Maddy Lemke is an American touring car racer competing in TC America’s TCA class, piloting the No. 9 Honda Civic Si FE1 for Ascent Racing—and she got there by way of a diving board.

EARLY YEARS

Born June 1, 1998, Madeline Lemke grew up in Easton, Massachusetts[1]. Before she ever thought about heel-toe downshifting, she was perfecting her approach on the 3-meter springboard. Lemke attended Bowling Green State University, where she became one of the most decorated athletes in the program’s history—not on four wheels, but launching herself into the air above a pool[2].

OTHER INTERESTS

Lemke’s athletic foundation was built entirely outside motorsports. At BGSU, she was a standout diver who claimed three consecutive MAC Diver of the Year awards from 2018 to 2020, becoming the first swimmer or diver in school history to achieve that honor[3]. She earned First Team All-MAC recognition twice and was named to the CSCAA All-American team[4]. Her dominance in the 3-meter dive wasn’t just individual glory—it helped anchor the Falcons to competitive finishes at the MAC Championships. After conquering the platform, she traded precision flips for precision apexes.

EARLY SUCCESS

Lemke’s transition to racing appears to have begun in the early 2020s, competing with Honda Racing SFR SCCA before making her way to the TC America series[5]. By 2023, she was running select races in TCA with Ascent Racing, getting her feet wet in a highly competitive touring car environment[6]. The 2024 season marked her first sustained campaign in the series, where she quickly proved she belonged. At Sebring in May 2024, she returned to the podium with a third-place finish in Race 2, continuing her upward trajectory[7]. Later that month at Virginia International Raceway, she did it again—another podium in Race 1, demonstrating consistency in a class where staying out of trouble is half the battle[8].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2018, 2019, 2020: MAC Diver of the Year, becoming the first BGSU diver to win the award three consecutive times[9].
• 2019, 2020: First Team All-MAC recognition[10].
• 2020: CSCAA All-American honors[11].
• 2024: Third place finish at Sebring (TC America TCA, Race 2)[12].
• 2024: Third place finish at Virginia International Raceway (TC America TCA, Race 1)[13].
• 2024: Finished third in the TCA championship standings with 99 points[14].

INSPIRATIONS

No specific information available.

REPUTATION

Lemke is recognized as one of the rising young talents in TC America, consistently mentioned alongside veterans in a series that demands racecraft, mechanical sympathy, and the ability to wheel a front-wheel-drive Honda at its absolute limit[15]. Her steady improvement throughout the 2024 season caught the attention of series observers, who noted her multiple podium appearances as evidence she’s not just filling a grid spot—she’s competing. In a paddock where many drivers come from karting or open-wheel backgrounds, her diving pedigree makes her an outlier, but one whose competitive instincts translate beautifully to door-to-door racing.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

No specific information available for 2025 and beyond.

REFERENCES

Madeline Lemke — OfficialUSA.com Records
Lemke And Platts Recognized By MAC As Falcons Finish Fifth
Lemke And Platts Recognized By MAC As Falcons Finish Fifth
Talisa Lemke – Women’s Swimming & Diving – Bowling Green State University
Maddy Lemke Honda Racing SFR SCCA – YouTube
2023 TC America Series – Wikipedia
Walsh, Ricca and Garcia claim TC America wins in Sebring Race 2
Walsh, Ricca and Groenke take dominant TC America Race 1 wins
Lemke And Platts Recognized By MAC As Falcons Finish Fifth
Lemke And Platts Recognized By MAC As Falcons Finish Fifth
Talisa Lemke – Women’s Swimming & Diving – Bowling Green State University
Walsh, Ricca and Garcia claim TC America wins in Sebring Race 2
Walsh, Ricca and Groenke take dominant TC America Race 1 wins
2024 TC America Championship Races and Standings – Racing Years
Celebrating Women in Motorsports | Pirelli GT4 America