Women With Drive Summit To Kick Off Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Weekend

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Cindy Sissons and Lyn St. James. Photo: by Deremer Studios, LLC

The inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix weekend will start off with the Women with Drive Summit highlighting women taking the initiative in the motorsports industry. The two-day conference will take place in downtown Nashville on August 5-6.

“We are honored to host the inaugural Women with Drive Summit and are pleased with the outstanding lineup of men and women in the automotive industry playing a role in its diversity,” says Matt Crews, CEO, Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.  “The Summit follows our highly successful and female-focused series of Women with Drive virtual events that have combined women in automotive with Nashville’s country music artists.”

Lyn St. James, former Indycar driver, author, coach, mentor, and motivational speaker, and Cindy Sisson, GSEvents and Shifting Gears CEO, have teamed up to chair this important first step toward increasing women empowerment within the motorsport’s world.

“When Matt called me last November, he was anxious to do something big, bold and 100 percent focused on women,” says Sisson. “He was adamant that women are too important to the long-term growth of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, IndyCar racing, and the motorsports industry in general, and creating a special program just for women was simply the right thing to do.”

The summit will benefit the Play Like a Girl charity, and will be hosted by Amanda Busick, broadcast professional and Shifting Gears podcast host. It will kick off with an Opening Reception on August 5 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at AJ’s Good Time Bar on Broadway.

“I’m excited to hear from successful people in motorsports who are passionate and care not only about their careers, but also how they can help and welcome future generations to look at motorsports as a career,” says St. James. “Whether it’s encouraging STEM education or understanding how they’ve transferred their experience and skills to careers in motorsports, these men and women are in the trenches and willing to share how it happened for them and how it can happen for others. Thank you to the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix for inviting us to be part of this exciting inaugural race and Women’s Summit in Nashville.”

The summit will be held August 6 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at The George Jones on 2nd Avenue. The panel discussions will highlight stories that explore, encourage, celebrate, and engage expanded opportunities for women and other diverse communities to become involved in motorsports. Fans can also purchase a VIP experience which includes a tour of the IndyCar paddock with girls from ‘Play Like a Girl and hosted by women of NTT IndyCar.

Fans can learn more about the events and summit as well as purchase tickets on the event’s website.

Invited panelists include:

  • Dr. Kimberly Clay, CEO/Founder, Play Like a Girl
  • Sarah Fisher, former Indycar driver/pace car driver
  • Jessica Fickenscher, CXO, Speedway Motorsports Inc.
  • Sabre’ Cook, W Series and Road to Indy Driver
  • Jimmie L. McMillian, Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Corporate Counsel, Penske Entertainment
  • Rod Reid, founder NXG Youth Motorsports/Force IndyCar team owner
  • Myles Rowe, Force IndyCar driver
  • Beth Paretta, Team owner Paretta Autosports
  • Anscia Brown, Social Media Manager, Money Lion
  • Allison Melangton, Senior Vice President, Penske Entertainment
  • Cara Adams, Lead Engineer, Firestone IndyCar Series
  • Margo Cooke, Vice President, NTT IndyCar, title sponsor
  • Heidi Massey-Bong, Global Manager, Sponsorships & Creative Solutions, Shell
  • Bree Sandlin, Vice President North America Lubricants Marketing, Shell
Steven Boero
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