Women's Motorsports Network Podcast - Fuel Her Future Podcast

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Horsepower isn’t only built with parts and talent, it’s protected by the choices you make between rebuilds. We’re joined by Jessica Trout of Schaeffer Oil to talk about what happens when you treat lubricants like performance equipment instead of an afterthought, and why a “lubrication consultant” mindset beats a hard-sell pitch every time.

Jessica shares how she grew into the business alongside her father, and why Schaefferr’s made in the USA manufacturing story still matters to fleets, farms, and race teams who need consistent quality. We get practical about how real customers validate results using third-party oil analysis through WebScope, including extended drain intervals, reduced downtime, and even identifying when a problem is actually mechanical or OEM-related rather than “bad oil.”

Then we head to the dirt. Sprint car racing becomes the stress test for everything, from selecting the right racing oil for alcohol-burning engines to learning directly from engine builders who see the bearings, seals, rings, and wear patterns up close. Jessica explains how those builder insights and on-track proof can shape better recommendations for everyone, including industrial equipment owners who just want longer life and fewer failures. We also touch on driveline gear oil and grease field testing, plus how Schaeffer works with American Lube Equipment for pumps and lubrication hardware.

If you want smarter maintenance, stronger reliability, and a clearer way to choose the right lubricant for your application, listen now. Subscribe, share this with a racing friend or a shop owner, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

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She got told “nobody really cares about motorsports” and made a decision that changed everything. We’re talking with Kendra Sommer, a former TV news reporter who quits her job, flies to the SEMA Show with no network, and turns that leap into real momentum and a real business in automotive media. If you’ve ever wanted a career in motorsports content, this story hits that exact nerve: fear, hustle, and the moment you decide to bet on yourself.

We get into what it actually takes to build CWK Media, from creating a credible brand, to working trade shows like SEMA and PRI, to earning referrals that keep the pipeline full. Kendra shares unforgettable shoots and lessons from the road, including documenting the Hot Rod Power Tour, producing features in Saudi Arabia, and filming a Mercury Racing project that involved 175 mph on a boat. We also talk about the unsexy part that makes the work look effortless: pre-production planning, schedules, interview prep, and keeping a crew aligned when everything changes fast.

Then the conversation takes a sharp, fascinating turn into her new “Getaway Car” segment, a blend of automotive history and true crime storytelling that’s already pulling huge attention online. Along the way we touch NASCAR access, the rise of streaming and motorsports documentaries, and why women in motorsports still fight for attention, sponsorship, and respect even as the culture improves.

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Air horns, a packed arena, and a mom who never thought she’d wear a swimsuit on stage, then did it anyway. We’re joined by Caitlyn Vogel, a racer from Pennsylvania and a powerhouse in the women in motorsports community, to unpack what the Motorama pageant is actually like and why she keeps coming back for the friendships, the growth, and the chance to set an example for young drivers watching from the stands.

Caitlyn shares how losing more than 100 pounds changed her health and her mindset, and how she used motorsports pageants to prove a bigger point at home: confidence is built by doing the scary thing. We talk through the judging rounds (including the closed interview, sportswear, and swimwear), the very real criticism pageants can attract, and what it means to represent racing with purpose instead of chasing attention.

We also go deeper into what matters most to Caitlyn’s family: giving back. From Motorama fundraising for an autism school playground to launching her Fearless and Fuel brand with a goal to sponsor youth racers, her focus stays on opportunity, sportsmanship, and life lessons beyond winning. And you’ll hear about Lizzie's Snuggles for Clefts, the family’s effort to support cleft lip and palate families with care packages and ongoing advocacy, all rooted in the same racing community that showed up for them first.

Subscribe, share this with a racing friend, and leave a review so more people can find these stories of women in motorsports, youth racing, and real-world impact.

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We trace Mallory Kutz's year from Miss Motorama win to a full-throttle campaign that connected drivers, packed a seminar, funded scholarships, and reframed what a motorsports pageant can be. Along the way, she kept racing, took her first feature wins, and proved that advocacy grows fastest at the track.

• redefining Miss Motorama as an ambassador role
• 113 events across eight states with sprint and asphalt highlights
• fundraising race honoring her sister and two driver scholarships
• why personal stories change participation and belief
• building panels, booths, and a standing-room seminar
• connecting young drivers to peers and mentors
• how pageant judging now favors purpose and voice
• social media as a track growth engine
• race season recap with rookie honors and feature wins
• partnering with tracks to elevate women’s programs

If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with someone who loves motorsports as much as you do
And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, behind the scenes content, and more incredible stories

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What happens when a racer grows up trackside and turns childhood laps into a signature streak that few ever touch? We invited 20-year-old bracket sensation Shelby Thurman to share the real story behind her rise—from a junior dragster at seven to a hard-hitting 1991 S10 tuned by a family that lives and breathes motorsports.

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NASCAR doesn’t just show up with race cars and a schedule, it shows up with road closures, noise fears, neighborhood questions, and a whole lot of logistics. That’s why my conversation with Jacque Herrera is so timely. Jacque grew up in Chicago, built a career in community relations and government relations, and then made a bold leap into motorsports to help bring the Chicago Street Race to life from the community side, the part most fans never see.

We get into what it actually takes to earn buy-in for a major motorsports event in a big city: walking buildings, meeting residents where they are, partnering with local organizations, and answering the hard questions about access, disruption, and safety. Jacque shares what surprised her about how neighbors reacted once the race weekend arrived, including how curiosity often beat frustration and how some residents went from skeptical to buying tickets and hosting watch parties.

Then we look forward to the next chapter: NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. We talk about the classic track experience fans love, including camping, easier parking, family-friendly zones, kids offers, and why a July 4th weekend race can double as an Illinois road trip with Route 66 energy. If you’ve been searching for Chicagoland Speedway tickets, NASCAR Joliet weekend details, or a fresh perspective on women in motorsports leadership, this one delivers.

Subscribe, share this with a race fan friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the Women’s Motorsports Network Podcast.

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The throttle snaps, the snow flies, and a 21-year-old rider decides to trust herself over the voice of doubt. That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with Mckaylee, a snowcross racer who started at five years old and climbed from 120s to 600s, stacking national starts and hard-won podiums along the way. She brings the kind of clear-eyed honesty that motorsports rarely show on highlight reels: the joy, the costs, and the stubborn choice to keep going.

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Dystany Spurlock doesn’t talk like someone waiting to be picked. She talks like a driver who decided to learn the game, earn the seat, and bring other women with her.

We sit down with Dystany to trace a journey that starts with childhood power wheels and turns into real-world racing across motorcycle drag racing, NHRA ambitions, and an upcoming ARCA Menards Series debut under the NASCAR umbrella. She explains how reaction time, precision, and confidence built on two wheels can transfer into stock cars, while also admitting what gets harder fast: learning tracks, mastering racecraft in traffic, and staying sharp when the schedule gets heavy.

The conversation goes deeper than driving. Dystany lays out the business reality of motorsports sponsorship and why so many talented women in motorsports never get the opportunity they deserve. She shares what it means to “learn the business before you get in the business,” including building an EPK, creating a sponsorship packet, and refusing to gatekeep information that could help the next generation.

We also talk about representation and motorsports diversity, plus the vision behind her What’s Your Dystany Foundation, designed to expose kids to racing and to the careers around it, from pit crew to engineering and data. If you’re searching for real insight into the road from local racing to professional motorsports, this one is packed with practical lessons and honest motivation.

Subscribe to the Women’s Motorsports Network Podcast, share this with a racing fan, and leave a review so more people find these stories. What part of Dystiay’s path feels most relatable to you?

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