh prepared for a full weekend of track activity, starting with three practice sessions over Friday and Saturday.

The first practice took place on Friday afternoon in dry conditions. Unfortunately, the team’s gearbox went down, which turned the session into more diagnosis than the testing Lahlouh had hoped for, having never been to Road America with this car prior.

On Saturday, Wright Motorsports used half of the first session to break in the new gearbox and rebuilt differential. Later that day, weather for the final practice was rainy, and Lahlouh took the opportunity to gain some experience in the wet conditions.

Qualifying took place on Sunday morning. Although Lahlouh felt “behind the eight ball” after lacking sufficient practice time, she was still able to shave a second off her time and lay down a 2:09.6 qualifying lap.

The field for Sunday afternoon’s race consisted of 24 GT3 cars, and the Pro-Am field was stacked with 17 of them.

The three-hour competition began at 2:00pm CST with dry weather conditions. Lahlouh was behind the wheel first for the No. 242 team, and lined up on the inside of row 11. After one pace lap, the field ran two-by-two up the steep hill to the starter’s stand on the 4.048-mile, 14-turn permanent road course.

The pole-sitter had a relatively late acceleration at the start, then the entire field was fanned out 2-3 wide on the run into turn one. Lahlouh held the inside line for a clean start and held her position.

The first full-course caution emerged when one of the cars ahead slid into a spin at the exit of turn six. Lahlouh was able to avoid the spinning car and only lost one position in the melee.

Because of a lengthy caution period that followed, the Wright Motorsports team and several other competitors decided to go off strategy and take an early pit stop. Taking advantage of the time behind the safety car, they effectively got a free stop and were able to catch up to the back of the field.

When the green flag flew again, the restart initially looked clean, however a large incident involving several cars at the exit of The Kink immediately brought out another full-course yellow. And for the second time, Lahlouh’s heads-up driving allowed her to pick her way through without damaging the car.

After the second restart, she advanced into the top 15 overall, and the top 10 in the Pro-Am class. The race then settled into a long green-flag rhythm and the team’s strategy calls began to pay off. Lahlouh kept putting in fast laps, moving up the order one car at a time, until she was in sixth overall as pit stop cycles continued.

Merrill then took over just before another full-course yellow with just over an hour to go in the competition. This packed the field up again and Merrill was running in 10th overall at the restart. Just like Lahlouh, he focused forward and began to quietly pick off competitors as the race stayed green.

When the checkered flag fell, the No. 242 car crossed the finish line fourth in the Pro-Am class, and sixth overall to earn the team their second-best run of the season. In addition, the duo passed a combined 15 cars during the race, giving them the Hard Charger Award.

“I’m very proud of my Wright Motorsports team and co-driver Thomas Merrill, for their incredible work at Road America,” said Lahlouh. “Together we were able to overcome so much adversity and chaos, and bring home a solid haul of points and a clean car. It’s not easy coming back after a long break and I’m thrilled we’re able to carry this momentum to the Alabama rollercoaster next.”

Next up, Lahlouh and Merrill head to Alabama for round six of GT World Challenge America presented by AWS, at Barber Motorsports Park on September 25-27, 2026.

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.

Pole Streak Continues for “The Hannahs” at Road America

Shift Up Now Athletes Hannah Greenemeier and Hannah Grisham earned their third consecutive pole position—two in a row for personally for Grisham—in the Motul Sports Car Endurance Grand Prix at Road America on July 30-August 2, 2026.

Competing in the eighth event of the 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) season, “The Hannahs” piloted the Heart of Racing No. 26 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 Evo on the 4.048-mile, 14-turn permanent road course.

The first practice took place on Thursday afternoon. The track was dry and Greenemeier’s time put the duo just outside the top ten. The following morning, cool temperatures and overcast skies provided ideal track conditions, and The Hannahs laid down significantly-faster lap times. Of the pair, Grisham was quickest, with the six-fastest lap time of the session.

Later that day, qualifying took place under overcast skies. Grisham was behind the wheel of the Heart of Racing entry, continuing to alternate qualifying duties with Greenemeier. Grisham set the fastest time of the session, claiming pole by less than one tenth of a second - marking the third pole in a row for the talented duo.

The two-hour competition began on Saturday afternoon. Rain and gloomy weather caused wet track conditions that had commentators speculating on the teams’ various strategies.

After two pace laps, Grisham led the field to green in a two-by-two formation. She had a strong start and went unchallenged into the first turn, then developed a one car-length lead by the run down into turn five. Just a couple laps into the race, she was running 1.5 seconds ahead of the second-place car.

The rain ceased and the track began to dry about 10 minutes into the race. Grisham’s lead to the second placed car decreased, however the two cars in front already had a full five-second lead over third place.

On the run down to turn five, the second-place car used a tow to pop out on the inside into the brake zone. Simultaneously, Grisham’s right side wheels caught the white line under braking, putting her GT4 car into a lurid slide as they approached the corner. She regrouped with minimal time lost, and got to work chasing the new leader.

Grisham ran cleanly for the remainder of her stint, building a 10 second gap to the third place competitor, and prepared to pit approximately 40 minutes into the race. Just before the pit window opened, a full-course caution flew for a beached car in the gravel, which eliminated the advantage Grisham and the leader had built over the rest of the field.

When the pit window opened, the entire GT4 field dove in for driver changes and dry-weather tires. A slightly-slower pit stop put The Hannahs in fourth as Greenemeier left pit lane.

The race restarted with a single-file line and just over one hour on the competition clock. Greenemeier had a strong start, and was looking to pass for third in Canada Corner. Slight contact cost as the pair then ran side by side up over Billy Mitchell corner, cost her momentum and several spots, dropping her back to sixth.

Undeterred, Greenemeier focused on making the pass for fifth. As she attempted the pass, the car ahead defended into turn one, so she moved to the outside. The two made contact at the corner apex. Once again, the loss of momentum cost her a couple places in the tightly-packed field.

A second full-course caution flew with 49 minutes remaining in the race, and most of the lead pack pitted for their final stop. This time, having taken more fuel relative to several competitors at the prior stop, the Heart of Racing Aston was able to take a little less, saving time and advancing several positions in the pits to emerge in sixth place, net third place of those who had pitted for fuel.

Another single-file restart took place with 38 minutes on the clock, and rain beginning to fall again. Greenemeier had another strong start and gained a position t0 5th. She and the car behind then began a side-by-side battle in the slick conditions. When the seventh-place car attempted to go three-wide with them, more contact ensued and pushed Greenemeier off on the outside as they came over the crest in turn six, costing her several positions.

The third full-course caution then emerged, and the additional yellow laps started to play into pit stop strategy, as cars who had elected not to stop earlier might be able to make it without the additional stop.

The final green flag flew with just over 20 minutes remaining. Greenemeier was running in ninth and had another solid start, challenging the car ahead in turn one, then settling back in line.

At the end of the first green lap, she was back up to seventh place. The battle that followed over the next few laps would see her drop back to eighth, advance to seventh again, then drop to ninth in the tightly packed field. When a massive incident in the Kink brought out another full-course caution with nine minutes to go, the race would go on to finish under yellow.

"It was definitely a challenging race with the wet conditions at the start," said Grisham. "My focus was on staying clean, making smart decisions and handing the car over to Hannah Greenemeier in one piece. I was very happy with the pace we had, and felt like we made the most of the conditions. It's tough that Hannah got caught in some contact in the second half of the race as I think we had the potential for an even stronger result. Overall there are a lot of positives to take away from this weekend, and I want to thank the Heart of Racing for once again giving us a great car."

Next up, “the Hannahs” head to Virginia International Raceway for the ninth event of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series, the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR, on August 21-23, 2026.