Growing up as the daughter of a race car driver, our home was lined with shelves overflowing with trophies, and my weekends were filled with the roar of engines on the TV. You’d think I would have started racing go-karts as soon as I could walk. And believe me, my dad tried. His dream was to mentor the next great race car driver with the last name Mott. As his only child, I was his best shot.
At eight years old, he took me to the go-kart track, hoping to spark that same passion in me. And while I enjoyed our track days together, my dad wasn’t just letting me have fun—he was laying the foundation. He never let me practice the wrong line, just in case I ever changed my mind. Foreshadowing...
He was strategic, too. He set lap-time goals for me, turning my competitive spirit into motivation. “Whatever you want—break your record of 43.65, and it’s yours.”
As an eight-year-old, I always picked the most extravagant rewards. A massive blow-up pool for the backyard? A full day at Fun Fun City with my friends? Done deal. If I ran out of gas, we refueled and went back out until I hit my goal.
I was getting fast. Fast enough that my dad finally asked if I wanted to actually start racing, instead of just running time trials. I said no. Looking back, the only reason I can think of is that I was scared to race against the boys. I wish I could go back and say yes, but I believe everything happens for a reason.
At 15, I realized I was missing out—not just on racing, but on an opportunity to bond with my dad and do something no one else at my high school was doing. So, I told him I wanted to give this “racing thing” another shot. After some training, I entered my first race.
It was a disaster.
First lap, first corner, first green flag—I got spun out by someone who wasn’t even in my class. Not exactly a dream debut. My dad didn’t say much on the car ride home, waiting to see how I’d react. Ten minutes in, I broke the silence: “That was actually really fun, you think we could do more?”
I was all in after that.
In just a few years, I went from karts to racing in IMSA’s Mazda MX-5 Cup, the most competitive spec racing series in North America. I even landed a spot in a docuseries about my rookie season. What I thought would be a small project turned into a pretty big deal.
First to the Finish, premiering exclusively on Amazon Prime tonight (March 25th), follows myself, Heather Hadley, and team owner Shea Holbrook as we battle through the 2024 MX-5 Cup Championship while balancing life outside of racing.
At the beginning of the season, all I knew was that there would be cameras. What I didn’t know was that this would turn into an Amazon Prime series. Or that it would land us interviews with Forbes, People and national news outlets. Or that I’d get to do a media tour in Toronto with Mazda Canada.
Never in my wildest dreams did I expect Mazda to push this series to such a massive platform. Their belief in me has changed my career forever.
That belief in me also opened new doors. Last year, I got an unexpected GT4 race opportunity with AE Victory Racing. Erin Vogel, the team’s owner, trusted me to drive her Audi R8 GT4 for a World Racing League (WRL) race at Sebring. Until that moment, I had only ever raced a Miata. The leap was huge.
I was nervous. About my performance, the team dynamic, and proving I belonged. But by the end of the weekend, despite some mechanical issues, I had learned so much and earned Erin’s trust. We bonded so quickly that we ended up rooming together at the WIMNA Summit shortly after.
Spending those three days with her changed my perspective. Erin wasn’t just an incredible driver—she was a leader for women in motorsports, using her platform to help female racers get funding and opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have. That made me realize something: That’s my mission too. Maybe not today, but in the future.
A few months later, I was confronted with a harsh reality: despite my relentless networking and tireless efforts to secure sponsorships, I didn’t have the funding to continue for another season in the Mazda MX-5 Cup. My season, my career—everything was on the line.
Out of desperation, I called Erin. “Is there any way you can help me keep racing?” That phone call changed everything. Erin stepped up in a massive way, helping me get back on the grid. Without her, I don’t know where I’d be in my career. Now, I represent AE Victory Racing proudly on my car and suit—because Erin’s mission is my mission, and Shift Up Now’s mission.
More women. More opportunities. More victories.
It’s easy to get caught up in the media hype, the fame and the success that comes with a platform like Amazon Prime. But this journey has taught me something far more important: Stay humble. Remember who helped you. And be the person who makes a difference.
Want to join the mission with me, and provide more opportunities for talented female racers? Become a member of The Inside Track for as little as $10 per month. And don’t forget to order your If She Can See Her, She Can Be Her gear in the Shift Up Now store as well!
Sally Mott is currently competing in Mazda MX-5 Cup with JTR Motorsports in a pink Iron Dames inspired livery. Her next race weekend will be May 3-4, 2025, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. Be sure to watch the first episodes of ‘First to the Finish’, debuting tonight on Amazon Prime and follow Sally on Instagram @SallyMottRacing.
