Episodes

Send us a text In this episode of the Women’s Motorsports Network Podcast , host Melinda Russell sits down with the incredible Michelle Lackey , the powerhouse behind Alaska Raceway Park —the only NASCAR and NHRA-sanctioned track in Alaska. Michelle shares her journey from growing up at the drag strip to becoming a seasoned racer, motorsports entrepreneur, and one-woman show running a track nestled in the breathtaking Alaskan wilderness. From snowmachines and Super Comp racing to building an ent...

Send us a text In this inspiring episode, Melinda Russell welcomes back Michele Della Penna — founder of the Della Penna Foundation — to talk about her powerful mission to expose young girls to the world of motorsports. Michele shares how her upbringing in a racing family led her to launch a nonprofit that offers hands-on opportunities in racing, engineering, marketing, and more. From karting scholarships and immersive track weekends to one-of-a-kind fellowships with top teams and engineers, Mic...

Send us a text 🎧 Host: Melinda Russell 🎤 Guest: Jillian Cole Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with 16-year-old outlaw kart racer Jillian Cole — a driven young woman from California with a growing passion for motorsports. Jillian shares how she got her start in quarter midgets, what it’s like racing alongside her twin brother, and how making the jump to outlaw karts has pushed her to grow as a driver and a person. Jillian opens up about overcoming bullying, building confidence, and f...

Send us a text 🚗💨 Meet Jenna Johnson! A passionate racer and devoted mom, Jenna's journey in motorsports is all about family, fun, and empowerment. From her childhood memories of riding on her dad's race car to competing in the Crown Vic Junior class, she inspires young women to chase their racing dreams. Follow her journey and cheer her on as she hits the track! 🏁💜 #WomenInMotorsports #JennaJohnson #RacingFamily Support the show

Send us a text 🚗✨ New Episode Alert! ✨🚗 Join us for an inspiring conversation with Abby Kay McDonald , a talented drag racer from the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia! 🇦🇺 In this episode, Abby shares her incredible journey into the world of motorsports, her passion for speed, and the importance of community in racing. 💬 Highlights from the Episode: Abby's unconventional entry into motorsports and her love for cars from a young age. The thrill of racing and the supportive community that welcomed...

Send us a text 🚗✨ New Episode Alert! ✨🚗 Join us for an inspiring conversation with Amy Lerner, a trailblazer in off-road racing and cross-country rally! 🌍🏁 In this episode, Amy shares her incredible journey from a car-loving girl in Long Island to competing in some of the most challenging rallies around the world. Discover how her passion for motorsports ignited after a midlife crisis led her to an all-women's navigation rally in Morocco. 🏆💪 Highlights include: The legendary Rod Hall and his imp...

Send us a text 🚗✨ New Podcast Episode Alert! ✨🚗 Join us as we dive into the inspiring journey of Kristin Shaw , an automotive journalist and trailblazer in the world of motorsports! 🌟 From her early love for classic cars to competing in the challenging Rebel Rally at the age of 50, Kristin shares her incredible experiences and insights on writing, community, and the power of following your passion. 🎙️ Tune in to hear her stories about connecting with industry leaders, embracing your unique voice...

Send us a text 🌟 Join us on the latest episode of the Women’s Motorsports Network Podcast! 🚗💨 This week, we’re thrilled to feature Misty Wagner , a passionate racing photographer and advocate for women in motorsports. Hear her inspiring journey from capturing thrilling moments at the track to empowering female racers. 📸✨ Misty shares her experiences, the importance of professional photography in preserving memories, and the growing community of women in racing. Whether you’re a fan, a racer, or ...

Send us a text In this episode of the Women’s Motorsports Network Podcast , host Melinda Russell sits down with Aubree Walker , a 16-year-old aspiring race car driver from Anderson, Indiana. Aubree shares her journey into motorsports, her experiences in the NXG Youth Motorsports program , and her dreams of racing in the Indy 500 . Early Passion for Racing Aubree’s interest in racing began in elementary school when she learned about the Indy 500 . She told her parents she wanted to be a race car ...

Send us a text In this episode of the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast , host Melinda Russell interviews Robin Ridgway , an engineer and drag racer from Lafayette, Indiana. Robin shares her journey into motorsports, which began with a deep-rooted love for mechanics instilled by her mother, an automotive technician. She started drag racing about 12 years ago , inspired after attending a National Hot Rod Diesel Association (NHRDA) event where she realized that everyday pickup trucks, like her o...

Send us a text LeeAnne Young – A Trailblazer in Speedway Racing Host: Melinda Russell Guest: LeeAnne Young About LeeAnne Young A veteran racer from Victoria, Australia, with over 30 years of experience in Speedway racing. Lives in a small country town with her husband, three adult children, seven grandchildren, and a great-grandson . Manages Gooses Autos , a family-owned mechanical business operating for over 30 years . Competes in Speedway and tarmac racing, holding five state titles and curren...

Send us a text In this episode of the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast , host Melinda Russell welcomes Audrey Gerberding , a young and passionate racer with a lifelong dedication to motorsports. Having first met Audrey as a young girl at PRI in 2018, Melinda reflects on how Audrey has grown into an accomplished racer and aspiring industry professional. Now 19 years old , Audrey is pursuing a degree in automotive and high-performance technology at the University of Northwestern Ohio while bala...

Send us a text Laura Ely, a dedicated racing enthusiast, shared her journey into motorsports, which began later in life. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, she now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. Growing up with a father who owned a Buick dealership and being a fan of the Unsers, she always had an interest in cars. However, it wasn’t until she was introduced to track days by a colleague that she realized she could participate in racing herself. With a background in business, includi...

Send us a text In this episode of the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, host Melinda Russell interviews 17-year-old Chloe Kuroski, a go-kart racer from Memphis High School. Chloe shares her journey into motorsports, which began with riding four-wheelers, go-karts, and snowmobiles before officially starting to race in 2021. Inspired by her uncle, Dave, she quickly excelled, earning six wins in 2024 and moving up to the adult class, where she competes with experienced racers, including her uncl...

Send us a text In this episode of the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast , host Melinda Russell interviews Audree Blankenship , a driven 15-year-old racer from LaGrange, Indiana. Audree, a sophomore at Lakeland Junior Senior High School, shares how her family’s racing legacy sparked her passion. Inspired by her grandfather and father, she began her journey in karting and now competes in the Sport Compact and Outlaw Front Wheel Drive divisions. Audree opens up about the challenges of earning res...

Send us a text In this episode of the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, host Melinda Russell sits down with Eva Gregory, a trailblazer in the motorsports industry. Eva shares her journey from a college student working as a cashier at Atlanta Motorsports Park to becoming the Director of Operations at Road Atlanta by her early twenties, and her current role managing marketing partnerships at Hagerty. Throughout the conversation, Eva discusses the challenges she faced as a young woman in a male-...

Send us a text In this week’s Women’s Motorsports Network Podcast Blog , we spotlight Kelly Goldthread , president of the Women's Dirt Bike Racing Association (WDBRA) . Kelly shares her inspiring journey from growing up at motorcycle tracks to founding the first all-women’s competition club sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in the U.S. Driven by her passion for racing and community, Kelly established the WDBRA to connect female racers, foster leadership, and make dirt bik...

Send us a text In this episode of the Women’s Motorsports Network Podcast , host Melinda Russell sits down with Hannah Coltrane Hamrick , a passionate motorsports promoter from Virginia. Hannah shares her personal journey from being a racing enthusiast to becoming the promotions director at Capital City Speedway . Her story is rooted in love, community, and a deep-seated passion for racing, inspired by her late husband, Jimmy Hamrick, a beloved local racer. 🏎️ Key Highlights: ✅ Early Love for Mo...

Send us a text Revving Through Life: The Inspiring Journey of Stacie Rivers in Motorsports Recorded 19Feb2025 In this episode of the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast , host Melinda Russell sits down with Stacie Rivers , a passionate racer and business owner from Texas, to explore her journey in the world of motorsports. Stacie shares how her unexpected introduction to racing through car audio competitions sparked a deep love for drag racing. Despite early challenges, including limited resourc...

Send us a text 🎙️ Women's Motorsports Network Podcast – Episode Summary In this episode, host Melinda Russell sits down with 15-year-old racing sensation Payton Geitzenauer. Payton shares her inspiring journey from discovering her love for motorsports at age 7 to funding her first race car through hard work and determination. 🚦 Payton discusses her experiences racing quarter midgets, partnering with Ashcraft Motorsports, and her dreams of competing in sprint cars. She highlights the challenges o...

Send us a text 🚨 New Podcast Episode Alert! 🎧🏁 Join us on the latest episode of the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast as we chat with Gabby Carroll – Purdue University engineering student, motorsports enthusiast, and former NXG kart racer turned crew member! 🏎️🔧 Gabby shares her journey from go-kart racing during COVID to becoming a key part of the NXG crew, her love for the Indy 500, and her dreams of biomedical engineering on a pre-med track. 🏁✨ Hear how motorsports shaped her life, the impo...

Send us a text 🚨 New Podcast Episode Alert! 🎙️🏁 Join us on the latest Women's Motorsports Network Podcast as we chat with Kayla Martin, the youngest driver to win in the Indiana Race Saver 305 Sprint Car Series! 🏎️✨ Kayla shares her journey from starting in quarter midgets at age 5 to making waves in the 305 Sprint Car scene. Hear about her favorite racing memories, her passion for speed, and how she balances school, sports, and life at the track. 🔧 From working on her own car to inspiring young...

Send us a text 🚀 Breaking Limits with Landspeed Louise! 🚀 🔥 From the south side of Chicago to breaking speed records at Bonneville, Landspeed Louise is the definition of fearless! This motorsports legend has spent her life pushing boundaries, racing jet dragsters, setting world records, and fighting for women in motorsports. 🏁 “Never let anyone judge your abilities by their limitations.” – Landspeed Louise 📖 Hear her incredible journey, from racing at 500+ mph to making history in the automotive...

Send us a text 🚗💨 NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎙️🏁 Get ready for an inspiring ride with the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast! This week, we’re sitting down with Ronni Johnson , a fearless 19-year-old dirt track racer proving that speed has no gender. 🏎️💨 From her first race in a pink & white Crown Vic to beating the boys on the track (and making them mad about it 😆), Ronni shares her journey, challenges, and victories in the world of motorsports. 🔥 What you’ll hear in this episode: ✅ How her dad’s raci...