Shea Holbrook isn’t just a racer who broke barriers—she’s a self-made driver, team owner, businesswoman, and mom who rewrote the playbook on what it means to compete in a man’s world. From water skis to racing seats, she carved her own path and became the first woman to win a major touring car race at Long Beach, proving that grit, brains, and a refusal to play small can take you anywhere.

EARLY YEARS

Born April 10, 1990, Shea Holbrook grew up in Groveland, Florida, in a family that lived and breathed competitive water skiing. For the first sixteen years of her life, she was completely immersed in the sport—an elite athlete on the water long before she ever considered life on four wheels. But somewhere along the way, two things became crystal clear: she had a competitive fire that wouldn’t quit, and she wanted something more.[1][2]

In 2007, a trip to the Richard Petty Experience in Daytona Beach with her dad changed everything. She was too young to drive the cars herself, but watching from the sidelines lit something inside her. That moment was the spark. Her parents, practical and supportive in equal measure, wanted to make sure their daughter was completely invested in the dream of becoming a champion racing driver before they backed her financially and emotionally. They needed confirmation. Holbrook gave it to them—and never looked back.[3][4]

Despite juggling a hectic training and racing schedule, she graduated from Montverde Academy in Lake County, earned her associate’s degree at Valencia Community College through the DirectConnect program, and went on to complete her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with a minor in Marketing from the University of Central Florida in 2012. She wasn’t just fast—she was focused.[5][6]

OTHER INTERESTS

Before racing claimed her heart, Holbrook was a nationally competitive water skier. The discipline, precision, and mental toughness required to excel on the water translated seamlessly to the track. That athletic foundation gave her an edge most drivers don’t have—an understanding of how to perform under pressure, how to stay calm when things go sideways, and how to push through fear.[7]

Off the track, she’s a passionate advocate for causes close to her heart. She’s raised thousands of dollars and awareness for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) and has partnered with organizations like Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Holbrook understands that her platform isn’t just about winning races—it’s about using her voice to make a difference.[8]

EARLY SUCCESS

Holbrook didn’t ease into racing—she dove in headfirst. She started competing in SCCA club racing, wheeling a Mazda Miata and later a Honda Civic. With tons of help and relentless determination, she set her first track record, won a three-hour endurance race, and claimed the SCCA Central Florida Region H1 Championship. She was proving herself one lap at a time.[9]

By the time she graduated to the SCCA Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car series, Holbrook was already turning heads. In 2011, driving a TrueCar Racing Honda Civic, she did something historic: she became the first woman to win a Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach. An estimated 120,000 spectators watched her cross the finish line first, and she also earned the Optima Batteries Hard Charger Award for her efforts. It wasn’t just a win—it was a statement.[10][11]

That victory made her one of only four women to win a major touring car race in history, and it cemented her reputation as a driver who wasn’t there to make up the numbers. She was there to win.[12]

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2011: First woman to win a Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach.[10]
• 2011: Earned the Optima Batteries Hard Charger Award.[10]
• 2011: SCCA CFR H1 Champion.[9]
• 2012: Competed full season in Pirelli World Challenge with TrueCar Racing.[13]
• 2014: Continued racing in Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car series.[14]
• 2017: Competed in North American Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series, earning two Top Five finishes.[15]
• 2017: Top Ten finish in Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Championship.[15]
• 2017: Fielded a four-car Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car team.[16]
• 2017–2018: Raced full-time in IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series.[17]
• 2019: Qualified for the W Series, a Formula 3 championship for women, competing internationally.[18]
• 2019: Performance tested the Porsche Taycan on the USS Hornet aircraft carrier, using launch control and high-performance carbon ceramic brakes to their maximum capacity.[19]
• 2020: Welcomed daughter Olivia with husband Nick Chorley, continuing to balance motherhood and racing.[20]
• 2025: Featured in the Prime Video docuseries “First to the Finish,” highlighting her role as Principal of BSI Racing and her journey in the Mazda MX-5 Cup.[21][22]

INSPIRATIONS

Lyn St. James, the legendary racing pioneer, has been Holbrook’s mentor over the years. St. James guided her through the early challenges of breaking into a male-dominated sport and offered invaluable advice on how to navigate both the track and the business side of racing. Holbrook has publicly credited St. James for her assistance and has carried that mentorship forward, now mentoring others in the sport.[16]

Her personal mantra—”Fear is a state of mind. Will is an action taken”—captures the mindset that’s driven her from water skiing to racing to business ownership. It’s not about denying fear; it’s about refusing to let it stop you.[23]

REPUTATION

Holbrook is widely regarded as a trailblazer—not just for what she’s accomplished on the track, but for how she’s built an entire career and business around her passion. As Principal of BSI Racing, located in Daytona Beach, Florida, she co-owns and manages the team with her husband, Nick Chorley. Together, they’ve successfully transitioned from her being a champion driver to running a competitive racing operation.[24][25]

She’s also a sought-after spokeswoman and entrepreneur, partnering with major brands for marketing campaigns, product launches, and media engagements. Her ability to speak authentically about the realities of racing, business, and motherhood has made her a powerful voice in motorsport and beyond.[26]

Through her “Mom Life” brand, Holbrook shares the real, unfiltered experiences of being a mother in motorsport—the triumphs, the challenges, and the balancing act between family and the track. She’s not interested in glossing over the hard parts. She’s interested in showing other women that it’s possible to have it all, even if it’s messy.[20]

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

With the 2025 debut of “First to the Finish,” a docuseries on Prime Video focusing on the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin, Holbrook continues to expand her influence beyond the cockpit. The series showcases her role as a team owner and competitor, offering an inside look at the challenges and rewards of racing at the highest levels.[21][22]

As BSI Racing grows, Holbrook remains committed to creating opportunities for other drivers, particularly women, to compete and succeed in motorsport. Her vision is clear: to build a lasting legacy that goes beyond her own wins and inspires the next generation of racers to take the leap.[24][25]

REFERENCES

At Season’s End with TrueCar Racing’s Shea Holbrook – TrueCar Blog
Shea Holbrook’s Cool Sports Job: Race Car Driver – ABC News
Steering Her Own Destiny – College of Sciences News, UCF
About the Driver – Shea Holbrook – Team 7 Racing
Shea Holbrook – Wikipedia
Cool Jobs in Sports: Race Car Driver Shea Holbrook – ESPN
Multitalented Racer Shea Holbrook is a Force in the Formula Automotive Racing Association – K&N Filters
Video: SCCA Pro World Challenge Winner Shea Holbrook – Enkei
Shea Holbrook Wins Grand Prix of Long Beach & Becomes 2nd Woman to Win a World Challenge Event – K&N Filters
Driver Profiles: Shea Holbrook – MotoIQ
Race Driver | Discover Shea’s Journey – Shea Racing
Shea Holbrook – Driver Database
Shea Holbrook Confirms 4-Car PWC Touring Car Team – Racer
BSI Racing – Mazda MX-5 Cup
One Small Step for a Woman, One Giant Leap for an Electric Car – Porsche Newsroom
Mom Life Brand – Shea Racing
All Episodes of First to the Finish Available on Prime Video – Mazda MX-5 Cup
Introducing Mazda’s “First to the Finish” MX-5 Cup Docuseries – Mazda USA
Shea Holbrook – An Average Girl Who Is Reaching Her Dreams – Fre Skincare
Shea Racing | Explore Motorsport Insights
First to the Finish – Mazda USA News
Spokeswoman | Empower Your Brand – Shea Racing