Shift Up Now fans and supporters, it's time for another round of our “Meet the Athlete” series!
Our goal is to tell the Athletes’ stories in a fun Q&A format, so you can get to know each one. That way, you’ll have even more reason to cheer for them, and show your support by being a Shift Up Now Member.
So without further ado, meet Michele Abbate!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Growing up, I had a few wild dreams of what I wanted to be when I grew up. My youngest memory comes from elementary school where I really loved Killer Whales. At that time I wasn't really into sports yet, and I really wanted to be a whale trainer! Once I got into Junior High, I was very dedicated to basketball and I wanted to play for Duke, and eventually make it to the NBA. This was all before I was introduced to racing and motorsports.
Where and how did you get started in racing?
My brother got his first go kart when he was 10 years old (I was eight). He raced locally for about a year and this was my first time being around racing. I didn't see any other girls at the track but that was normal. For the next 10 years, I would grow to love the sport as I watched my brother win National, Grand National, and even the World Championships in go karting. In 2005 I took my first step towards racing with regional autocross, competing as often as I could, and fell in love.
Describe how you progressed through your early days to where you are now.
In my first years of autocross I learned so much. Everything from the importance of where your eyes are looking, tire importance, car set-up, brakes, etc. In addition, I learned it was expensive to race and worked towards getting sponsors - yes, even at the autocross level. I competed locally and regionally and then started participating in track days with NASA AZ. I progressed from track days to time attack in CA and AZ since there were no local events for me.
In 2011, I signed with Scion Racing and competed regionally in the TTE class. From there, I continued my relationship with Scion Racing, entering in the MPTCC Championships where I won their first road racing championship. In 2015, I moved into the Scion FRS platform and I raced in the SCCA US Majors Tour, where I won the STU Championship. In 2017, I was given the opportunity to race in the NASCAR Whelen series, where I fell in love with tube chassis V8 race cars.
In 2018, I sold my entire race program to buy an older Trans Am TA2 car. My husband and I campaigned that car in the Trans Am West Coast Series from 2019-2021. I made my first NASCAR Truck Series start in 2020. Then in 2022, I was the first female to race in the Trans Am National Tour full time. During this time I became the first female to lead laps in the TA2 class and also the first female stand on the Trans Am podium.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
I'm trying not to answer this with an obvious response like funding, earning respect in the sport, or dealing with social media demands. So with those aside - I'd say the biggest challenge is finding balance. Unfortunately, with my funding being cut significantly this past year, I have not had any pro races on my schedule. And although this sucks, it's allowed me to experience other things, which is a nice change. It's easy to fall into having a laser-focused life when a race schedule can be so demanding. But without that it's allowed me to invest my time in other areas as well. Sometimes it doesn't feel right, but other times it does. The balance of life, and the demands of wants and needs have definitely been a significant challenge for me!
What are some of your greatest achievements so far, or the things you’re most proud of?
Honestly, just being able to do all of the things I have really feels like a great achievement in itself. I'm proud of the range of disciplines in motorsports that I've tried - sprint racing, hill climb, endurance racing, sports cars, drifting, circle track, road course racing, etc. I am proud to have made a NASCAR start and finish. I am also proud of my podium finishes in Trans Am, SCCA RunOffs in GT1, racing in Australia, and soon to take my first stab at rally racing!
What are you most looking forward to this upcoming year?
Continuing my efforts with DirtFish and the Women in Motorsport program. This is something that is new to me and I am really looking forward to the possibility of falling in love with a new (to me) discipline of racing!
What’s your favorite hobby, or way to spend your free time, outside of racing?
I enjoy going to the gym to stay in shape so that I can eat lots of food. Haha! I also like boating with my husband and my parents on Lake Mead in Las Vegas. I truly enjoy spending time with my family and my husband, and of course Moxie (my dalmatian, for those that don't know her!)
What’s your “cheat meal” of choice?
Oh man, it's always gotta be chicken and waffles.
Where are you racing next?
My next race is October 4th in the Tour de Forest ARA Rally, then the following week I'll take on the Spring Mountain Motorsports Racing Series on October 9th-11th!
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