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In this episode of the Women’s Motorsports Network Podcast, Melinda Russell sits down with 21-year-old ARCA driver Isabella Robusto to talk about her journey from go-karts at age four to racing full-time in the ARCA Menards Series.

Isabella shares how the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program launched her career, how Toyota’s Driver Development program shaped her path, and why the work off the track matters just as much as what happens on it.

From overcoming injury to building her personal brand “Driven Different,” Isabella opens up about racing, resilience, preparation, and her five-year goal to reach the NASCAR Cup Series.

This is a conversation about discipline, authenticity, and what it really takes to compete at the highest levels.

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Dana Courtney grew up immersed in drag racing at Gainesville Raceway and later served 10 years as a military mechanic before returning home to rejoin the racing community. Now a volunteer photographer, raceway staff member, and builder of a 1965 Mustang drag car, Dana is passionate about preserving racing memories and expanding access to motorsports for kids who may not have the financial backing to get started. Her story is one of resilience, family legacy, and making space for women in every corner of the sport.

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Debbie Matthews is known as the “Godmother of Women’s Motocross,” and after this conversation, you’ll understand why.

Starting her racing journey in 1974, Debbie competed in the very first Women’s National Motocross Championship at Indian Dunes in California. From there, she built a 50-year career that spans racing, dealership ownership, industry advocacy, national series development, coaching, and mentoring.

In this episode, Debbie shares:

·       What it was like racing when women were barely recognized in the sport

·       How she helped launch the first Women’s National Championship Series in 1996

·       Why the motorcycle industry completely misread female demographics

·       The importance of marketing to women in motorsports

·       How sponsorship relationships can last decades

·       Why coaching women requires a different communication style

·       How her school, now under Driven Futures, trains women on and off the bike

This is more than a racing story — it’s a masterclass in leadership, marketing, mentorship, and legacy.

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At just 15 years old, Brielle Stern is already carving out her place in the competitive world of 600 micro sprint racing. From selling cookies to fund her first race car to traveling across the country chasing dirt tracks, Brielle’s journey is fueled by grit, family support, and big dreams.

In this episode, Brielle shares how a trip to the racetrack changed her life at eight years old, how she balances high school and technical machining classes with racing, and why she believes motorsports teaches girls independence and resilience.

She also opens up about overcoming adversity — including knee surgery, social media criticism, and learning how to communicate car setup with her team — all while chasing her first feature win.

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The engines might cool at sunset, but the stories only get hotter. We sit down with Minnesota racer Alexa Gross for a candid ride through family-built race craft, moving up to Wasota Super Stocks, and the steady confidence that comes from small wins and patient passes. From a childhood spent at the track to a heat race victory that changed her mindset, Alexa shows how real progress often looks like late nights in the garage, film study after the lights go dark, and learning to trust the feel of a faster car.

Alexa opens up about racing alongside her dad and husband, what it takes to prep a car as a tight-knit team, and why a supportive local scene—complete with a Women in Motorsports night and father-daughter spotlights—makes the sport feel welcoming. She keeps it practical and honest: starts are tough, Turn 1 is unforgiving, and budgets are real. Yet the joy is undeniable, whether it’s a third-place finish earned by smart patience, a lead during the Mighty Axe Nationals, or a two-week winter escape racing the Early Thaw in Casa Grande. She also shares how flying Cessna trainers sharpens her decision-making and calm, skills that transfer directly to dirt racing under pressure.

We dig into how Alexa balances graduate school in social work, racing Thursdays and Sundays, and staying grounded with fitness, family, and the rituals that keep her focused. She offers thoughtful advice for women curious about motorsports, plus smart tips on building a racing presence on Facebook and TikTok without losing your voice. If you love grassroots racing, father-daughter teams, and the art of turning laps into lessons, this conversation delivers heart, horsepower, and plenty of practical takeaways.

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A leap off a Kentucky waterfall for a shot at a first race car. Late nights in the shop turning a bare frame into a factory stock. A seat in the UNOH engine room and a bold jump to the ASA Stars National Tour. Gabby Grigsby’s path is a fast, honest look at how a young driver builds speed, skill, and thick skin—one step at a time.

We talk through the family roots that shaped her love for racing and how switching between a quarter-mile factory stock and a half-mile late model sharpened her race IQ. Gabby breaks down what it’s like to be the lone “engine girl” on a busy collegiate team, why engine knowledge changes how you drive, and how documenting failures turns bad nights into better setups. She shares the laddered goals that keep her grounded—finish, stay on the lead lap, qualify tighter—and what changes when you unload with the ASA paddock and test yourself against elite super late model talent.

You’ll hear how a small, family-led crew makes big weekends possible, from her dad’s crew chief role and sponsorship support to classmates getting ARCA-style pit reps. We dig into the realities of budget, travel, and social media, and why showing the work—not just the wins—matters to partners. Most of all, Gabby’s message to young women stands out: protect your confidence, ignore lazy opinions, and keep climbing your ladder without skipping steps.

Subscribe for more stories from women pushing motorsports forward, share this episode with someone who needs a spark, and leave a review to help more fans find the show. Your support keeps these voices loud and the momentum rolling.

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A five-year-old asks for a race kart. A teenager helps build her first full-bodied car. Then she trades her helmet for a tiara to grow the sport she loves. Meet Zoe Quinn—19-year-old driver and 2025 Miss Mahoning—whose story proves that visibility can be just as powerful as velocity.

We dive into Zoe’s early start in pee-wee karts and a decade in quarter midgets, where consistent top-three finishes taught her discipline and patience. She walks us through building a rookie hobby stock with her dad, from stripping a street car to swapping a motor, and explains how turning wrenches built the confidence she carries to the grid. You’ll hear the “oh no” that every racer fears—her steering wheel popping off in practice—and how composure, quick repairs, and a reset got her back for heats and the feature. Along the way, she shares the race-day routine that keeps her sharp: protein, hydration, and a non-negotiable good-luck kiss with her dad.

Zoe also opens up about stepping into Miss Mahoning by one vote and why the role matters. From kids’ events and victory lane to visiting neighboring tracks, she’s using the spotlight to invite more women into motorsports and showcase the behind-the-scenes work that makes race night run. We unpack the world of motorsports pageants like Motorama and Miss Motorsports, how ambassadors amplify local racing, and what real support looks like for first-time female drivers. Mentors like Corey Edelman and Anthony Sesely show up here too, reminding us how guidance and community keep young talent in the sport.

If you care about grassroots racing, women in motorsports, driver development, and the culture that turns fans into family, this conversation is a lap worth taking. Stick around for practical mindset takeaways, candid talk about adversity, and a clear path for growing participation through stories, access, and simple, steady support.

Love conversations that move the sport forward? Follow, subscribe, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show. Share this episode with someone who needs a nudge to take their first lap.

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A teenager with a torque wrench and a plan—Rowan Edgar is redefining what focus looks like at 15. We sit down with the Missouri micro sprint driver to map her path from caged karts to her first A-class win, and the choices that make speed possible: homeschooling to create time for travel and training, daily fitness to stay sharp to the checkers, and a mindset built on resets rather than excuses. Rowan brings a refreshingly direct take on confidence, composure, and why the car only responds to skill, not stereotypes.

The story begins in a family shop, where modifieds were built and raced and a young girl asked for her shot until an aunt dropped a go-kart in the driveway. From there, she worked through 250 and 450 classes, learning how to handle power and read surfaces before stepping into micros. We dig into adapting lines as the track slicks off, the night everything clicked for her first A-class victory, and the rituals that keep her grounded—yes, the no-chicken rule on race day made the cut. She also gets real about setbacks, including the blown engine saga that forced a pause and taught her exactly where she wants to spend weekends: at the track, not at parties.

Rowan shares practical advice on sponsorship—how conversations at PRI turn into real partnerships when you follow up and own your results online. She talks about the growing number of girls in micros, why she chooses to lead with “race car driver” rather than “female racer,” and how young drivers can build resilience by working on their own cars. We cover pre-race music, shop nights, crew support from family and friends, and the long game: medical training to fund a racing life and a clear target to win a High Limit sprint car feature.

If you love honest race craft, measurable goals, and the grit it takes to earn speed, this conversation delivers. Tap play, share it with a young driver who needs a nudge, and subscribe for more stories from the Women’s Motorsports Network. Then tell us: what goal are you aiming at next?

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A single bold ask can change a racing life. That’s what happened when a six-year-old named Everett walked up to Food City’s CEO and asked for a sponsorship—an audacious moment that launched a genuine grassroots journey, powered by family, faith, and a love for speed. We sit down with Amy Larson, proud “momager” and homeschool parent from Virginia, to unpack what it really takes to raise a young driver who competes with adults on dirt and keeps his head in the toughest moments.

Amy pulls back the curtain on their playbook: choosing karting over other sports, prioritizing track time to keep skills sharp, and treating the whole effort like a college fund paid in hours, reps, and relationships. She shares how Everett built sponsor trust early, why clean conduct and strong social media matter as much as pace, and how mentors like Corey LaJoie stepped in with shoes, a simulator, and priceless guidance. We talk safety, the transition from pavement to dirt, and the quiet discipline behind long Saturdays, late features, and early Sunday mornings at church.

You’ll hear practical advice for new racing parents—start within your means, avoid debt chasing fancy gear, and teach your driver to own the process. We spotlight the community that makes grassroots racing special: friends in neighboring pits, pros who open doors, and fans who become family. Whether the future leads to NASCAR, rally, or more dirt, the Larsons’ story proves that character, consistency, and connection can carry a young racer farther than any single win.

If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a racing parent who needs a lift, and leave a quick review so more motorsports families can find us. Your support helps keep these stories on the grid.

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One national win, one scary flip, and one giant leap forward. We sit down with Paiten Burnham, a 16-year-old quarter midget racer from Connecticut, to unpack a season defined by consistency, courage, and the bold move to test a midget in Indianapolis right after her final national in Topeka. From the bright lights of Las Vegas to the sweet payoff at Richmond, Paiten shares how travel, track time, and tight teamwork with her dad shaped a year that pushed her racecraft and mindset to new levels.

We dig into the nuts and bolts—running Heavy 160, Unrestricted, and World Formula—while chasing national points and learning how to adapt setups to different tracks. Paiten opens up about the flip that cracked her helmet and how safety, recovery, and focus kept her season on track. Beyond lap times, she breaks down how character fuels opportunity, earning a spot in the Petty Edge Performance Top 10 where grades, sportsmanship, and social presence matter as much as speed. It’s a modern motorsports reality: sponsors and teams want complete athletes who can win races and represent brands with integrity.

What comes next is where the story accelerates. Paiten is aging out of quarter midgets and stepping into midgets across the Midwest—Ohio, Indiana, and possibly Michigan—aiming for bigger stages and higher stakes, including the dream shot at the Tulsa Shootout. Along the way, she reflects on friendships made in the paddock, the family-first culture that keeps racers grounded, and the confidence that comes from doing the hard work when no one’s watching. This is a candid look at how young drivers grow, where they stumble, and how they find the next gear.

If you love women in motorsports, grassroots racing, and stories of young athletes leveling up, you’ll want to hear this one. Tap follow, share it with a racing friend, and leave a review to help more fans discover the Women’s Motorsports Network. Your support keeps these stories on the grid.

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