Sally Mott

Age: 19

Hometown: Waco, Texas USA

Racing Team: Sally Mott Racing / Spark Performance

Bio: My interest in racing started when I was 8 years old. In 2013, my dad took me to the kart track in my DR cadet kart and let me turn as many laps as I wanted. Although I was too scared to actually start racing against the boys, he never let me practice the wrong line.

Jump forward 7 years and my mindset about racing had changed. Now, as a 15 year old, I thought that racing with my dad would be a great bonding experience. Plus, how crazy would you have to be to not take the opportunity to race?

I began racing go karts in the 206 Briggs and Stratton class against all boys. I quickly became fond of the smells and sounds of the race track even after I had been punted on the first corner of my first race. I loved the fact that I was the only girl, in fact, it motivated me even more to get better.

After learning how to carry momentum in corners and mastering the skill of race craft, I began breaking track records and winning championships. That is where I decided that I wanted to become a race car driver.

My dad and I decided that if I wanted to make it big, I needed to move into cars. After extensive research, I decided that the next step was Spec Miata. I sold my Kia Forte daily driver for a Mazda Miata so that I could practice shifting and heel-toeing at every stop light.

Shortly after, we purchased a Miata club race car to begin my car racing career. After getting over the transition from karts to cars, I began to win, quickly outgrowing the club Miata series.

We decided that I was at the level where I needed to be racing in regional and national Spec Miata races. A few months later, we traded my club car and my dad’s beloved boat for a brand new, proper Spec Miata that’s capable of winning on a national level. After some time in Spec Miata, I found myself with a sponsor who wanted to take me MX-5 Cup racing.

Now, fast forward to competing and getting a podium in my first MX-5 Cup race at Road Atlanta, I am proud to say that I was nominated and ended up winning a scholarship at the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout. Going into my first pro racing season in 2024, I will be representing Mazda as a factory driver and scholarship winner in the Mazda MX-5 Cup series with IMSA.

I would love to own an all-women driver school to help create a ladder system for women in motorsports. I’d love to share my knowledge and get more women in the sport.

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