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 Sarah Montgomery!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a young girl, I grew up wanting to be a dentist! My parents had my sister and I go every six months for our routine visits and I was always infatuated with everything in the dentist's office. I also remember in High School, we were allowed to shadow our “want-to-be career" for a day and I was able to shadow my dentist at the time. I thoroughly enjoyed it as that day was root canal and minor surgery day. I'll never forget the old guy on laughing gas getting a root canal and the funny things he said. Since I wanted to be a dentist, I actually started college in the biology program to pursue that. Turned out, I hated biology and chemistry, so I graduated in marketing instead!
Where and how did you get started in racing?
I started racing at the young age of about 12 in the heart of Cajun Country in Lafayette, LA. When I was around 10, my dad was given free tickets to an IndyCar race, so off we went on a family vacation. To be honest, I had no interest in racing or going to a racetrack when I would have rather been at Disney World. Little did I know, it was about to become an obsession. I remember watching qualifying and being enthralled by Danica Patrick. It was one of her first races in the states, and to be a young girl watching this female kick a** was absolutely amazing to me. At that point, I threw my heart and soul into racing by watching it every weekend and finding ways to get my butt in a race car!
Describe how you progressed through your early days to where you are now.
It took about two years to convince my parents to let me race after attending that Indycar race when I was 10 years old. They reached a point of being tired of me begging and bringing them my piggy bank and asking to start racing. That's when they bought me my first dirt oval go kart. I was - and still am - lucky to have very supportive parents that helped me achieve my goals in the motorsports world and always pushed me to follow my dreams.
Once I succeeded in go karts, from winning multiple championships around the southern part of the United States, I then had an angel help me move into Spec Miata racing. From there, I began competing in Spec Miata before I even had my driver’s license. I started racing at the professional level in the Battery Tender Mazda MX-5 Cup Series in 2014. During my rookie year, I was the highest-finishing female and placed in the top ten in points. In 2017, I competed in the Pirelli World Challenge with Shea Racing, and in 2019, I became the first female to ever podium in the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Series. Not only did I make history by being the first female on the podium, but I landed there four times that year.
My 2020 racing season got off to a slow start due to COVID, but I joined Round 3 Racing in a Porsche Boxster to compete in the World Racing League. That year, I qualified the car on pole at four separate events and took a win at the final race of the season.
For the 2021 season, I competed in the highest class of WRL in a Porsche GT4, where I led many laps in each race and claimed a win at the 24 Hours of Sebring in October. The 2022 season saw me behind the wheel of a BMW M4 GT4, where I earned multiple podium finishes and two wins.
At the end of the 2023 season, I joined a new team—AE Victory Racing—in an Audi R8. I continued with AE Victory Racing in 2024, still competing in the World Racing League in the Audi R8. For the 2025 season, we introduced a brand-new car: the Toyota Supra - and we just became the first all female driver line-up to stand on the podium in the GTO class at our last race at Road Atlanta. It was our first podium as a team, and hopefully it's our first of many!"
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
This is the answer that's most obvious; money. I will say, it has been a blessing to have to work this hard in the industry because it has made me much more grateful and appreciate every opportunity I've been given. Yes, with more funds I would have been able to climb the ladder quicker and maybe race in a few of the series that have been my dream as a kid, but I am so grateful for all I’ve been able to accomplish with what I've been given.
Social media is also my arch-nemesis. I love the social aspect of it, but otherwise I wish it would burn to the ground, LOL. It takes so much time away from the present, from scrolling aimlessly, to having to post. Don’t get me wrong, I understand why it's so important, but I wish it would disappear.
What are some of your greatest achievements so far, or the things you’re most proud of?
Hands down, being the first - and still the only - female to stand on the Mazda MX-5 Cup podium. I have done other things I'm proud of in my life, but this one takes the cake. It was the most proud I've ever felt of myself, and to have my Dad and team owner there with me at the time, was one of the most incredible, heart warming feelings ever. I was able to do this four different races in 2019 and I'm proud to still hold that title.
What are you most looking forward to this upcoming year?
Being a driver with AE Victory Racing has shifted me into a different role than I have been used to in previous years; being a driver coach. I have loved being able to pass on my wealth of knowledge to my newer teammate and be a role model for someone who deeply deserves it. Even though we are already halfway through the year, it has been so much fun to watch my teammate grow tremendously from where we started. It's been fun to take her under my wing and show her the ropes of the World Racing League series. Being in a new car has also been very exciting because it has made us much more competitive. I love this sport so much because I love winning, so this has brought in my favorite aspect to driving again.
What’s your favorite hobby, or way to spend your free time, outside of racing?
It's a bit cliche, but I love spending time with my friends and my boyfriend. He helps keep me in line and doing the things I love to do. We travel a LOT even if it's just weekend trips, and I love the sense of adventure we both have. I also love anything outside; hiking, mountain biking, pickleball, walking, etc. I also do not mind sitting on the couch and watching a good TV show either. Im usually always up for anything!
What’s your “cheat meal” of choice?
Is it acceptable for a cheat meal to just be chocolate chip cookies? Fresh-baked of course.
If not, I’ll save that for dessert and have a greasy cheeseburger with a delicious bowl of mac and cheese! Then cookies for dessert. haha
Where are you racing next?
Next race weekend with AE Victory Racing in the Toyota Supra is in a couple of weeks at High Plains! We just announced our third driver for the remainder of the season to be Ashley Freiberg and I’m stoked to have her as a teammate this year. Our fearless leader, Erin Vogel, announced she is pregnant and Ashley will replace her. I’m sad to lose Erin as my teammate, but will have a fantastic lineup with Ashley and Alana!
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