Alesi Gerthe receives Project Podium Grant at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Alesi Gerthe, of New Breed Racing, joined fellow female racing veteran Lyn St. James for her foundations Women in the Winner’s Circle Awards Ceremony on Thursday, July 23, 2009. Gerthe and a select few accomplished female racers were recognized at the seventh annual ceremony held at the Plaza Village Pavilion at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. St. James emceed the event alongside ESPN/ABC reporter Jamie Little.

“It was an honor to be among such an elite group of women,” said Alesi. “To personally meet Ms. St. James and be around driver’s like Sarah Fisher and Melanie Troxel, being able to celebrate those who have helped pave the way for women like me to excel in a male-dominated sport such as drag racing, was awesome. Not to mention being able to meet other women racers from different forms of motorsports who are involved in racing today and realizing we make up the future of women in motorsports…it was truly a special day.”

During the ceremony, Project Podium partners awarded grants totaling $27,500 to distribute between six skilled drivers, including Gerthe. Grant applications were reviewed by a panel of motorsports professionals and then distributed on a matching-fund basis to qualified women drivers.

Founded by St. James in 1994, the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation holds true to its mission to advance women in motorsports and the annual ceremony celebrates the successes of women in the motorsports industry. NHRA has long been synonymous with providing opportunity for women so it was no surprise that it was well represented by NHRA President Tom Compton and Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Graham Light, and also O’Reilly Raceway Park’s Ron Anderson and Scott Smith. Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team owner’s Terry and Rhonda McMillen also attended to support Alesi during this momentous occasion.

“Drag racing has always been at the forefront in the motorsports industry when it comes to opportunity for women, just look at the success of Shirley Muldowney,” commented Alesi. “I know it is a long, narrow path leading to my dream of racing professionally in the top fuel category. I have no doubt that my affiliation with the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation and its programs will help in achieving my goals.”

Our visit to Indianapolis - July 2009

By the time our plane landed and we snagged our rental car, we met Terry and Rhonda McMillen at our hotel just in time to make our dinner reservations at St. Elmo's in downtown Indianapolis. After a wonderful dinner, we headed over to the indoor go-karting track. Terry, Duane, Alesi and Ayrton looked like they had a blast and afterwards they commented on how they could catch up with Alesi in the corner's, but she would pull away in the straights....she quickly replied something like, "I can drive straight"! Guess she's a drag racer. The following day we attended the Lyn St. James Women in the Winner's Circle awards ceremony at the Plaza Village Pavilion at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Later that evening we headed over to Brownsburg, Indiana to drive by the race shops and came back by O'Reilly Raceway Park. We also toured the King Tut exhibit, but most of all enjoyed the nice, cool weather!!!