Nashville Sports Council Share Key Takeaways From Women in Motorsports Panel

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Women in Motorsports Panel presented by the Nashville Sports Council. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Sports Council

Ahead of the second annual Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, the Nashville Sports Council hosted “A Conversation with Women in Motorsports presented by PNC,” which offered insights and highlighted the significant impact women are making in the motorsports industry.

Chip Ganassi Racing gearbox mechanic Anna Chatten discussed her experience keeping a high-performance race car up to speed in the NTT IndyCar Series, and shared how throughout her 20-year career she has changed her mindset to focus on being a key contributor to the success of a major racing team. Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon and the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda went on to win the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on Aug. 7.

“We are extremely grateful for PNC’s partnership and support not just for this panel, but also for our Women in Sports Initiative as a whole,” shares Scott Ramsey, President & CEO of the Nashville Sports Council. “This panel helped kick off a weekend of racing by shining a light on the impact women have made on INDYCAR and motor racing. We look forward to collaborating on additional projects with PNC centered around the mission of amplifying the awareness of women in sports.”

Chatten is one of four women featured in Women In Motorsports Powered by PNC Bank with Chip Ganassi Racing, a campaign launched earlier this year to showcase women industry leaders and accelerate career pathways in motorsports for women.

Beth Paretta, owner of Paretta Autosport, and her driver, Simona de Silvestro, discussed their respective journeys to becoming industry leaders for women, while Nashville Sports Council Women in Sports Initiative committee member Rose Grindstaff–who was integral to making the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix experience a reality as a member of the race’s Advisory Board–talked about making an impact in male-dominated boardrooms in business.

“The Women in Motorsports panel was a good platform to share our respective journeys in motorsports and how we seek to put a spotlight on the many roles for women in our sport and in automotive careers as well,” Paretta adds. “By being out there in numbers on the race track we hope to inspire young girls and women with the adage, ‘if you see it, you can be it.’”

The panel, moderated by WKRN’s Danielle Breezy, was held in collaboration with the Nashville Sports Council’s Women in Sports Initiative, the mission of which is to increase awareness, engagement and promotion of women in sports through events and community involvement.

“While women continue to make advances in traditionally male-dominated industries, such as motorsports, tech and finance, we recognize there’s still work to be done to empower women in the workplace,” notes Mike Johnson, PNC regional president for Tennessee. “The Women In Motorsports campaign is designed to drive awareness and support for gender equality and economic inclusion, and all of us at PNC are grateful to the panelists for sharing their unique perspectives with the Nashville business community.”

Steven Boero
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