Explore every episode of the podcast Women Take The Wheel

We are on location at Indianapolis Raceway Park to talk wish Christine Foster while she competes in the NHRA Division 3 race. Christine wears so many hats: She’s a mom and a wife, she has a full-time job, she drives a Top Alcohol Funny Car and helps run the shop for the race team. Oh, and not only does she race, but so does her husband and her son. How does she do it all? She shares her secret and advice for other women chasing their motorsports dreams. 

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Aubre Walker is only in high school, but she’s competed in cart racing, worked on cars and has already gotten a taste of what it’s like to work at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We met thru the Della Penna Foundation, which has a big weekend in the Month of May to inspire local girls who want to get into stem, engineering and motorsports. Aubre talks about how the foundation is helping her reach her goals.

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When you listen to Scrappers Racing Top Fuel Driver Jasmine Salinas talk - you can hear how passionate she is about wanting a career in drag racing. On this episode of Women Take The Wheel, she opens up on career from Junior Dragster to Top Fuel. Hear about the valuable lessons she’s learned over the years from her dad, what it was like getting back in the driver’s seat after her massive A/Fuel dragster crash in Gainesville, her expedited debut into the Top Fuel ranks and the camaraderie among the women drivers in NHRA. 

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Kayleigh Hill-Beakley currently drives in the Super-Comp class, but has plans to keep going faster. Find out when she caught the racing bug, and how the JCM Driver Development Program is helping guide her pursuit to drive Top Fuel some day.

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This week I am joined by Shannon Hill. Some of you may know her better as Mad Maxine! She has embraced the drag racing BUG life, and even taken it to the next level! It is more than just backing up a car. We talk about what it takes to be a BUG, a new ambassador program she has started, and taking on those internet trolls.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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Karen Bailey-Chapman is the Senior Vice President of Public & Government Affairs for SEMA. While a lot of people think SEMA is just a big tradeshow, they do way more than that! Find out what Karen and her team are doing at the local, state and federal government level, to help the motorsports industry. You may be surprised to find out how their work behind the scenes is helping protect fans, racing series, tracks and small business owners.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Women Take The Wheel is out of the studio and in Lucas Oil Stadium with Monster Jam driver, Cynthia Gauthier. She is behind the wheel of the Lucas Stabilizer truck. We met up after practice to talk about what it takes to drive one of those big trucks, how traveling the Monster Jam circuit is truly a family affair, and her message to all the kids who come meet her at the Monster Jam Pit Parties.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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There is more to shooting pictures of race cars than meets the eye. Motorsports photographer Amy Lentz shares what it is like standing behind the walls & fences of a race tracks to capture the perfect shot of a race car and the teams that makes them go fast! She also share tips and tricks for other aspiring photographers.

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Kelly Antonelli is the VP of Team Operations for Tony Stewart Racing & possibly the hardest working woman at the dragstrip . She has been around the sport for a long time and does WAY more than most people realize to keep the drag racing teams running. This week we talk about how she got into motorsports, who helped influence her passion for working in racing and what advice she has for girls who want to get into the business side of motorsports.

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On this week's episode of Women Take The Wheel, I'm joined by Judy Kean, founding partner at Epartrade.com. Find out how she was inspired to come up with this successful company and what she is doing to bring motorsports companies together to do business.

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NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Angie Smith has clinched a spot in the Countdown heading into the most prestigious race of the season: The U.S. Nationals. On this episode of Women Take The Wheel, we talk about how she ended up drag racing, even though she was raised in a 'circle track' family, and why her parents weren't crazy about her riding a motorcycle. We also chat about what it's like working and living with her husband, five-time Champion, Matt Smith.

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This week #WomenTakeTheWheel goes on location to IRP to watch jet cars in action, and talk to the ladies who get these fire breathing dragsters down the track!

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This week is a tribute to the Racing Dads out there who have inspired their daughters love for motorsports. They raised some pretty kick-butt ladies! Listen as past guests share their stories of special bonds created at the races with dad and the lessons they learned from them.

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PNC Bank and Chip Ganassi Racing are working to give more women opportunities and careers in motorsports with their recently launched campaign - Women in Motorsports Powered by PNC Bank with Chip Ganassi Racing. On this episode of Women Take the Wheel hear from Debbie Guild, PNC head of Enterprise Technology & Security as she talks about how the program works and why it holds a special place for her. Then listen to Anna Chatten, Gearbox Specialist on the #48 car of Jimmie Johnson, as she describes how being a women in INDYCAR has changed in the past 20 years.

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Melanie Johnson will be competing in her first full season of Top Alcohol Dragster in 2025. She has one of the best mentors helping her: Her Dad. He happens to be Alan Johnson, who has a few championships under his belt. We talk about growing up at the track watching her family race, her first job in motorsports, when the driving bug bit her and what she does off the track, that can help her find success behind the wheel.

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I am extremely honored to talk to racing legend, Lyn St. James, and Indy Car Team Owner, Beth Paretta. Hear how these two successful women met and teamed up to create Women in Motorsports North America. Find out how this program will help women in all roles, in all types of motorsports.

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The Indy 500 Ladies Oldtimers have been getting together in the Month of May for decades. Susannah Stapp & Leigh Buttera are in the studio to talk about the special bond these women all share and what they're doing to bring in the next generation to help carry on their legacy for years to come.

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When an on-track accident took the life of Bryan Clauson, lives were saved because he was on organ donor. His sister, Taylor McLean, has made it her purpose in life to help other families through organ donation with 'Driven 2 Save Lives.' She shares memories of Bryan and how she has turned her family's tragedy into hope for others.

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Camrie Caruso joins Women Take The Wheel this week to talk about her amazing weekend at the NHRA Spring Nationals! She tells us what it was like to nab the #1 qualifying spot at just her fifth race and the final round appearance that made Pro Stock history!

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Megan Schumacher has spent her entire life learning the family business: Drag Racing. She is now the Vice President of Don Schumacher Racing. This week on Women Take The Wheel, she explains what goes into running a race team on and off the track, what goes on behind-the-scenes at DSR that some people may not know about and the best business advice she has gotten from Don.

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Elaine Larsen is celebrating 20 years behind-the-wheel of a jet dragster. She tells us what it's like to drive the fire breathing cars and how it's different from driving other race cars. Plus, she talks about what she is doing to inspire and mentor the next generation of jet car drivers. We also have a little fun as she tosses me a challenge for the next time I am at a race!

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This episode of Women Take The Wheel is filled with the best advice and tips for women who want a career in motorsports, from more than a dozen female drivers and crew members. They share what lessons they have learned, that may help inspire others.

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When Jamie Howe worked at her first motorsports event when she was 18, she knew that's where she wanted to be. On this episode of Women Take The Wheel, Jamie talks about working her way up in the motorsports broadcasting world and she gives a behind-the-scenes glance at what it takes to do her job. and why she loves it.

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Paige Coughlin comes from a family full of racers; it's in her blood. On this episode of Women Take The Wheel, she talks about that tight family bond, her decision to go No Prep Racing and her sweet ride for 2022 - The Golden Child!

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On this week's Women Take The Wheel, I'm chatting with Payton Cusimano, founder of Chicks on Slicks. She explains how she came up with Chicks on Slicks in college and it skyrocketed in popularity. Plus, she's also a social media guru and shares a few of her tips for motorsports media content.

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Sydnie Turner is only 14 and legally can’t drive the streets of Indianapolis, but she can speed down the drag strip at 100 miles per hour. How is that? Sydnie teaches me all about the NHRA Junior Street program and her experience in the class. We also talk with her inspiration for getting into racing, her Papa – Jody Beach.

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Ida Zetterström is a champion drag racer in Europe and her name is popping up more here in U.S. racing circles. She is also a double threat, competing in Super Street Bike and Top Fuel Dragster. Find out how she got to where she is today and her plans for the future.

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This week's Women Take The Wheel comes to you from PRI2021! Kelly Kundratic joined me in the Clark Copper Headgaskets booth were she talked about how she got into racing, her plans for competing in Top Alcohol Dragster in 2022 and life on the road "urban camping."

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PRI is back and bigger than ever! I chat with Public Relations Director Della Domingo about the new and exciting events going on this week in Downtown Indianapolis.

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Madison Payne comes from a long line of NHRA drivers, but she doesn't call herself a third generation driver. She tells us why and shares which one of her family members gave her the best racing advice.

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