Phoenix, Arizona (November 29, 2023) – During the third annual Women with Drive III (WWD III) Summit – Driven by Mobil 1, Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) presented some impressive awards to young racers in their “Accelerate Her” contingency program.
The special “Accelerate Her” Contingency Fund Program presented by Busch Light was a new WIMNA collaboration for 2023. It was open to women drivers 21 years and older pursuing racing careers in NASCAR. The monetary rewards were based on race results throughout the 2023 season with a specially created points system that empowers and rewards women drivers based on their merit and race results. The unique system incorporates several factors, including the length of races, the level of competition, as well as the individual racing results.
Sixteen drivers racing within eligible NASCAR series participated in the program. These life-changing honors went to three young women to allow them to continue their racing dreams. First place went to Julie Jorgenson, of Lakeville, Minn., who won an impressive $125,000; second place to Taylor Goldman, of St. Louis Park, Minn., who was presented with a check for $50,000 and third place to Jennifer Hall, of Tucson, Ariz., winning $25,000.
“The ‘Accelerate Her’ Contingency Program presented by Busch Light was one of our most important initiatives this year,” said Lyn St. James, former race driver and co-founder of WIMNA. “It was designed to celebrate women drivers’ success within the sport and help fuel and fund opportunities for continuing to race and for even more women to pursue driving careers in NASCAR. Funding is key to success, and this program was a fantastic reward that will likely change the three winners’ racing lives. Presenting these women with $200,000 between the three of them was one of the year’s highlights for WIMNA.”
Winner quotes:
Julie Jorgenson, of Lakeville, Minn.:
“Accelerate Her helped push me to do the best I could in our 2023 season with the fun challenge of competing with other drivers across the country and finding new drivers to cheer on as we battled against each other. To receive a check for $125,000 towards my racing goals is something I never thought would or could happen. WIMNA is doing so much for young female racers like me, Taylor, Jennifer, and so many more. We are so thankful for their efforts to put women first and help give us a leg up towards our goals.”
Taylor Goldman, of St. Louis Park, Minn.:
“The Accelerate Her program launched me into an ocean of opportunities in motorsports. Not only could I do what I love, but I shared my passion with some of the coolest women worldwide! Being a part of Accelerate Her has boosted my confidence and made me realize I can and will achieve my goals no matter how high the mountain is! My team set me up to race at tracks I could only dream about until now. The miles driven and the long, restless nights were worth every second of this season. I hope to one day give back to women in motorsports and show young female drivers that their future is bright if they put their minds to it. I’m looking forward to representing WIMNA in 2024!”
Jennifer Hall, of Tucson, Ariz.:
“Participating in the Accelerate Her program was the best decision I could have made. I found the program to be extremely beneficial, aiding me in my racing program and creating connections with people in the racing community.”
For more about WIMNA, visit: https://womeninmotorsportsna.com/
You can also follow along on social media, including:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womeninmotorsportsna
X Corp./Twitter: @WWDSummit and @_WIMNA
Instagram: @WWDSummit and @womeninmotorsportsna
LinkedIn: Women in Motor Sports North America
YouTube: @WomenWithDriveSummit
About Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA)
Women in Motorsports North America is a community of professional women and men devoted to enabling opportunities for women across all motorsport disciplines. Founded as a 501c3 in April 2022, WIMNA is quickly establishing its positive impact on motorsports, supporting and creating resources that enable women drivers, technicians, engineers, operations staff, business-related, media, and more to thrive in the industry. Best known for its Women with Drive Summit held each year, WIMNA also provides resources, mentorship, coaching, career connections, and more. Learn more at womeninmotorsportsna.com/.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Barbara J. Burns, BurnsGroup PR
Communications/Media Relations for WIMNA
+1.770.329.7134
barbara@burnsgrouppr.com