Shift Up Now Athletes Alana Carter, Sarah Montgomery and Laura Hayes, together with teammate Charlotte Traynor, put on a dominant performance that ended in disappointment during the fifth event of the World Racing League (WRL) season at Daytona International Speedway on June 5-7, 2025.
Driving the No. 119 Shift Up Now by AE Victory Racing (AEVR) Toyota Supra GT4, the driver lineup looked a bit different for the weekend after team founders Vogel and Aaron Snair announced that they’re expecting a baby in December. As a result, Vogel has opted to step back from driving for the remainder of the 2025 racing season.
The team then temporarily enlisted the help of fellow Shift Up Now Athlete Hayes and rookie Traynor. Hayes made history in 2024 as the fastest woman ever on Pikes Peak and had previously driven with AEVR. Traynor, currently in her debut Mazda MX-5 Cup season, was runner-up in AEVR’s January shootout. The duo joined pro driver and coach Montgomery, and shootout winner Carter.
On Friday, the team recorded the fastest lap of the day at 2:01.040 during practice and followed it up by qualifying sixth in class for the 14-hour endurance race on the 3.56-mile, 12- turn racetrack.
The race began at 8:00am EST on Saturday. Despite unrelenting heat and the constant challenge of multi-class traffic, the AEVR team advanced into the top three and maintained position for more than half the race, setting their sights on victory.
However, disaster struck around 8:40pm EST. Hayes was yielding position on a straight when she was clipped on the left rear of the car. The contact broke the car’s axle and forced her into the pits. The AEVR got to work repairing the damage, then Traynor went out to complete the final stint. When the checkered flag flew, the team crossed the line in sixth place.
“As much of a bummer the results turned out to be this weekend, AE Victory Racing made huge strides to get closer to the top step of the podium,” said Montgomery. “It seemed to be such a great learning experience for Charlotte and Alana, and I’m honored to be one of their coaches. Laura and I go way back, and I loved having the opportunity to drive with her again. I’m very grateful to be part of an incredible movement, all while doing something that brings me joy. Big thank you to the team for their hard work and commitment, as well as my long-term partner, TeamOne Logistics.”
Team owner Vogel echoed the sentiment, adding, “I am extremely proud of the performance, dedication and focus of both our crew and drivers today. The passion and commitment shown by the team was phenomenal and everyone gave it their absolute best. I look forward to the rest of the season.”
Next up, the World Racing League heads to Georgia for the sixth round of the 2025 championship, at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on July 25-27, 2025.
