Women's Motorsports Network Podcast & Let's Talk Racing LIVE
Women's Motorsports Network Podcast shares the stories of women involved in motorsports from around the world. The first episode was in 2018 and new episodes are added each week. Feel free to suggest potential guests to Melinda at melinda@wmnnation.com.
Let's Talk Racing LIVE airs on Wednesdays at 7pm EASTERN TIME on the Women's Motorsports Network-A Media Company Facebook Page.
https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworkandpodcast
Melinda Russell
Women's Motorsports Network Podcast & Let's Talk Racing LIVE
Caitlyn Bernard: Fourth Generation of Women Drivers at Whittemore Speedway
Deep in northern Michigan, where entertainment options are limited and community bonds run strong, Caitlin Bernard carries forward an extraordinary motorsports legacy. As the fourth generation of women in her family to race at Whittemore Speedway, she follows in the tire tracks of her great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother who all competed at the same local track.
Growing up on a farm and riding four-wheelers by age five, Bernard's journey to racing feels almost predestined. Yet surprisingly, she discovered her family's racing heritage only after she began competing herself. "I am the fourth female generation driver on my mom's side at Whittemore Speedway," she reveals, a lineage tracing back to when the track was still dirt and women competed in "Powder Puff" divisions.
What makes Bernard's story particularly compelling is her grassroots approach to motorsports. Racing a converted 2003 Buick Regal that was once her daily driver, she exemplifies how racing can be accessible without breaking the bank. "When we put the car together I probably put a grand into it," she explains, noting she's now competing in the top 10 with a completely stock motor.
Beyond the competition, Bernard's experience highlights the tight-knit community that defines small-town racing. In her front-wheel drive class, which regularly fields 15-20 cars per night, competitors maintain a family-like atmosphere despite the on-track rivalries. "We might bicker back and forth once in a while, we have rivals once in a while," she says, "but at the end of the day it's like we're one family."
When not at the track, Bernard embodies a quintessential Michigan lifestyle – studying to become a registered medical assistant while tending to her homestead with ducks, geese, and dogs. Her story reminds us that motorsports isn't just about professional aspirations, but about community connections, family traditions, and the pure joy of competition. Ready to discover your own motorsports journey? There's a place for you at the track, no matter your background or budget.
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Welcome to the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, the show that puts the spotlight on the incredible women who fuel the world of motorsports, from drivers to crew members, engineers to fans and everyone in between. We're here to celebrate the trailblazers, dreamers and doers shaping the sport we love. Each episode we share inspiring stories of females of all ages from every corner of the motorsports universe past, present and future. It's a journey through the seasons of life filled with heartfelt moments, laughter and a whole lot of horsepower. So, whether you're a lifelong fan, a racer yourself or simply curious about the extraordinary women behind the wheel, settle in, relax and enjoy a fun and uplifting ride with us. This is the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, connecting and celebrating women in motorsports, one story at a time. Let's hit the track.
Speaker 1:If you're looking to buy, sell or trade the stuff that strokes your engine anything from truck parts to classic and muscle cars, rvs to hot rods and everything in between then check out our official classifieds at RacingJunkcom. Racingjunkcom is the world's number one online racing and performance marketplace. Racingjunkcom is the world's number one online racing and performance marketplace, the ultimate one-stop shop where you'll find what you need to rock your ride. If it belongs in your garage, it's for sale on RacingJunkcom. Log on to RacingJunkcom to find the gear you're looking for. Sell your extra stuff, keep up on racing news and tech tips and more. Again, that's Racingjunkcom. Hello everyone, this is Melinda Russell with the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, and my guest today is Caitlin Bernard. We are Michiganders and so we have something in common for sure, don't we, caitlin? And we also love motorsports, so we actually have a lot of things in common. So, caitlin, I want to welcome you to the show, and would you first tell?
Speaker 2:us a little bit about yourself so we can get to know you better. Thanks for having me. So first of all, I am originally from Hale, michigan, but I live in Whittemore right now. I am a homesteader, pretty much. I have a little homestead, I have ducks, I got geese, I got dogs, pretty much just typical Michigan homesteader. Right now I am a full-time student at Kirtland Community College going for my registered medical assistant, and during the summer when I'm off, I race at Whittemore Speedway. That's pretty much me.
Speaker 1:That's you in a nutshell huh, that's me, yeah, awesome. So, caitlin, you race not far from your house. Probably it's not far to go to the racetrack, which you're lucky right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. It's five miles from where I'm at right now and, being from Hale even and living north of Hale, it was only 10 miles. We were from the racetrack, so it was a regular thing that we went to the racetrack.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, and because you do live in, you know more northern Michigan, and this is not a bad thing, but you didn't live in the city and going to the racetrack was your inner weekly entertainment, really, wasn't it?
Speaker 2:oh, yeah, for sure. There's really nothing to do up here besides going to the bar or something, but even as kids there was nothing close for us to do, uh, being socialized. You know we could go to the laker stuff, but during evening there was nothing. It was something that we actually looked forward to and it was something like we met new people, especially during, like the invitational that Whittemore would hold. Right, we got to meet new people all over the state and hear about their lifestyle and it's like whoa state and hear about their lifestyle, it's like whoa, yeah, totally different, for sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's, that's cool. So you know a lot of people. I talk to drive hours, two, three hours, to go on a weekend to race, and I always say I'm so spoiled because here in Michigan, you know, within within an hour or less, mostly less, of where I live in Kalamazoo, I've got six racetracks, you know, or more. So yeah, I'm spoiled for sure.
Speaker 2:For sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So, caitlin, how did you first get interested in motorsports, and was it because you went to the track to watch, or did anybody in your family race?
Speaker 2:So actually I am the fourth female generation driver on my mom's side yes, at Whittemore Speedway. But I really didn't know that until I got into racing motorsports. Um, for the longest time. I grew up on a farm, on a beef farm, and five years old I was riding my four-wheeler around the farm and it was, you know, a good size four-wheeler. Then my brother actually got into dirt bikes and he got into motocross and he eventually handed me a dirt bike and was like well, here you go. So I actually started with motocross and raced motocross for a couple years okay, and where did you go to race that?
Speaker 2:um, that was actually at Oklahoma County Fair okay so really wasn't that far, it was about 20-25 minute drive from Hale, uh-huh, you know would only race once, maybe twice a year. Yeah, and that was it. And then in the meantime we still went to Whittemore. So it was still, whittemore was still a part of my life, it was still a piece of me. Yeah, and for the longest time, between racing dirt bikes and consistently going to the racetrack, I knew I wanted to race for the longest time. And you know, 14, 15 years old, I was at Whittemore Speedway watching Joe Coleman race and while he was racing I was actually taking his times for him and had a time log and tracked everything the temperature, the weather, everything, and in between each race if there was temperature difference. And then he got that log at the end of the night. So I knew I wanted to race. It was just a matter of time for everything to line up and that happened two years ago. So now I'm out there and racing for myself and it's been a blast.
Speaker 1:I bet it has it. You know what's funny about you keeping those time logs. You know you taught racers. Talk about keeping a notebook. Yeah right, that was, that was his notebook that you were doing. Yep, that was his Bible, and I'll bet there wasn't hardly anybody else at that track doing that at the time.
Speaker 2:No, and actually I did it for him and then I would, when the Legends came in, cole Landau 74L. I would do his time log while he was at Whittemore and I would send it to him through facebook and I kept track of everything. Cautions if if they got squirrely in a certain corner, that was marked down, that was their bible for the night I guess, so it was actually kind of cool to have that experience and have that background going into racing Right. That helped a lot.
Speaker 1:I'll bet it did. Oh yeah, when you started racing, what? What was your first thing that you raced? What kind of a car was it?
Speaker 2:So when I first raced, it was a front front wheel drive. It was actually my daily driver that got turned into a race car.
Speaker 1:What kind of car, was it?
Speaker 2:it was a 2003 buick regal really yeah, yeah, and it feels like you're driving a big old boat, but if somebody, somebody hits it, you don't feel a thing. No, it's actually kind of nice.
Speaker 1:That's a great car to be racing out there for sure.
Speaker 2:And are you?
Speaker 1:still racing that car or you have something different.
Speaker 2:No, I have the same car. She's still running strong. It's completely stock. I haven't even tuned the motor yet. Really, yeah, oh, yeah I haven't even tuned the motor yet. Really, yeah, oh yeah. And last weekend well, not last week, in the weekend before I was turning out some of my fastest times with that car and keeping up with the top nine of the pack. The past two nights that I ran I placed the top 10 in the feature with that car, and that's just, with making little adjustments here and there.
Speaker 1:So, it's actually been a blast, and improving every night without being tuned, yeah, and without having to put a whole lot of money into it. That's the thing. People don't get started racing a lot of times because they either think it's going to cost a lot or it is going to cost a lot, depending on how they start. But with you, you started with a car you already owned, yeah, and you really haven't had to do anything to it. So, other than your weekly expenses, you know you're. You're ahead of the game, for sure, caitlin.
Speaker 2:Oh, I know I like when we put the car together I probably put a grand into it. But that was from like the summer, before mid summer, until like January, february, when we put the car together and then I got sponsors for like my paint and my stickers and that kind of stuff and you know, a hundred dollars sponsor I. I grabbed it. People are looking at me and I'm like, hey, if they're willing to give me money, it's money. You know, my tires cost $56 a piece. That's $2. That's two tires with a hundred dollars. Yeah, you can't beat it.
Speaker 1:No, you can't beat it and you're having a blast, and that's the main thing. You're having so much fun that's the whole point.
Speaker 2:It's just out there having fun and meeting new people and, yeah, getting to race my little heart out there you go and so now, does your brother still race anything at all? Um, so actually currently he doesn't, but they still ride their dirt bikes. Okay, when he first started having his kids, he got out of it, so so it's been about three, four years since he has raced.
Speaker 1:Okay. So who helps you with the car, Like if you needed to do something to it? Do you have help or you're learning?
Speaker 2:yourself. I am learning, but I also do have help from my boyfriend, justin. He has been my main guy to go to. He actually has been with me and helped me build the car the way I wanted it and made sure, like the roll cage in the seat is. It's custom to me so like my seat can't go back no further on the roll cage. You can only go forward and, like I, have to have a removable steering wheel to get in and out of the car.
Speaker 2:Otherwise I can't get in and out yeah so he's been my main man and teaching me things as we go. It's been a really fun uh journey together.
Speaker 1:I bet. And does he race or he just? He's your pit crew, he's just my pit man.
Speaker 2:Yeah, even if I get a flat tire, he's right there. Got everything out ready to change. We're out and within a couple minutes.
Speaker 1:So we're not going to say just your pit man, we're going to say he's your main pit man, because there's no just about it. That's a lot of work and and it takes take some knowledge for sure oh, yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2:You know I really appreciate everything that he does. Without him it would be a challenge, yeah and being you know a female doing this. It's a challenge to begin with. Yeah, you know, having the farm background, you know not built like other females, I have a little bit more oomph to me. Yeah, even then I still have difficulties. You know I can take my own tire and that kind of stuff, but when it comes into the actual hard work, I need a hand. Yeah, he's always right there.
Speaker 1:So what's your favorite thing? You know what keeps you going back on the weekends. Instead of going somewhere else or going to the lake, or whatever, why do you keep going back to the racetrack?
Speaker 2:It's for me, it's the fact that I keep having fun and the adrenaline rush and just the people who I race with.
Speaker 2:You know we might bicker back and forth once in a while. Yeah, we have rivals once in a while, we bump into each other once in a while, but at the end of the day it's like we're one family, especially in the front wheel drives. You know, we're always running to each other's pits, helping each other out, trying to keep as many cars out there as possible, and you know the front wheel drives there is one of the more competitive classes there.
Speaker 2:And you know this season alone we're almost 30 cars. Yeah, you know, consistently we have 15 to 20 cars a night, but the whole season we've had up to 30 different cars on the track.
Speaker 1:Yeah, isn't that something? Those smaller classes, though, tend to be bigger because of the cost, the entry level, and that's how people get started.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's it. It really doesn't cost that much. You know, even just to go to enter every week, you know, we pay $50 yearly fee and it's just the cost of us to get into the pits. That's it.
Speaker 1:That's cheap.
Speaker 2:As long as you do one lap in the feature race, you get a check at the end of the night, usually $75. So, you can't beat it.
Speaker 1:No, you can't beat that. No, not at all. So is this something you can see yourself doing for a long time?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, oh yeah, I'll be going as long as I can, yeah, Especially now. You know, the first year I had a couple sponsors here and there. This year I have quite a few sponsors and bigger paying sponsors now that my name's out there a little bit and gotten some experience underneath in my belt, so I definitely do have the support behind me to keep going and that's one of the biggest things is having that support to keep going Right.
Speaker 1:Are there other women that you race against in that class?
Speaker 2:Oh, yes, there are, I believe, three other women in that class that I race with and you know we're great with each other. We all laugh, we all get along. So it's really nice to have these other women because you know, we kind of stick together and even when we're racing, you know, I and another girl we keep pretty close during the race and it's always fun to race side by side with each other and be able to push our cars and push each other to go faster and learn different things. Yeah, while being competitive. Right, it's a blast, I enjoy it.
Speaker 1:So when you first started, the first first few nights you went to the racetrack. I I mean, you've been going there a long time so people knew you, but not as a driver. So the first few nights you went there, did you feel accepted? Did everybody welcome you or did you feel like you were out of place?
Speaker 2:Oh no, I felt very, very welcome. You know, right from the gate they are like welcome to the Speedway. And then as soon as you get in the gate there's always someone right there to greet you. And you walk down a little bit further, there's more people. If you want to know where the best seats are, you know um, what areas, what. They're not afraid to tell you. So you get the area area that you want and it's a blast. And you know they're real friendly. At the concession stands, at the souvenir stands, they're very social people, yeah, and very down to earth and you don't don't really see that a whole lot anymore and it's really, it's a heartwarming place.
Speaker 1:So we can't beat it.
Speaker 2:We're gifted.
Speaker 1:First of all, it's Michiganders. They tend to be friendly, and even more so when they're not and this is not a knock on the city, I mean, I live in Kalamazoo, it's a pretty big town, but people tend to be friendly and as far as michiganders go and at the racetrack, that's that's another place where they're more friendly, more welcoming than just your normal, normal place oh for sure you know they're.
Speaker 2:It's a competitive sport, very much so, but you usually don't see. You know people fighting over stuff, you know, like over like baseball games and that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1:Or other tracks. There are other tracks where that happens, but the norm I think the normal is, even if they're bumping each other when they're racing, they're. They're okay when they get off the track because they know that. That's just how part of it is for sure.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, for the most part. Yeah, just how it goes, it's racing.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So, caitlin, you're going to school and you know you have laundry and groceries and everything that everybody else has to do and you're racing. So how do you balance all that? What's your you know? Do you have something that you enjoy doing, you know, in your downtime to refresh? What do you do to keep yourself on an even keel? I guess we could say Pretty much my.
Speaker 2:Homestead is my peace and comfort. Homestead is my, it's my peace and comfort. You know I really all my life has enjoyed animals and growing and canning and that's kind of what I've always stuck to. It's relaxation for me. You know I make homemade bread, that kind of stuff, so that's kind of what keeps me all insane pretty much so are you the?
Speaker 1:where are you in your family? I think you said you had three. What did you tell me? Do you have brother? You have a brother. Is it just the two of you?
Speaker 2:yep, well full. My dad, he remarried a couple times. Okay, there's either five or seven of us all together, okay, but just my brother and I pretty much did it together.
Speaker 1:And so what did your family think when you started racing at the racetrack?
Speaker 2:You know my mom it was really no surprise. She knew that I've always wanted to. She actually, right from the get-go, was all worth it and her and my stepdad was like all supportive. You know we built the race car out of their garage, okay, so it was really nice for them to come out and see the progress on the car as we were going. So it was pretty no surprise, okay, with it being a family thing and especially a female driver thing.
Speaker 1:Right, so tell me about that. Four generations, that would have been your great grandmother.
Speaker 2:Yes, so tell me about that. Four generations, that would have been your great-grandmother. Yes, so my great-grandmother and I were very, very close while I was growing up and I did not learn about this until I started racing and did some digging, that she was actually involved with Whittemore Speedway in the Powder Puff series. Okay, she only raced a couple nights, but she was still there involved with the track and raced. And then I also learned that my grandmother also did the Powder Puff at Whittemore Speedwayway about. I think it was 20 years later while the track was still dirt, and then, just before the track went from dirt, asphalt was the last time she raced. Okay, because she ended up pregnant with my uncle. Okay, so she got out of it and my mom started racing at Whittemore Speedway. I want to say it was 1990-ish or 1992-ish Jewish, but she raced until 1997 when she found out she was pregnant with me.
Speaker 2:And she was actually still racing while she was pregnant with me until she wouldn't push it. No longer. After I was born, they got out of racing.
Speaker 1:Okay, so what do you know what kind of cars they drove.
Speaker 2:They drove actually the four cylinder classes Okay, four and six cylinder classes and you know they would jump from Whittemore to Standish Speedway all the time when Standish was open and it was so cool. You know I didn't get to see them race but they kept videos of their races so I was able to watch all their races pretty much and it was yeah it was awesome so I'm just carrying on the tradition, yeah and just knowing how far back it started it's.
Speaker 1:It's not unusual for maybe a girl to be the fourth generation, but the fourth generation of women that you're the first that I've heard of that yeah, it's not common at all.
Speaker 2:I have never heard of it, and especially at a woman at a certain speedway. It's like a traveling speedway.
Speaker 1:It's a certain speedway, yeah, yeah that not a traveling speedway, it's a certain speedway. Yeah, yeah, that's, that's really very cool. So do you have any superstitions or or anything like that? Like on race day, do you always wear that Like your Bernard racing shirt, or you always wear your same socks, or do you have any superstitions at?
Speaker 2:all. No, really okay, I just wear what's comfortable, you know? Yeah, the same routine every time I get in the car and that's about it, you know that's good, that's good, good to know.
Speaker 1:so if, um, if a mother came up to you, or even another another woman came up to you and said Caitlin, I really think I want to try racing, or my daughter wants to try racing, what would be your advice? What would you say to the, to those people?
Speaker 2:Absolutely. This has happened before. Females have come up to me. You know how did they get, how did you get in the racing, you know, and told them my story and they're like that is so cool. And you know, uh, actually, the last time we had autograph night at widdemore speedway, you know people are able to come down to the track and get autographs and you know, see the cars up close, and did have a mother come up to me and she wanted to get her daughter into motorsports but she didn't know how. And I'm like you can either get her a mini wedge or you can get her a go-kart and get her started and see how she likes that and then slowly start moving up yeah if you don't like the cars or the go-karts, try four-wheelers, try dirt bikes.
Speaker 2:There are options out there, it's just a matter what fits you yeah, exactly that.
Speaker 1:That was perfect advice. You just got to do it. You just got to find a way and get started to do it for sure, absolutely, yeah, I love that well, I started when I was five there you go.
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So what's your favorite memory? Could be a good memory or could be a oh, I rolled the car. I don't know what's your favorite memory from racing? Oh goodness.
Speaker 2:So this was back at Whittemore Speedway September of 2009. It was invitational and they had over, I want to say, 30 cars on the track in the lead slab division and that class was so competitive at the time it was not even funny. Class was so competitive at the time and it was Ryan Haas who went for a ride and he pretty much walked away from it with minimal bruising, minimal injury. Yeah, he might have broken a couple bones, but other than that it was minimal and just knowing how safe them cars actually are, that's one memory I will never forget. Yeah.
Speaker 1:I would guess not.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, it was really crazy. You don't see that every day, that's for sure.
Speaker 1:No, no, no.
Speaker 2:It was exciting but crazy at the same time.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So, Caitlin, do you use social media to like, reach out to sponsors, promote your racing or or? And if you do, how do you use it?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, so I'm big on Facebook. You know I don't have my own racing page. You know I don't have my own racing page. I use my own personal page, but everything that I post about racing, you know I'm tagging my sponsors and you know like this winter I was promoting four sponsors and my car is completely filled. That's awesome. The only spot that I have are trunk spots, you know, and that's just the power of Facebook, of word of mouth and tagging my sponsors into it. You know, everybody that's on my car is very local. Yeah, everybody's from Hale. So Hale, prescott area. So it's more like a. It's a community boost. Yes, like we have the fair, it's like they sponsor the fair, but they also sponsor the racetrack, the racetrack going. The whole reason why the racetrack is what it is is because the County of air didn't show up, so they just started racing in the middle of somebody's field. That's how Whittemore started.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 2:And here we are today.
Speaker 1:Here you are today.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, I think those smaller towns, smaller communities, and sometimes it's more than one town, it might be three or four little towns that come together and support something like the racetrack or you know. You know, maybe it's a parade, maybe it's whatever. It might be More so, maybe even than the bigger towns, because they want. You know, without those small businesses, you know you've got to keep them going, and so they support you in your car and you shop there or you share what they're doing, and and it's one hand helps the other and that's how it should be for sure oh yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:For example, cliff's tree service is one of my sponsors. I needed two trees removed from my yard. That's who I'm calling first to have come remove these trees. Right, you know I support them. They support me. Yeah, and that's the only way we can survive around here, because there really is not much up here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so we really lean on each other.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's really nice.
Speaker 1:At the same time, though, because because everybody knows everybody- yeah, and I like that part you said we lean on each other. So through good and bad, you know you've got a support system there that's going to be there for you, even if they're your competitor on the racetrack, you know it.
Speaker 2:It's really nice. Yeah, you have that support to keep going and keep that drive going. Yeah, that's definitely the bonus in this area, for you have that support to keep going and keep that drive going. That's definitely the bonus in this area For sure.
Speaker 1:Well, caitlin, is there anything I haven't asked you about that we need to share, about you or your racing or anything at all? No, not that I can think of. This has been really interesting to hear about Whittemore and and and the fourth generations of women, that's a big deal, yeah that's a really big deal.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I that's one thing I'm really proud of digging down and finding the information. You know that it was crazy to know that. Yeah, and like my mom didn't even know some of the information that I found, it was awesome.
Speaker 1:I hope you've written it down or kept track of it somewhere, because that's a that's a history that needs to stay, stay told, you know, down the road especially at that track.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, for sure it's. It's definitely something that'll keep being passed on and kept in the family Awesome.
Speaker 1:Well, caitlin, I appreciate you being on the show with me. Like I said, if there's anything else that you'd like to share, I'm more than willing, but you've answered all the questions and your story is so interesting I'm glad we could share it with my listeners.
Speaker 2:Well, thanks for having me. I really am. I'm always willing to share my story.
Speaker 1:I'm glad because I didn't know about it until you told us today, and so I'm glad we could tell that story out there because, like I said, that's unusual that that happens, and I want you to have a really good season and keep in the top ten and get that Buick. It's a Buick, right, that's what I wrote down. Get that Buick Regal to the top spot.
Speaker 1:And we're working on it a little bit at a time, right Well, thanks again, and if you just hold on as we end the recording, just hold on and I'll be back with you.
Speaker 2:No problem.
Speaker 1:That's it for this episode of the Women's Motorsports Network podcast. We hope you've been inspired by the stories I shared today and feel more connected to the amazing community of women in motorsports. Connected to the amazing community of women in motorsports. Remember, whether you're behind the wheel in the pits or cheering from the stands, your story matters and together we're driving change and celebrating every milestone. If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe, leave us a review and share it with someone who loves motorsports as much as you do, and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, behind-the-scenes content and more incredible stories. So until next time, stay inspired, stay connected and keep racing through life. This is the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, where every woman's story is worth celebrating.