
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Send us a text
At age nine, Veronica McCann received racing gear for her birthday. Now, decades later, this Perth, Western Australia native is still pursuing her passion across two continents. Nicknamed "Red Hot Ronnie" for her distinctive auburn hair, Veronica brings a refreshing perspective to dirt track racing that bridges Australian and American motorsports cultures.
From winning a track championship at Perth Motorplex at just 19 to placing third in prestigious Australian series for three consecutive years, Veronica's competitive spirit is matched only by her willingness to learn. She candidly shares what drove her to pack her bags at 21 and fly alone to America to chase racing opportunities, describing the courage required to leave her close-knit family and how this journey transformed her personally and professionally.
The conversation reveals fascinating contrasts between Australian and American dirt track racing approaches. While her home season follows a regimented schedule from October through April, Veronica's recent Tennessee racing adventure introduced her to the more spontaneous "winging it" style of American racing—deciding where to compete just days before events based on tire compounds and prize purses. This adaptability has expanded her racing toolkit in unexpected ways.
Now balancing her own dirt late model team in Australia with a professional role managing speedway operations at Perth Motorplex, Veronica embodies how racing passion evolves throughout life's seasons. Her story resonates with anyone who has stepped outside their comfort zone to pursue their dreams, proving that racing's greatest lessons sometimes happen far from home. Follow her continuing journey on Facebook at Veronica McCann/Red Hot Racing as she takes what she's learned from American dirt back to the Australian racing scene this October.
Support the show
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworkandpodcast
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/
TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/
X: https://x.com/IWMANation
FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell
By Melinda Russell5
55 ratings
Send us a text
At age nine, Veronica McCann received racing gear for her birthday. Now, decades later, this Perth, Western Australia native is still pursuing her passion across two continents. Nicknamed "Red Hot Ronnie" for her distinctive auburn hair, Veronica brings a refreshing perspective to dirt track racing that bridges Australian and American motorsports cultures.
From winning a track championship at Perth Motorplex at just 19 to placing third in prestigious Australian series for three consecutive years, Veronica's competitive spirit is matched only by her willingness to learn. She candidly shares what drove her to pack her bags at 21 and fly alone to America to chase racing opportunities, describing the courage required to leave her close-knit family and how this journey transformed her personally and professionally.
The conversation reveals fascinating contrasts between Australian and American dirt track racing approaches. While her home season follows a regimented schedule from October through April, Veronica's recent Tennessee racing adventure introduced her to the more spontaneous "winging it" style of American racing—deciding where to compete just days before events based on tire compounds and prize purses. This adaptability has expanded her racing toolkit in unexpected ways.
Now balancing her own dirt late model team in Australia with a professional role managing speedway operations at Perth Motorplex, Veronica embodies how racing passion evolves throughout life's seasons. Her story resonates with anyone who has stepped outside their comfort zone to pursue their dreams, proving that racing's greatest lessons sometimes happen far from home. Follow her continuing journey on Facebook at Veronica McCann/Red Hot Racing as she takes what she's learned from American dirt back to the Australian racing scene this October.
Support the show
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworkandpodcast
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/
TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/
X: https://x.com/IWMANation
FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

368,661 Listeners