Women Take The Wheel

On this week's Women Take The Wheel, I am on location at IRP, catching up with past guest, Maddi Gordon. When we first talked to her a couple years ago, she was working on her Dad’s Top Alcohol Funny Car Driver. Now she is driving that race car – and doing a good job of it! This is kind of a unique podcast as we did our interview in two parts. Before eliminations, we talk about her journey into the seat of the family Funny Car. Then, we pick up the conversation three rounds later, with a very happy winner. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I’m so blown away by what Savannah Moffitt has accomplished at such a young age. Just months after graduating college, she is an engineer at Tesla and involved in motorsports. Find out how a meeting with her idol, Lynn St James, led to internships and opportunities. Plus, what she is doing to help lead the way for other girls in college, interested in engineering. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I welcome back Ida Zetterstrom! We first met her at PRI two-years ago, and she has accomplished so much since then. She’s European Top Fuel Champion, Swedish driver of the year – and now she’s made the move to the states to compete in the NHRA! Ida talks about her plans this season with JCM Racing, the differences between racing in Europe and the US, her spot-on advice for girls wanting to get into motorsports, and a little breaking news about a new honor she was bestowed. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

She has been racing since she was only seven years-old! At the ripe old age of 17, Audrey Gerberding competes with the best at dirt tracks around the Midwest. She knows what she wants and has a bright racing future ahead of her. Hear how she plans to juggle driving and college in the coming year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ellen Greenleaf wears many hats in the motorsports industry, including a new sport for me to learn about – Off-Shore powerboat racing! Some of the things we talk about: what she's done to help mentor girls in motorsports, her passion-project documentary, and her family connection to the very first Indy 500 Championship in 1911. Stay tuned. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I have the pleasure of sitting down with the first lady of motorsports, Linda Vaughn! No matter if you follow IndyCar, Drag Racing, NASCAR – you know who she is. We got together to talk at the 2023 Performance Racing Industry show in the new PRI Paddock Podcast Studio. She shares stories from her career that includes her love of racing, being an ambassador for Hurst Industries, some of her famous friends over the years and getting the younger generation interested in racing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It is PRI week in Indianapolis, so I have PRI Executive Editor Meredith Kaplan Burns in the podcast studio with me. We talk about how the PRI Show has grown over the years and what is new this everyone to see this year. She also shares what goes into being an editor of this industry leading magazine, and her advice for women who want to pursue a similar career. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lauren Edwards is the CEO of Reine Digital and Consulting. She created and runs a company - mostly comprised of women - who do digital, social and content creation for drivers and athletes. Lauren tells us how driver Jimmie Johnson helped encourage her to take the leap to start her own company, how she has grown her business and she shares the behind-the-scenes stories of a few popular social posts that you have probably clicked on and liked. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Deni Jensen juggles a lot: Mom, driver and March of Dimes Ambassador. You'll be hearing more about her, as she teams up with Randy Meyer Racing to compete in Top Alcohol Dragster for 2024. Deni talks about how drag racing has truly become a family bonding experience for her and she shares her plans for the 2024 season and beyond. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sarah Tonsmeire is a motorsports Experience and Event Expert. So what does that job entail? As you will hear – A LOT! And it is a job that keeps her very busy. Find out where her love of motorsports began, how she worked her way into motorsports and started her company, plus learn about the wonderful holiday passion project she created in honor of her beloved Paw Paw. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Second generation race car driver, Sarah Allen joins the show today. I had the pleasure of documenting her NHRA racing journey in her A-Fuel dragster a few weeks ago. We have a great conversation about growing up in the NHRA racing community and learning from other women race car drivers in her class. We also discuss how she handles her diabetes while she races and what she is doing to bring awareness to juvenile diabetes research. Stay tuned. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

McKenna Haase is a Sprint Car driver & and team owner And driver and owner are just two of the roles she takes on. She also created and runs a foundation to help introduce kids all over the country to motorsports and helps their get families get the resources they need to compete. And she does it all while putting her faith first. McKenna's journey to pursue her dream of racing is an amazing and inspirational story that I cannot wait for you to hear. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I welcome back Suzannah Stapp this week. I consider her an ambassador for all motorsports. While officially here to talk about the Indianapolis 500 Ladies Oldtimers lunch - we also talk about her family legacy in motorsports, changes she’s witnessed for women at the races and why she brings a riot shield to dirt races. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michelle Della Penna has made it her mission to empower girls with knowledge, skills and opportunities to work in engineering and motorsports. She created the Della Penna Next Gen Motorsports Foundation to get that job done. Hear her story and the wonderful opportunities she is giving a group of girls here in Indianapolis during the month of May. Plus, find out how you can help the foundation out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two-time NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster champion Megan Meyer will be back in the driver's seat this summer for the Nitro Chaos series. She talks about getting back behind-the-wheel after taking a couple years off, and juggling the racing with motherhood. We also talk about the many other jobs she does to help grow racers gain sponsorships. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dystany Spurlock wants to go fast and she wants to do it all! She's an entrepreneur, Pro Stock Motorcycle team owner and driver, she is driving in the Skip Barber Formula Race Series and she even started her own foundation! Hear how she does it all, where her love for racing came from and why you will be seeing her a lot more at the races. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kelly Crandall is a 2x motorsports writer of the year who knew from a very early age that she loved NASCAR and writing. When she decided it was what she wanted to do for a career, nothing was stopping her. We talk about how she used social media to build her writing resume, how social media can also bring out the worst in some people and why it is really important to go to a Drag Race if you have never been to one before. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Part 2 of my PRI interview! Two incredible ladies stop by the Clark Copper Head Gaskets booth to share their stories. First up is Gerda Joon, crew chief for Lex Joon Racing Top Fuel Dragster. Find out how she followed her racing dreams from the Netherlands to the USA. Then I talk to Pro Mod Driver Dina Parise about how she went from skating in the Ice Capades to drag racing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Women Take The Wheel is at the PRI Show meeting some amazing women! So many - that this is just part 1. I catch up with NHRA Rookie of the Year Camrie Caruso to find out her plans for 2023. Then I introduce you to professional drift driver Zandara Kennedy who started her career as a stunt woman! And finally we meet Riley Schlick who is only 17 and started her own business rebuilding carburetors. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If your interested in a career in motorsports, Indianapolis Motor Speedway has lots of opportunities for you to explore! Kennya Santiago tells us all about their College Program and all the paid internships they offer. Whatever field you are studying, they have something for you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.