Sally Mott
Sports Car racing // Texas
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Sally Mott is a 19-year-old Texan dominating the Mazda MX-5 Cup series, who went from scared karting rookie at 15 to track record-breaking champion in just two years.
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My interest in racing started when I was 8 years old. In 2013, my dad took me to the kart track… Although I was too scared to actually start racing against the boys, he never let me practice the wrong line.
I loved the fact that I was the only girl, in fact, it motivated me even more to get better.
You’ll get exposure. You’ll get your name out there. And you’ll learn.
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Sally Mott is a 19-year-old rising star from Waco, Texas, who’s making waves in the male-dominated world of motorsports as one of the few young women competing at the highest levels of American sports car racing. Currently tearing up the Mazda MX-5 Cup series while juggling multiple roles in the racing industry, she’s proving that talent and determination can break down barriers faster than a late-braking maneuver into turn one.
EARLY YEARS
Born around 2005-2006, Sally’s introduction to racing reads like a textbook case of motorsports DNA. Her father, a national champion in both karts and cars who’d been racing since he was eight, took her to the kart track when she was just eight years old in 2013. But here’s where it gets interesting—while most kids would jump at the chance to race against other kids, Sally was initially too scared to compete against the boys. Instead, she spent years perfecting her craft on her father’s DR cadet kart, learning proper racing lines and developing the discipline that would later serve her well. “Although I was too scared to actually start racing against the boys, he never let me practice the wrong line,” she recalls. It wasn’t until she turned 15 that she finally decided to take the plunge into competitive racing, joining the Briggs & Stratton 206 kart class. And wouldn’t you know it—being the only girl on track didn’t intimidate her anymore. In fact, it motivated her.
OTHER INTERESTS
When she’s not behind the wheel, Sally has built quite the motorsports media empire for someone her age. She hosts a racing podcast called “Last Lap,” where she shares her passion and discusses her racing plans and goals. Her media savvy extends to working as a pit reporter and interviewer for Kart Chaser, where she gets to chat with world champion drivers—not a bad gig for networking. She also serves as a race director for national racing series like USPKS and works camera crew for Kart Chaser livestreams when she’s not racing herself. Outside the racing bubble, she enjoys the simple pleasures of vacationing—swimming, hitting the beach, and exploring new places. Because even racing phenoms need to decompress sometimes.
EARLY SUCCESS
Sally’s competitive debut at 15 was memorable for all the wrong reasons—she got punted on the first corner of her first race. But rather than letting that setback define her experience, she channeled it into motivation. Within a year of starting competitive karting, she had won her first race in the LO 206 class. Her rapid progression caught the attention of Ben Keating, a prominent motorsports figure she met during a local racing Zoom call. Keating saw something special in the young Texan and urged her to “jump right in at the deep end,” advising her to move up to car racing quickly for exposure and accelerated learning. The strategy worked—Sally broke track records and won karting championships before making the leap to sports car racing, proving that sometimes the best way to learn is to get thrown into the fire.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2021-2022: Won first karting race within one year of competitive debut in LO 206 class
- 2022-2023: Broke multiple track records and won karting championships
- 2023: Competed in 24-hour ChampCar endurance race at Virginia International Raceway with Ben Keating’s team
- 2024: Featured in Amazon Prime documentary “First to the Finish” as one of three female drivers in the series
- 2024-2025: Currently competing in Mazda MX-5 Cup series with Sally Mott Racing/Spark Performance team
INSPIRATIONS
Sally’s biggest inspiration comes from the man who started it all—her father, whose national championship credentials and lifelong dedication to racing created the perfect environment for nurturing her talent. Beyond being her primary coach and mentor, he instilled in her the technical skills and mental fortitude needed to succeed at the highest levels. Ben Keating also played a pivotal role in shaping her career trajectory, providing crucial guidance and opportunities in endurance racing while pushing her to advance more quickly than traditional career paths might suggest. The childhood environment of being immersed in motorsports culture from day one gave her an appreciation for “the smells and sounds of the track” that continues to fuel her passion today.
REPUTATION
In an industry where credentials matter and politics run deep, Sally has earned respect through pure talent and work ethic. Her father and Ben Keating provide glowing endorsements, praising her technical learning ability and mental toughness. Media coverage consistently highlights her as a motivated, skilled young driver who’s successfully breaking into male-dominated territory without drama or controversy. She’s particularly noted for her race craft and ability to carry momentum through corners—skills that take years to develop. Beyond her driving abilities, she’s become an advocate for female participation in motorsports, coaching young girl racers and providing mentorship through track walks, data analysis, and overtaking explanations. Her networking extends throughout the Kart Chaser media community and includes close ties to established figures like Keating.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
Sally is actively racing in the 2024-2025 Mazda MX-5 Cup season, using it as a platform for gaining exposure and proving her capabilities in the Spec Miata class. She’s actively seeking sponsorships to continue and advance her racing career, while maintaining her diversified involvement in motorsports through her media work, race directing, and camera duties. This multi-faceted approach suggests she’s building a sustainable career that doesn’t rely solely on driving, showing the kind of business savvy that could serve her well long-term. Her current focus appears to be on maximizing opportunities in sports car racing while building her brand and expanding her network within the industry.
References:
[1] SponsorPaddock Profile
[2] The Gentleman Racer Interview
[3] CuratedTexan Feature
[4] Le Mans.org Profile
[5] SallyMottRacing.com Official Site
Have Sally updates or corrections? Please let us know – We’d love to keep this profile current.
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