Sally Mott, eagerly gearing up for her race in St. Petersburg, Florida, has racing deeply ingrained in her DNA. As the daughter of Robby Mott, an accomplished karting champion, Sally grew up surrounded by trophies and the thrilling sounds of races. Inspired by her father's passion, she took up karting, won several championships, and set the foundation for her promising career.
Success on the karting track led Mott to outgrow her beginnings, spurred by her desire to attract sponsors interested in car logos rather than go-karts. Transitioning to the Spec Miata racing circuit, she honed new skills like heel-toe downshifting, managing weight transfers, and mastering complex gear systems.
A pivotal moment in Mott's journey came from a conversation with veteran racer Ben Keating, propelling her into the Mazda MX-5 Cup. With support from Keating and her father, she secured a scholarship and made her professional debut at Road Atlanta, overcoming new challenges like bump drafting.
Featured in the docuseries First to the Finish, Mott's first professional season was a learning curve filled with highs and lows. She faced emotional hurdles and the pressures of TV coverage but used these as motivation to improve her craft.
Enduring tough training sessions, Mott also integrates meditation and visualization into her regimen. Her hard work paid off with a career-best sixth place at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, celebrated by her team with a festive cake and a crew chief's bleached hair.
Inspired by the all-female Iron Dames team, Mott's vision extends beyond racing. She dreams of establishing a school to inspire young girls in motorsports, creating pathways to top tiers like IndyCar, NASCAR, and Formula 1.
With dreams of making a business out of her passion, Mott eyes NASCAR as a viable future due to its diverse tracks. Yet, endurance racing, particularly in a Porsche 911 GT3 R like the Iron Dames, remains her ultimate, if financially challenging, aspiration.
Summary: Sally Mott is carving her path in the racing world, blending legacy with innovation. From karting champion to MX-5 Cup rising star, her journey is one of learning, aspiration, and paying it forward, with ambitions that extend to creating opportunities for future female racers.
