CRAWFORD, Texas (KWTX) – When you picture a race car driver in your mind, odds are you are not conjuring up a picture of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed 19-year-old girl.
There’s a blonde-haired, blue-eyed 19-year-old girl in Crawford who is working very hard to make her mark in this male-dominated sport.
In just a few short years, Sally Mott has gone from go-cart racing to racing professionally in the Mazda MX-5 Cup Series.
If you’re unfamiliar with racing, the Mazda MX-5 Cup Series features professional drivers competing in a series of races in Mazda Miata race cars. Aside from some safety and interior modifications, they’re pretty close to what you can buy at the dealership.
Like many race car drivers, she started on much smaller tracks in go-carts.
“I did carting for 2-3 years, started winning championships and started breaking track records. Then I decided this is what i wanted to do as a career,” Sally said.
When she was 17, Sally was able to get her first Mazda Miata race car with help and encouragement from her dad, Robby Mott, who himself has been racing go-carts since he was eight years old.
Her career has been on the fast track ever since.
She was one of the winners of the MX-5 cup shootout in 2023, and last November, she won the Women’s Initiative Scholarship, which helped put her on the track in a real race car for the 2024 season.
Sally admits that being one of only two women in the series naturally draws a lot of attention, her goal is not to be the best woman racer. “Every race I’ve had top finishing female and that doesn’t mean anything because there’s only two of us and I’m not here to be the best female. I’m here to be the best,” Sally said.
Although Sally is very new to the professional racing world, she’s very determined to prove that gender doesn’t matter when the helmet goes on.
“We have, physically, 30 percent less muscle mass than men but we do have other pros. We pay more attention to detail. There’s a lot of things. When the helmet goes on we’re pretty much equal. It’s all between the ears,” Sally said.
Some of her competitors have been driving longer than she’s been alive. Getting them to accept her may take a while. And some victories.
“There’s a different vibe in the paddock because when I’m getting coached by other people or talked to by other drivers, there’s a different tone they use because I’m a female,” she said.
Sally’s father Robby Mott doesn’t waste a lot of time on mansplaining. And while it’s true he’s spent most of his life around racing, he didn’t try to push her into the sport.
“It’s her desire and her will. It is all her. A lot of people don’t realize that. They think oh that’s Robby Mott’s daughter. He’s been racing all his life. He’s got the whip out making her do things. Actually, it’s the opposite.” Robby insisted.
And while he doesn’t push her, he is very proud. “I’m the proudest Dad in the world,” he added.
Sally is clearly obsessed with racing, and winning. She realizes that she’s also a brand that sponsors will have to buy, and that takes a tremendous amount of work on and off the track.
“There’s a lot of motivation behind me. Being raised by someone who has instilled a very good work ethic in me. All the work that goes on behind the scenes, the homework, the simulator, the training and the business side, I’m willing to do that because I want it so bad,” She said.
If they handed out trophies for grit and determination, Sally Mott would already be in the winner’s circle. But she knows what it takes to get there and she’s willing to put in the work to get it done, and she just might win over a few hearts and minds along the way.
“At the beginning of the series when I was finishing at the back of the pack, they were like, ‘here’s another scholarship winner who’s not that good,’ but now , as I’m progressing I’m seeing more respect in how people talk to me. Just this weekend, front runners were complimenting me and it feels good. It’s like I belong a little more,” Sally said.
When Sally is done with racing she wants to start a school for other young women who would like to try their hand at this once male-dominated sport.
Move over boys! Her next race is on August 23rd in Virginia.
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