Before First Gear

Mason Filippi: Touring Car Driver and OpenFender Founder

Mason Filippi is an American auto racing driver who competes in the TCR class of the Michelin Pilot Challenge for Bryan Herta Autosport. He's raced domestically and internationally as well as in Xfinity. Interestingly, Mason has launched OpenFender, a crowdsourcing platform for racing sponsorships.

Keegan Widmyer: starting in Karting

Keegan is a young kart racer trying to pay his way into WKA events, then hopefully in Spec Miata and into a racing career. He discusses some of the costs associated with karting and ways to consider raising sponsorship dollars.

Ashton Harrison: female sportscar driver

Ashton Harrison races in IMSA GTD and Lamborghini Super Trofeo. She also became the first female class winner in a global SRO event when she won the Indy 8hr.

Amber Balcaen: becoming a female ARCA driver

Amber Balcaen is a Canadian professional stock car racing driver. She competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series and is most known for being the first Canadian woman to win in a NASCAR-sanctioned race in the United States. She started her career in Dirt Oval racing, finding some serious success in sprints and midgets, then accessed NASCAR through the Drive for Diversity program.

Jordan Taylor: one of the best endurance racers it the world

The son of a successful driver, Wayne Taylor, Jordan has forged an astounding career of his own becoming one of the top sports car racers of his generation. It hasn't always come totally natural to him, so it's super interesting and humbling hearing how he's managed to get to where he is today.