WEBVTT
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:19.000
Start your engines. This is the Women's Motorsports Network. From dirt track nights to the bright race lights from the garage to victory lane. Women are rising chasing the dream with horsepower running through their veins. Women's motorsports hit work.
00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:32.000
Hear those engines roar. Hey. Hey. Stories of courage, speed, and heart like you never heard before. Her future, fuel her dreams.
00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:42.000
Every lap we celebrate Women's Motorsports Network. Let's hit the track. Let's hit the track. Women's Motorsports Network.
00:00:42.000 --> 00:01:20.000
Let's talk about something that doesn't get enough attention in racing, lift and jack safety. We spend so much time focused on what happens on the track, but what happens in the shop or at the track matters just as much. That's where Freedom Race Lifts comes in. They're on a mission to provide safer, more efficient, and innovative battery operated vehicle lifts and jacks built specifically for racers, teams, and home mechanics. No hoses to trip over.
00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:44.000
No complicated setups. Just dependable, safer lifting power designed to keep you safe while you work. And here's what I love most. They're already huge supporters of women in motorsports, helping create opportunities and safer environments for racers of all ages. So whether you're wrenching in your garage or at the track, make safety part of your routine.
00:01:44.000 --> 00:02:06.000
Freedom Race Lifts because being fast is great, but being safe is everything. Visit freedomracelifts.com today. Saving lives one lift at a time. Use coupon code Melinda at checkout for a special discount. Ladies, are you tired of fumbling for your phone like a bad pit stop?
00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:35.000
Shift into gear with save the girls, the stylish touchscreen purse that keeps your phone in the driver's seat. No more digging through your bag during a caution lap. Text, scroll, and snap pictures without ever pulling your phone out. It's track tested, fan approved, and built for women who live life in the fast lane. Head to savethegirls.com and grab yours today because when life's at full throttle, your phone should be too.
00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:56.000
Save the girls, gear up in style. Hello, everyone. This is Belinda Russell with the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, and my guest today is Zoe Smith. Zoe, I wanna welcome you to the show, and would you start by sharing a little bit about yourself?
00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:20.000
I'm 15 years old, and I race legend cars. I'm currently running the summer shootout. I've been racing since I was eight, but I'm still in school, and I I'm a sophomore this year. And then I'll my younger brother used to race, but it's really all I know is racing. That's all we do.
00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:27.000
Okay. Do you have any pets? Yeah. I have two. I have a dog named Maeve.
00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:33.000
She's a Great Dane. And then I have a cat, but she's my mom's cat. She just kinda stays to herself.
00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:36.000
Okay. Cats are kind of finicky like that, aren't they? Yeah.
00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:37.000
They are.
00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:37.000
For
00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:45.000
sure. And then you said you had one brother? Yeah. Yeah. And you still go to school, so that's good.
00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:48.000
But right now you're on summer break, so that's even better.
00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:49.000
Yeah, it is. Yeah.
00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:56.000
Yeah. Oh, for sure. Absolutely. So you started when you were eight. So how did that happen?
00:03:56.000 --> 00:04:04.000
Did somebody in your family race? You you went to the races with a friend. How did you get started being interested?
00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:29.000
My dad used to race before, like, before I was born. And but he would always take me to racetracks or like, he we were still into it, and we'd watch races every Sunday when NASCAR was on. And Mhmm. Then one of his best friends, his son started racing. And I was like, I was interested in the karts themselves.
00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:41.000
And I was like, I'd like to do this. And my dad's like, we'll do this if you want to. So he bought me my first kart, and we started racing. But the first season, it was really slow, but it started to pick up pretty quickly after that.
00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:45.000
Yeah. It gets in your blood, doesn't it?
00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:47.000
Yeah. It does. It's hard to get out too.
00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:52.000
It is hard to get out. And we don't want to. We don't wanna get out. No. For sure.
00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:54.000
Not at all.
00:04:54.000 --> 00:05:00.000
No. Not at all. So do you remember the first race that you ever raced?
00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:20.000
So, yeah, there was only three people in the class, and I finished I finished last, but, like, we didn't have a setup. We were like, this was all so new to me. I've never been in a car, but it was it was pretty cool. I'll always remember it. I was it was really fun.
00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:29.000
Yeah. Yeah. It's you know, you can't describe what it's like to somebody.
00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:33.000
No, you can't. It's so hard to describe to someone who doesn't know.
00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:43.000
No. And even if they haven't you know, if they've been to a race, it helps, but they still don't really get what it's like to be in a car.
00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:45.000
No. Not at all.
00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:53.000
No. So so when you first started racing, what was the hardest thing for you to learn?
00:05:53.000 --> 00:06:15.000
The hardest thing for me to learn was what to tell my dad, like, how the car was reacting or the cart. Like, I feel like I was so zoned in on what I was doing, and I never really paid attention or, like, I'd remember. And as soon as I got off, I would forget. And he'd be like, well, you have to remember. But I struggled with that until recently.
00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:17.000
Like, I'm just now getting the hang of it.
00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:44.000
I think that would be really hard. You know, they talk all the time on TV and that about it's loose, it's tight, it it doesn't do this or that. And and even I kinda, you know, I've been a race fan for a long time. I've never been a driver, but I I still think, well, what does that mean exactly? Is it the when you turn the wheel, it's it's loose or, you know, it's just hard to explain.
00:06:44.000 --> 00:07:00.000
And especially if you're just a fan and you hear them talking about it, you don't always know what that's like. So I would think that would be hard hard to explain. So who was your yeah. Who was your biggest encourager when you first started racing?
00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:36.000
It was definitely definitely my dad. Like, he would always encourage me and, like, even if we'd finish bad, like, he'd be like, we'll just get him next week or he would try my try his best to introduce me to new tracks, and we'd go on trips together. Like, he would always encourage me and never like, later on, he would definitely start to become harder on me, but, like, I started to realize he would become harder on me not to bring me down, but he he saw potential in me that he knew I could get more out of me. So he's always been on my side and always, like, lifted me up.
00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:50.000
Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. So how old were you when you realized that racing was something that you were gonna do for a while? Was it when you first started or recently?
00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:59.000
I would say it was definitely when I first started. Like, I just I always knew. It's just yeah.
00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:03.000
Yeah. Just felt it inside. Yeah. Yeah. For sure.
00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:16.000
That's that's happens so often to people. So when you fur that first race, were you scared? Were you excited? Can you remember how you felt when you were
00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:35.000
eight years old? I was so excited. I was like, I was so happy to be there, and I was happy to finally get in it because I like, we'd spent we set it up a little bit, but it wasn't, like, the best. But I was just happy. The environment was nice.
00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:37.000
I had a great time.
00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:57.000
Yeah. That's good. You know, everybody doesn't start off the best on their first race, and and sometimes it's discouraging to someone. And but more times than not, when I hear somebody, you know, I interview somebody, they're like, oh, soon as I got in that car, I knew this was for me. So that was kind of fun.
00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:03.000
Would you have any advice for somebody who's just, like, starting out or maybe they're gonna go to a try
00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:21.000
and ride or something like that? And, what kind of advice would you give to them? I would definitely say, like, the first time you got there, you're not gonna do good. And if you do, then definitely, like, keep pushing. But if you don't do good, don't let it bring you down.
00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:35.000
That's what I've done several times, and it does not help you whatsoever. So you just have to, like, see the potential in yourself. And even if you do that, you like, you have potential. Everybody has potential.
00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:51.000
Yeah. That's true of anything we try. Most of the times, if you try to make your first meal or sew or eat anything, the first time out, it's not usually very successful, but it gets better. Yeah.
00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:52.000
It does.
00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:58.000
Yeah. Do you have one race that you'll never forget?
00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:13.000
We went so I can't maybe it was even I think it was it was 2022. We traveled all the way to Knoxville, Iowa. We spent the week up there for the Wing Cart Nationals at English Creek. Mhmm. I've been there.
00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:27.000
Out we started out rough, and, like, we didn't do very good in qualifying. And my heat race, I didn't do very good. And I started in the b main. And my dad's like, alright. We traveled sixteen hours for this.
00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:41.000
You gotta make it. Uh-huh. And I finished second, and I transferred. So in the a man, I started twelfth, and I made it all the way up to fifth. And I still I got a plaque for it, and I was so happy once I got that plaque.
00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:48.000
Mhmm. But it was Do you remember what year what year that was? 2022.
00:10:48.000 --> 00:11:01.000
Okay. I may have been there, Zoe. I was there in 2021 and 2022 at English Creek. We also went I didn't know you there.
00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:16.000
Yeah. We went in 2023, but it did not. We made we did a lot better. I think we qualified, like, fifth. We qualified well, and we won our heat race, and that put us starting sixth in the a main.
00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:32.000
And then first or coming out of turn two on the first lap, I someone spun in front of me, and I knocked him back straight. And but it spun me out, and I had to go to the back. And then my chain ended up coming coming off, and I did finish the race.
00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:47.000
That's too bad. But that's a long like you said, it's a long way to go. But isn't that an amazing place to race? It's out in the middle of nowhere. The cars and the trailers, the haulers, they're just parked everywhere.
00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:58.000
On the hill, in the field. It's you can't explain that to anybody either. It's just a really cool place Yeah. To go
00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:03.000
So what are you racing right now? I'm racing legend cars.
00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:11.000
Oh yeah. You said that legend cars. So they don't race at English Creek, right? Those are just the carts or whatever.
00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:21.000
Yeah. We so we switched. I made a big jump. We were racing dirt, and then we went to asphalt, which was totally new for me. Mhmm.
00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:28.000
Yeah. So do you like it? Like it better? You you like dirt better? Which is your favorite?
00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:48.000
I think dirt will always have a place in my heart no matter what I race. Like, the racing is just it's so high, and it's so action packed. Like, you don't know what will happen, especially once you start watching the sprint cars and late models. You just really it definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:59.000
Yeah. It does. I mean, there's it's people who don't know racing just think, oh, you know, what's the big deal? But it it's so different. Yeah.
00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:01.000
It is. Yeah.
00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:07.000
It is. I love I love watching dirt, but I don't like going home after when I'm so dirty and dusty.
00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:18.000
That's my favorite part. Like, you go in a gas station or even, like, Waffle House, and you'll go in there after and it's like, you definitely been to the dirt track. You can tell.
00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:37.000
Mhmm. Yeah. Absolutely. Have you ever had a race that you had, like, really a big challenge or maybe even a season, you know, some challenge, like, a big challenge that just time after time, you were struggling to get better at it, and then you finally overcame it.
00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:58.000
Yeah. I had a lot of those seasons, I think. Let's see. There was there was a stretch where, like, I didn't win a race, and I actually was thinking about, like, maybe this just isn't for me. But then I was like, well, I'm gonna give it one more season.
00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:10.000
And if not, then I might try something else. And that next season, we won three races, and we actually won a point championship. Mhmm. So then I was like, this is for me.
00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:21.000
Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, you're gonna lose more than your win than you win. That's everybody in motorsports. That's not just you.
00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:53.000
There's not one person who wins more than they lose when they're a race car driver. And it teaches you, I think, so many things, especially as a kid. You started when you were eight. You know? Typically, the girls I in interview that are, let's say, under 18 have really matured more at an earlier age because of all the things they've learned.
00:14:53.000 --> 00:15:07.000
So, yeah, can you think of some things that maybe had you not been involved in racing that you've learned, like, you know, patience, confidence, all those different kinds of things? What would you say would be yours?
00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:37.000
I definitely it definitely gave me confidence. And especially as a girl, like, I felt like I was just it was just awesome. Like, I had the chance to driving. Like, it helped a lot with driving. And but it gave me, yeah, it gave me a lot of confidence, and I definitely learned, like, a lot of patience when to when to do what I need to do and when to hold back a little bit.
00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:42.000
Yeah. And yeah. So it def it teaches you a lot.
00:15:42.000 --> 00:16:06.000
Yeah. And I think as you get older, you'll it'll teach you even more, you know, disappointment when things don't go right and how to handle adversity and and how to, you know, how to interact with adults when you're a kid. Just so many things for sure. Mhmm. So what do you think is something that fans have no clue about when it comes to racing?
00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:08.000
I don't they don't
00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:29.000
I think they don't have any idea of how much work actually gets put into the car. Like, not only at the track, but at the shop. Like, there are so many late nights. Me and my dad's been in the shop just working or trying to find the little thing that will make us just a bit faster, and that can help us get the edge on some people. But Mhmm.
00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:34.000
They're just so hard to explain, like, all the stuff that goes into it.
00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:46.000
It really it really is. They almost have to come and spend a night with you in the shop to understand that. Yeah. I say that too about even race day. You know?
00:16:46.000 --> 00:17:20.000
Fans show up a half hour before the races start, and they sit down. They're eating their popcorn, and they don't realize that the drivers have been there since noon or whatever. And, you know, all the things that you've had to do to get ready for the race and and fans don't understand. And I always encourage people, you know, ask your favorite driver if you can come and spend one race day with them from the time they are at the track. And it really opens people's eyes about the work, how much tires cost, all the different things that go into
00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:23.000
it. There's a lot that goes into it.
00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:40.000
Yeah. There is. So how do you prepare yourself for, like, a a race? Like, let's say you're gonna be racing tomorrow. What do you do besides getting your stuff ready, you know, your shoes and all those things?
00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:47.000
How do you prepare mentally to be in your best frame of mind when you go to race?
00:17:47.000 --> 00:18:09.000
Sometimes I actually don't really do anything differently. Like, I definitely try not to stress about the little things. If we forget something, it's not a big deal. We can improvise. I try to keep as as much off my mind as I can and or I might play a little eye racing before to give me some confidence.
00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:23.000
But I really I kinda keep it simple. Like, it's just a regular day. There's I try not to draw any more attention to it, and I take stuff off my mind that could mess me up in the car.
00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:43.000
Yeah. That's that's a good plan because sometimes your mind is your worst enemy. It it just gets you you're thinking about this and this and this, and then you you're just like, oh, I need to take a breath and and not be stressing about all this stuff for sure. Yeah. Yeah.
00:18:43.000 --> 00:19:01.000
So being a girl in motor sports, have you ever had any any other kids, other boys, or parents, or anybody ever give you any trouble about, you know, oh, girls don't belong in racing, or are they pretty accepting of you?
00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:16.000
I think they're pretty accepting. Mhmm. I don't really think I've had, like, a situation of that. But even if I did, I don't think it would let me tear it wouldn't tear me down because I know I belong in it. Everyone should have a chance.
00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:25.000
And I feel, yeah, I feel like no one should. Everyone deserves a chance in racing if they think they do.
00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:44.000
I believe I believe that too. I personally think it's important that other girls see girls like you racing. If you had some advice or if somebody came up to you and said, my little girl wants to race like you, what would you share with them?
00:19:44.000 --> 00:20:00.000
I would definitely tell them to give it a shot. Like, you need to try it. And once you try it, you're not gonna wanna stop. And it feels so good once you finally at the end of the night and you beat everybody and you beat all the boys. It's the best feeling.
00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:10.000
Like, everyone's like, oh, well, since you're a girl, you probably aren't gonna beat them. But once you do, it is the best feeling. It's so hard to describe.
00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:30.000
Mhmm. Yeah. Exactly. So have you someone other than your dad maybe that that you've looked up to or that's given you some advice, whether it's someone you've met or someone you watch, you know?
00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:41.000
I I don't really know. I feel like I really just I look up to my dad mostly just because I know the most about him.
00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:47.000
Yeah. Yeah. So what's been the toughest part of your career so
00:20:47.000 --> 00:21:15.000
far? I would say I would definitely say getting into the legend cars. It it was such a big jump, and it was it's just different racing and atmospheres and just different tracks Mhmm. That there's so much different stuff about it. But that has definitely been a challenging part.
00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:18.000
But are you glad you made the move?
00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:27.000
Yeah. I am. I'm I was unsure about it at first because I wasn't very good. But then I got to thinking about it. I'm like, well, no one's gonna be good their first time.
00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:41.000
And my dad kept telling me this because he could see that I was upset when I didn't do good, but I stuck with it. And I got that out of my mind that I should be good the first time. Right. Right.
00:21:41.000 --> 00:22:01.000
So when things get tough, what does keep you motivated? I know you said you had, you know, a couple tough seasons there that you were thinking maybe this isn't for me, but you didn't quit. You kept going. So what what was behind that? How did that, you know I think
00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:28.000
what or my like, the amount of time my dad would put into it, it showed me that, like, he didn't think I was bad, and he saw that I should keep going. So definitely, like, all the late nights and all the extra work he's done on my car or carts Mhmm. It showed me that, like, I could do it. Someone believes in me and Yeah. Someone I look up to believes in me.
00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:30.000
So that definitely helped me out a lot.
00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:37.000
Yeah. I'm sure that's probably right. So what kind of goals do you have for your racing career?
00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:51.000
I definitely wanna continue racing. But if later on, if it just doesn't work out, I def I wanna find a job in racing and just work around racing. That's what I've always wanted to do since I was young.
00:22:51.000 --> 00:23:10.000
Yeah. And there's so many opportunities really in Yeah. There is. Everything you can think of from being the makeup person for the TV people, which I interviewed a lady that did that, and I had no idea there was makeup person that did their hair and makeup. And then after I thought about it, it's like, well, they're on TV.
00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:41.000
You know? But but she's employed by NASCAR, and you just don't ever think about that or, you know, PR or the person that makes arranges all the travel. There's just so many things that you can do in motorsports, and everybody's part of the team. So, yeah, everybody can't race forever, but they can certainly be involved in some way with motorsports. So what kind of an impact do you hope to make?
00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:51.000
I mean, little girls are probably watching you when you're racing at a track where there's other kids and that. What would you want them to say about Zoe?
00:23:51.000 --> 00:24:14.000
I want them I want them to say that she's the one who got me into racing. Like, I want I want more girls to get into racing, and I just I feel like there's just not enough of them. But I just want one to or a lot of them to just step out and be like, I can do this and just Yeah. They need to do it. Yeah.
00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:17.000
So what's your favorite track?
00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:40.000
My favorite track, I think I think Charlotte's my favorite track for now, but that's the track I've raced at most. Charlotte is just so fun, and there's so many people that come out to watch. And, like, it's so close to home for me, so all my family and my friends, they can come out and see me race. Yeah.
00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:53.000
Yeah. So if you could be part of any series racing any kind of car in the future, what would be your ideal thing to do?
00:24:53.000 --> 00:25:08.000
I've always wanted to race a dirt late model or, like, a dirt sprint car. So either the high limit series or the Lucas Oil late models because those they're, like, they're just so awesome to see in person.
00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:19.000
Yeah. Yeah. They are. I the high limit, my friend, is the chaplain for the high limit series. So she travels all over with them.
00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:38.000
She works for Racers for Christ, and then her husband is one of the, like, medic medical people. They they just travel all over the country in their in their van and stuff. And they they are just love it. Absolutely love it. And the people that run and work the high limit series are amazing people.
00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:50.000
So, yeah, that that would be awesome. And there's no girls running in it, so you need to get busy and get up there. Yeah. Yeah. For sure.
00:25:50.000 --> 00:26:09.000
So what is your favorite racing memory? Maybe outside of the car. Something that that's happened that you got to do because you were a racer or somebody you met, anything at all that's not related to driving.
00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:39.000
My favorite racing memories are when we go every year, we go to the dirt track at Charlotte to see the world finals and all the big big blocks and the late models and sprint cars come out. And, like, we have our little camping square where we have campers, and I think there's, like, five or six of us, but we're just all enclosed. But Mhmm. We always have a good time there, and the racing's good, and it's it's a great time.
00:26:39.000 --> 00:27:02.000
Yeah. That sounds like a lot of fun. So what I'm hearing you say is because you wouldn't be racing that weekend, Some of the people, it's the people that you meet. Tell me about how that's how that's affected you as as a you know, you could be hanging out with your high school friends. Right?
00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:18.000
Mhmm. But you go to the track on the weekends and hang out with all age people probably, from littler ones to people that could be your grandparents. What's what keeps you going back to the track on the weekends?
00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:42.000
It's just the atmosphere of it. Like, no sporting event has ever felt the same as a racetrack does. And, like, everyone's just so friendly. Like, you can come you'll go up to someone and you'll have a conversation with them. And it's just great to hear all the stories that they have to tell and what it was like when they maybe raced or what it's like when they still race.
00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:45.000
It's just it's the atmosphere for me. Yeah.
00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:50.000
So do you have any traditions or superstitions on race day?
00:27:50.000 --> 00:28:17.000
So I always put my left shoe, my left sock, and my left arm on first. And I also put my left, like, ear in for my earbuds. And then I have this little car. I put it in my left pocket when I go out. And I'm trying to I have, like, a lot of them.
00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:25.000
So are you right handed? Yeah. Yeah. That's what I figured. Yeah.
00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:37.000
That's you know, there's a lot of girls that say, oh, I have special socks or I always braid my hair or, you know, every not everybody, but a lot of girls have certain things they do a certain way.
00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:57.000
Yeah. I used to I would wear like, one night, we'd have a really good night, and I'd wear this necklace and my earring, but I wouldn't take them off the next night. Or, like, the next time we race, I'd wear the same exact things. And then finally, once we did bad, I'm like, I have to switch it up. Those are wind out or there's no more good in them.
00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.000
Guess
00:28:57.000 --> 00:29:06.000
There's no more luck in these earrings. No. Yeah. That's cute. So do you have a favorite track food?
00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:17.000
Walking tacos. We used to race at Millbridge and walking, like, that's what I would get every single time was a walking taco. Okay.
00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:33.000
You did you have and when you were, like, at Millbridge or whatever, do you have somebody you race against that's kind of your rival or maybe somebody that you really enjoy racing with?
00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:45.000
I wouldn't say so. Like, I I enjoyed racing with everybody, but there was a couple people that race you a little bit harder or
00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.000
Yeah.
00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:52.000
They just wouldn't give you any room. They're kinda dirty, but so I didn't, like, enjoy being around them. But
00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.000
Okay.
00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:54.000
I mostly enjoyed racing everybody.
00:29:54.000 --> 00:30:01.000
Yeah. Yeah. There's all and that's I don't care what racetrack you're at. There's those people. That's for sure.
00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:12.000
You know? Sometimes it makes you feel like, is that the only way you can win is to race somebody dirty, but they'll learn at some point for sure.
00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.000
Yeah. Yeah.
00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:16.000
Do you listen to music before you race?
00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:23.000
Sometimes, but sometimes I forget to. I've I do enjoy listening to music before though.
00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:29.000
Yeah. What's your favorite kind of music? Some I'll
00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:40.000
I'll listen to country or if I'm trying to, like, get into or I don't know. I listen to rap too. I mostly listen to rap before I go out.
00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:52.000
Get pumped up. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So when you're racing, would you rather start at the front, the middle, or the back?
00:30:52.000 --> 00:31:20.000
I would say the middle because the back, there's it's hard there's more wrecks, and it's just sometimes hard to avoid them. And the front well, I feel like the front and the middle for me. Sometimes the front can get kind of boring just because it's, like, either battling the same cars or there's just not much action in the front. But the middle, there's always some action going on. Yeah.
00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:35.000
Yeah. Yeah. That's I I can see that. Everybody has their favorite. One one little girl said, I wanna race I wanna start from the back because when the cars in the middle crash, then I can pass everybody.
00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:43.000
That's what I used to that's what I used to think, and then I started it'd be harder to avoid them. And I was like, it's not the place for me.
00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:52.000
No. So tell me about your your your car. What color is it? What number is it? Did you choose the number?
00:31:52.000 --> 00:32:15.000
So my car is it's currently white, and we're gonna get a wrap made for it. But for now, it's white, and it's got a couple of our sponsors on it. But my number's 44 because my dad used to be 44. He said that he was like, well, if you're gonna race this car, you're either gonna be 44 or you're not gonna race. That's what
00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.000
he told
00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:21.000
my brother too. Yeah. But I wouldn't I wouldn't wanna be any other number anyway.
00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:27.000
Yeah. Keep it going in the family. Right? Yeah. Yeah.
00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:44.000
Yeah. So is there anything, Zoe, that we haven't talked about? Like, do you wanna share about, like, your wins? What, you know, what kind of wins or what your careers look like, and then maybe your sponsors?
00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:57.000
So I've gotten I don't have that many wins in the legend cars. I have one at Franklin County. Mhmm. And then I have one b main win at Charlotte. Okay.
00:32:57.000 --> 00:33:18.000
But my sponsors, I have Anderson and Sons and their shirt printing company, then I have Warrant Warrant Trucking Equipment, Harps Access Control, Superior Industrial, Lacey's Transmission. And then my momma and papa, they help out a good bit too. Okay.
00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:21.000
Yeah. Do they come watch a race?
00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:30.000
When they can. Yeah. But sometimes either the races are just too far away or it's just it's not they're just too busy to get to
00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:36.000
them. Yeah. Because you travel with the series. Right? That series travels?
00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:41.000
Sometimes we're trying to, like, keep it more local now.
00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.000
Okay.
00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:51.000
And since the shootout's running, we're not really, like, focusing on any other track except Charlotte. Yeah. So for now, we're just kinda staying here.
00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:58.000
Yeah. And that's on, flow racing because I've been able to watch that. Yeah. Yeah. That's been a lot of fun.
00:33:58.000 --> 00:34:03.000
Yeah. That that I can watch that. That's pretty cool. Yeah. Mhmm.
00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:16.000
There anything that we haven't talked about that you wanna make sure that you share about? Like, how would somebody find you on Facebook? Or is that what you use Facebook, Instagram? Where where can we find you?
00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:31.000
My Facebook page is Zoe Smith Racing, and I think we're gonna start we have an Instagram, but it's just not very updated. So we're gonna start using Instagram too, but it's also Zoe Smith Racing.
00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:37.000
Okay. Alright. And then the summer shootout's still going on.
00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:43.000
Mhmm. If there's a race well, we're gonna race tomorrow, and then there's a practice tonight.
00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:49.000
Yeah. Tuesday nights, I think, is when it's on flow. And how many more of those will there be? Do you know?
00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:55.000
I think maybe two more weeks. Okay.
00:34:55.000 --> 00:35:06.000
Yeah. Okay. Because, you know, it's the middle of July already, so it'll be time to, unfortunately, time to go back to school here pretty soon. So gotta get those races in. Yeah.
00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:17.000
Mhmm. Is there is there somewhere that a track or that you'd really love to go race at that, you know?
00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:29.000
I will. I guess for my dirt background, I've always wanted to race it, like, the Chili Bowl or the Tulsa Shootout. Or if we can't race them, I've I would always love to go watch them.
00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:48.000
Yeah. They're on my bucket list too, Zoe. Obviously, I won't be driving, but I really would like to go to both of those. I think that would and I've interviewed so many gals that have raced those that, you know, I just really would love to go to do those as well. So maybe we'll see each other there.
00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:59.000
That's a bucket list for me as well. Yeah. Yeah. Anything else that you wanna share, Zoey, before we go?
00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:00.000
I don't think so.
00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:12.000
Okay. Alright. Well, you're gonna be racing it'll be on Flow. She's gonna she's racing the summer shootout. I think that is sponsored by Cookout, if I remember correctly.
00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.000
Yeah.
00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:28.000
And and so that's been a big deal. I've been watching it every week on flow. So I encourage you if you're listening to watch and watch for Zoe and and cheer her on from wherever you're at. And then, Zoe, I wanna wish you the best of luck. I'll be watching for sure.
00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:46.000
And if there's ever anything that, you wanna share or you wanna come back on or if you post something that you want me to share, just tag Women's Motorsports Network. And that way I'll see your post and keep up a little bit better with what your season's looking like.
00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:47.000
Okay.
00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:51.000
Alright. Well, thanks for being on, Zoey. I really appreciate it.
00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:55.000
Thank you. This was this was an honor to be on here.
00:36:55.000 --> 00:37:28.000
Oh, well, you're so welcome. Drivers, start your engines and bring the thrill of the track into your life with Pic Crew Creations. We design unique custom motorsports inspired decor and accessories for fans who live life in the fast lane. From personalized mugs to stylish shirts, bags, and journals, every piece is crafted to match your love for racing. Whether it's for your home, your style, or the perfect gift, we've got you covered.
00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:58.000
Don't just cheer for the race. Live it. Visit pick crew creations today and shift into gear with designs as unique as your passion. You can find us on Facebook at Pic Crew Creations or on Etsy at piccrewcreationsshop.etsy.com. Pic Crew Creations, fueled by passion crafted for you.