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Kathryn Reinhardt is a multi-disciplined motorsports racer and automotive industry powerhouse who turned street racing roots in Atlanta into a 17-year career that spans drag strips, road courses, two-wheel riding, and dominating off-road rally navigation—all while earning some of the aftermarket industry’s highest honors.

EARLY YEARS

Reinhardt’s racing story began in Atlanta, Georgia, where she cut her teeth as a street racer before transitioning to organized drag racing and road course competition. Her early days were marked by determination and a genuine obsession with car modification—she wasn’t just racing them, she was building them. That hands-on approach and refusal to stay on the sidelines shaped everything that came after. Eventually, she made the gutsy move to relocate to California to chase her automotive dreams, leaving behind the familiar to dive headfirst into an industry that didn’t always roll out the welcome mat for women[1][2].

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond four wheels, Reinhardt is an active two-wheel rider, bringing the same intensity to motorcycles that she does to everything else. Her passion for automotive culture extends well beyond competition—she’s deeply involved in industry advocacy, volunteerism, and mentorship. She’s served on multiple boards and committees, including leadership roles with SEMA, the Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA), and the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF). Her commitment to giving back includes supporting SEMA Cares and championing the next generation of automotive enthusiasts through programs and outreach[3][4][5].

EARLY SUCCESS

After establishing herself as a racer and car builder in Atlanta, Reinhardt transitioned into the business side of the automotive aftermarket when she moved to California. She built a career in marketing, advertising, branding, and experiential campaigns, working her way through companies like CEC Wheels, Spectre Performance, Advanstar Communications, and GoRhino. Her ability to blend hands-on automotive credibility with sharp business acumen made her a standout. She eventually landed at MagnaFlow before moving into director-level roles at 4 Wheel Parts, where she served as Director of Retail Marketing and led initiatives that connected product innovation with real-world enthusiasts[6][7][8].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2014: Received the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Athena Woman of the Year award[9].
• 2015: Named SEMA Person of the Year and elected chair of the Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA); also received the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network Woman of the Year award[10][11].
• 2015: Awarded the YEN Vanguard Award[12].
• 2016: Recognized in SEMA’s Top 35 Under 35[13].
• 2021: Competed in her first Rebelle Rally as navigator for Team 4 Wheel Parts with driver Victoria Bundrant in a 2021 Ford Bronco, navigating the grueling all-women off-road navigation rally raid using only paper maps, compasses, and headings—no GPS, no cell phones[14][15].
• 2022: Won the Rebelle Rally X-CROSS Class as driver and earned Bone Stock recognition[16].
• 2022: Appointed Senior Vice President of Marketing and Events at Hemmings by President Jonathan Shaw[17].
• 2023: Secured her second consecutive X-CROSS Class win at the Rebelle Rally and repeated Bone Stock honors[18].
• 2023: Received the TORA Jessi Combs Ambassador Award, honoring her contributions to the off-road community and embodying the spirit of late racer and fabricator Jessi Combs[19].
• 2024: Achieved her third straight X-CROSS Class victory at the Rebelle Rally, navigating alongside driver Melissa Clark in a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands with Sasquatch Package as part of Team Built Wild, finishing second overall in their class[20][21].

INSPIRATIONS

While specific personal inspirations aren’t detailed in available research, Reinhardt’s receipt of the Jessi Combs Ambassador Award speaks volumes—Combs was a trailblazer who refused to let gender define her limits in fabrication, racing, and record-setting. That award suggests Reinhardt carries forward a similar ethos: lead by doing, inspire by showing up, and never apologize for taking up space in a male-dominated world.

REPUTATION

Reinhardt is widely respected as both a serious competitor and a strategic industry leader. Her three consecutive Rebelle Rally X-CROSS Class wins have cemented her reputation as a formidable off-road navigator and driver who thrives under pressure in one of the toughest all-women motorsports events in North America. On the business side, her 17-year track record in the automotive aftermarket—spanning leadership roles at major brands and industry organizations—has made her a go-to voice for marketing, advocacy, and innovation. She’s known for being approachable, hard-working, and deeply committed to lifting others up, particularly women entering the automotive space[22][23].

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Reinhardt continues to compete with Ford Performance in the Rebelle Rally as part of their Grassroots Rally Team Program, aiming to add to her impressive podium streak. She and navigator Melissa Clark are slated to return in a Ford Bronco Sport, chasing yet another X-CROSS Class title. Beyond racing, she remains deeply involved in shaping the future of the automotive aftermarket through her senior leadership role at Hemmings and her continued volunteerism and advocacy work across industry organizations[24][25].

REFERENCES

1321: Kathryn Reinhardt – CARS YEAH
Kathryn Reinhardt | Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)
Kathryn Reinhardt – Auto Care Association
News | Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)
Kathryn Reinhardt on Her Career, SEMA Volunteerism and the Industry’s Inspirational
Kathryn Reinhardt Candidate Questionnaire 2022
4 Wheel Parts Names Kathryn Reinhardt Director of Retail Marketing
Ride-in-Style Podcast: Episode 21 Kathryn Reinhardt of Hemmings
SEMA “She Is” Member Spotlight: MagnaFlow’s Kathryn Reinhardt
SHE IS SEMA | KATHRYN REINHARDT
Rebelle Rally 2021 – 4 Wheel Parts
4 Wheel Parts’ Rebelle Rally Team Finishes With Strong Standing
#200 – Built Wild – Rebelle Rally
Rebelle Results
Ford Ready To Showcase Broncos At 2021 Rebelle Rally
Hemmings Appoints Kathryn Reinhardt Senior VP of Marketing and Events
TORA Celebrates Top Leaders at SEMA Show
Ford Returns to Rebelle Rally With Five-Truck Team for 2024
Ford Performance Secures Podium Finishes in 2024 Rebelle Rally
Racing News: Ford Returns to Rebelle Rally, SEMA BoD Member Among Team
Ford Returns as Silver Partner and Launches Grassroots Rally Team Program for the 2025 Rebelle Rally