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
Girl Power and Horsepower: Mckenzee Hogan's Dragster Journey
Ever wonder what it's like to hurtle down a drag strip at 780 mph before you can even drive legally on the street? Meet Mckenzee Hogan, a 15-year-old drag racing phenom who's been behind the wheel for over half her life.
Mckenzee's journey began at age seven when she sat in a dragster at Charlotte's 4Wide event. Within months, she was making test passes in her neighborhood driveway, much to her racing father's delight. Fast forward eight years, and this homeschooled tenth-grader is now piloting her fourth race car – a purple and green 2023 Mike Boss junior dragster bearing her birthday, 514, as her racing number.
The accomplishments she's already racked up would make veteran racers envious. At just 13, Mckenzee clinched a championship at her home track, Gallot Motorsports Park. She's claimed victories at major venues like Summit Motorsports Park in Ohio and competes regularly in the prestigious PDRA circuit, where she races against a field that's refreshingly balanced between boys and girls.
What makes Mckenzee's story special isn't just her speed on the track but the community she's found there. "It's one giant family," she explains, describing how competitors support each other through wins and losses alike. Before each pass, she shares a special moment with her parents – each saying their own prayer, a ritual that keeps her calm behind the wheel even when reaching speeds that would terrify most adults.
Despite throttles getting stuck and even blowing up a motor on track, Mckenzee remains undaunted. Her advice to younger girls interested in the sport? "Practice helps you get better, and you lose more than you win. But don't give up and keep trying." With plans to move into faster classes when she turns 16 and eventually transition to "big car" racing, Mckenzee Hogan is just getting started. Buckle up and follow her journey – this is one young racer whose story is accelerating fast.
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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.
Speaker 1:This is the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, connecting and celebrating women in motorsports, one story at a time. Let's hit the track. Promoting a track takes heart, and now showing appreciation can be just as easy With Send Out Cards. You can thank sponsors, volunteers, drivers and fans with personalized digital cards sent right from your phone or laptop. Add a photo, write a message and hit send. It's that simple Unlimited sends for just $10 a month. Go to sendoutcardscom forward slash 53240. That's sendoutcardscom forward slash 53240. Because gratitude builds great tracks. Hello everyone, this is Melinda Russell with the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, and my guest today is Mackenzie Hogan. Mackenzie, I want to welcome you to the show and would you first tell us a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 2:Hi, my name is Mackenzie Hogan, I'm 15 years old, I drive a 2023 Mike Boss and I've been racing for eight years. I have two younger brothers Jackson is five years old and Jaden is 10. And I have two dogs. I live in North Carolina and I'm homeschooled in 10th grade.
Speaker 1:10th grade, okay, awesome. So you've been racing for eight years, so half your life. Yes, ma'am, it's been great eight years. So, mackenzie, tell me, if you've been racing for that long, who got you started? How'd you get interested in motorsports?
Speaker 2:We went to the Charlotte 4Wide and a friend of a friend was there and let me sit in her dragster. And that's when I knew I was interested in racing.
Speaker 1:And so you were probably seven years old or so, did you say to your parents I want to do that. And what did they say? They were really happy and excited for me to start. Okay, so were they drag race fans? Is that why you had gone to watch?
Speaker 2:Yeah, my dad used to race before.
Speaker 1:I was born. Okay, that's usually the story Somebody in the family raced, but not always. It doesn't always happen that way, and he was a drag racer, so that's probably what he wanted you to follow in his footsteps. Okay, all right. So, um, how soon did you get a dragster after you went there?
Speaker 2:um, I want to say like a month or two later yeah, so pretty much right away.
Speaker 1:And who helped you then learn how to drive that car?
Speaker 2:My dad was a big part in it and my mom. They got a car. We lived in a neighborhood so we were in like the end of the neighborhood. So we got the car, got a motor for it, got safety stuff for it. They sat me in the car and I made test hits in the driveway.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right, and then how long before you went?
Speaker 2:to your first race? Um, I think like a couple months later.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Um they, let me test it for a while.
Speaker 1:And where did you go to test it? Do you remember, Uh Galop?
Speaker 2:Motorsports Park.
Speaker 1:Okay, all carolina all right, um what? And do you remember how you felt that first day when you were gonna go like actually test the car?
Speaker 2:I was really excited um, my dad told me not to like take it easy and I did not. I was excited for the first time and I made a full pass.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's easier to ask forgiveness. What is it Easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission? So you just went ahead and did your thing, and what did he say when you got done?
Speaker 2:He was really excited for me. Okay, he was very excited for me to continue racing.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's awesome. So that started when you were seven or eight. So now that you're 15, tell me the steps. What have you done since you know you've gotten a different car? Obviously it's a 2023. So tell me, like, how many different cars have you had and how did you go about getting this new one?
Speaker 2:I've been, I've had four different cars. This is my fourth car. Okay, um, my last car. I won a championship in it, um, but I was getting too big for it, so they got me a new one um, okay.
Speaker 1:So where was the championship at?
Speaker 2:Galat Motorsports Park in 2022.
Speaker 1:All right, so that must be your home track. Yes, ma'am, it is Okay. So you won the championship in 2022. That's pretty exciting. You had to have only been 12 years old, 13 years old.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was 13. And 12 years old, 13 years old? Yeah, I was 13.
Speaker 1:13.
Speaker 2:And I know junior dragsters are kind of by. Are they more by age bracket or are they more by what kind of car you drive? So we race locally and we travel with the PDA circuit. So with the PDA circuit they have two different junior dragster classes. They have top and they have pro. So for top it's six to 12 and you qualify off of reaction time. And so for the pro class it's 13 to 17 and you it's seven, 90 heads up.
Speaker 1:So you have to qualify based on 790 and so you were in the 13 to 17 class, and that's the year you won the championship.
Speaker 2:I think I was. I think I just turned 13, so I was still in the top class okay um, and then the next year I changed to the 13 to 17.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right, so you. So, um, that's pretty exciting to have a championship already, isn't it? Yes, ma'am, it is. You know, a lot of people go a long time and never even get a win, much less a championship. Yeah, pretty cool. So are there a lot of girls that you race against?
Speaker 2:Are there a lot of girls that you race against. Yeah, I think it's pretty much equal where I race.
Speaker 1:There's a very good variety of both, and that's the thing I noticed about especially junior dragsters. There's a lot more girls involved than a lot of other motorsports starting out. Now I mean go-karts and that there's a lot of girls, but Junior Dragsters seems to be more 50-50 than maybe any other series that I follow. Lots of girls, yeah, I think it's definitely equal. Yeah, I think so too. So what do you love most about being involved in motorsports?
Speaker 2:I definitely like hanging out with my family every weekend because my younger brother also races, so I definitely like hanging out with them um most of the time and friends friends that you've made at the track.
Speaker 1:Yes, ma'am, so we're. Are any of the people at the track? I mean, I know you're homeschooled, but you probably went to school at some point, right, or have you always? Yeah, so do do any of the kids that you knew, maybe from school, race, or these are all new friends you've made.
Speaker 2:So these are all new friends I've made. I think most of them I first met when I started racing. We all started at the same time, so it's definitely been a very cool journey.
Speaker 1:So you've been on a path with a lot of the same people. Yes, ma'amam, okay, that always makes it. I think that makes it better because you're you're your own little community kind of you, the kids that have started together. So is the winning the championship your proudest moment or do you have any?
Speaker 2:more. That's one of the bigger ones, and then in 2022, I also won in Summit Motorsports Park in Ohio. I won in Top Junior Dragster. Okay, and then in 2023, I won Top Junior Dragster at Go Out Motorsports Park.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you've had a lot of success already mckenzie haven't you? Yeah, absolutely. And does your dad still work on the car and help you with the car?
Speaker 2:yes, he does. He does most of the work on it okay, has he.
Speaker 1:Do you go out in the shop and help, or is it mostly he is the one that works on it.
Speaker 2:I help on some of the stuff I can.
Speaker 1:If I can't do it, he'll help me do it, okay, but we both work on it All right, because it's good to kind of know what makes the car go. If you need to tell him something, that's wrong with the car, right, it helps you to know. Yeah for sure that's wrong with the car, right, it helps you to know, yeah for sure. So, um, tell me about a race that you either won or lost, that you'll never forget. Do you have one that just sticks out?
Speaker 2:it was definitely the first one I won in summit motor Sports Park in Ohio. That was definitely one of the bigger ones because it was my first PDRU win. It was definitely a lot of excitement in that one.
Speaker 1:I'm sure. And how old were you then?
Speaker 2:I think I was 12 or 13. I think, I just turned 13.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, that's pretty exciting. What's the one thing that's been the hardest thing for you to learn about? Drag racing, or winning Getting down there ahead of everybody else.
Speaker 2:Definitely driving the finish line. That one's a difficult one. It definitely still has still working on that one, but that was definitely a very big working thing it was a challenge and you're still working on it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yes, sir, so there's a lot of girls in the sport. Do you kind of hang out together, do you? You, you know, are some of the guys your friends? Because I think, a lot of times when I ask people or ask young women what's their favorite part, they say their family, which you said, and then they also say hanging out with my friends. Because a lot of times you know girls that are have friends in their home, like in their neighborhood or whatever, or their school. Their friends don't understand why they want to go to the racetrack every weekend, but your friends are all pretty much Already at the racetrack, right? Yeah, they are. So that makes it easier To be like, excited To go to the track Because you know your friends are going to be there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's definitely Very exciting when they're there Because we track, because you know your friends are going to be there. Yeah, it's definitely um very excited when they're there, because we all support each other and watch each other race and um support each other on our wins and we discuss what happened with our own if we lost or won um, and we help each other that's good.
Speaker 1:That's good to know because it's it's encouraging to you to know that you can battle on the down the track and then you can still be friends when you get back to the pit area. So when you have a bad day at the track which everybody does how do you handle it? And have you ever felt like I'm done? I just don't want to do this anymore um, it's um.
Speaker 2:When I have a bad day at the track, it's um. We basically I just hang out with friends and we like discuss what happened, and or I go in the trailer, pull that off of my car, put it in the computer, look at the graph and see what happened. Um, it just depends on, like, yeah, me and my dad discussed what happened but you never do.
Speaker 1:You never just say I'm done, I'm, I can't do this anymore. No, it just makes me want to get in the car again. Okay, that's good. That's what I wanted to hear you say. Do you have any superstitions or free race like rituals that you follow? Do you always wear the same shirt or the same socks, or you always do your hair a certain way?
Speaker 2:So before each pass, one of the big ones is me I say a prayer, me and my mom say a prayer, and me and my dad say a prayer. We each have our own little prayers that we say before I go down the track.
Speaker 1:That's a good thing. That's a good thing. It makes you feel calm, doesn't it To know?
Speaker 2:that that's happening.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for sure, and the more calm you are, the better you race, because if you get yourself all wound up, then that doesn't always go very well, for sure. Thanks, ma'am. How do you balance racing? So you're homeschooled but you still have schoolwork and things to do? I'm sure you still have to, you know, keep your room clean and help with chores around the house, and then there's all the racing. You know how do you balance all that and maintain good grades and good racing?
Speaker 2:So for school I do it before I go to the track. So normally we leave for a track on a Friday or if we're going to Michigan we're on the way to Michigan. So I normally do my school work before that Friday or whenever we leave. Or if I can't do it before we leave, I do it on the way to the track.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right, so you're on the way to Michigan right now. Yes, ma'am, are you in the motorhome? Yes, ma'am, I thought so. So where are you going in Michigan?
Speaker 2:We are going to US 131.
Speaker 1:I knew you were going to say that. Well, I am so disappointed because I'm only 15 minutes from there is where I live, but I'm leaving to go to Arizona tomorrow to see my kids and grandkids, Otherwise I would be there to watch you race. Now that's very disappointing for me because I've sat here all summer and haven't had anybody to watch, and then you're going to be here and I'm not going to be here. But that's how it goes. But that's a great park. Have you ever been there before?
Speaker 2:Um, I've been there not last year, but the year before we went there and we went.
Speaker 1:It's it's a really nice. I think it's a nice facility for sure. Yeah, yeah, I do like that park. So are there any younger girls that kind of look up to you, that you maybe are a mentor or you coach or you help at all?
Speaker 2:Um, there's a couple that will come up to me every once in a while and like ask about my car or driving, and um, I'll try to help them.
Speaker 1:Um, and I'll watch some of them, but um, yeah, there's a couple so what advice would you give to a mom or a little girl that came up to you and and they said you know, we just love drag racing. We'd like to. My daughter would like to get started. You know, is it a good sport for girls. What would you say to them?
Speaker 2:um, practice helps you get better and you lose more than you win.
Speaker 1:But no, don't give up and keep trying yeah, yeah for sure, because that's that's motorsports you'll never have. You'll never have a perfect season, probably ever. I don't know anybody that's ever had a perfect season in racing. Now it's not like soccer or softball or something where they could win every game, it's. It just doesn't work that way. But it doesn't matter, because you just keep going back and you want to get that next win or that next. You know, go that next step for sure. So your dad does the setup on the car. Do you help with that at all, or are you involved with that part of it? Um?
Speaker 2:yes, some, some of it I am, me and him have had to change a motor on my car before.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And I'll help him with like the tires and the gas and everything. But normally if it needs like maintenance on the clutch or something, I'll help. Okay, it just depends on what it needs to be done with it.
Speaker 1:All right. So when you get to the starting line, are you calm and focused on what you're going to do, or are you kind of nervous and hyped up and maybe a little aggressive?
Speaker 2:I'm normally calm, especially if nothing like if there's an oil down or something, I'm more like um, like more uh, nervous about it. But normally, if if it's just like a regular one nothing happened, I'm normally calm and ready to go okay, what is something you've learned from watching other people?
Speaker 1:because I'm sure you watch. You know the other racers that you're racing against. Is there anything you've learned by watching somebody else?
Speaker 2:Good sportsmanship is important. People will help you beat them and if you need help, someone will always help you work on it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's true. It's a family, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Yes, ma'am, it's one giant family.
Speaker 1:Yeah, have you ever had like like kind of an oh no moment in your car, like you're at the starting line and and you start to go and something happens and it's like oh no, I can't believe that happened, or or not?
Speaker 2:um, I have. Um, I think I was at go out one time and my throttle got hung, but I stopped the car safely. But that was definitely a big one. And I've also blew up a motor on track, which that was another big one. But, that was definitely an experience.
Speaker 1:I would think so. That's kind of scary. Does everybody come running when something like that happens?
Speaker 2:yeah, my parents were one of the first ones to be like, are you okay? And I'm like, yeah, um, everybody definitely was very um, came up and helped and got it right the next time, so five years from now.
Speaker 1:Where do you see yourself in racing?
Speaker 2:Hopefully big money bracket racing. I really want to do that.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Travel with it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that would be fun, wouldn't it?
Speaker 2:Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so how do you use social media? Do you, you know, tell us what your page is like, what? What platforms do you use? And and how do you um share, like your, where you're going to be, your successes, that kind of thing um, if you go on facebook and look up hogan motorsports, that's how you'll find our page.
Speaker 2:Um, we normally post if we are going somewhere, like a couple days before we're there, um, and then we'll post, like what happened, all of the racing updates, um what round we're going in or um what round we went out, and like we'll post like a giant thing at the end of the weekend explaining what happened okay, so I'm gonna have to watch this weekend all the way from phoenix when I'm only 15 minutes from the track.
Speaker 1:Oh, but I'm going to wish you all the luck in the world because I I think that's a great, great track to go to and it's it's a haul from north carolina to michigan. It definitely is one. Yeah, at least you're in a comfortable someplace comfortable that you're riding in. So do you have any any like go-to songs or music that you listen to before you race?
Speaker 2:um, not really more.
Speaker 1:Like I just go on spotify and look up whatever just pick a random playlist and listen to it okay, if you weren't in racing, what do you think you'd be doing instead?
Speaker 2:um, if I wasn't in racing, I would probably be like going to the beach sometimes and hanging out more with my family outside of racing okay not just the racetrack, but traveling with them yeah, going to the racing and stuff so are you?
Speaker 1:would you consider yourself a competitive person? Yes, definitely, because you see you seem real kind of laid back and kind of quiet and and sometimes those are the most competitive ones when they get on the track. So I was curious whether, whether, maybe I'm definitely very competitive okay. So what do you? Do you have a goal? Any kind of goals for this season?
Speaker 2:Um, I would hope like just to win a race this season, um, especially in Michigan. Um, I really want to win that one, um, but other than that, just win a couple point races.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:In Junior Street.
Speaker 1:And what's your car look like. What colors are it? What colors do you have? What number do you have? Tell me what your car looks like.
Speaker 2:My car is purple and green and my car number is 514.
Speaker 1:Okay, and they assign that number, don't they?
Speaker 2:For regular points races, that's my car number and we came up with that one. Okay. But for some other races, I have's my car number and we came up with that one. Okay, but for some other races I have an assigned car number.
Speaker 1:Okay, because that's your birthday.
Speaker 2:Yes, ma'am, 5-14, yeah, okay.
Speaker 1:So have you ever thought about racing anything other than a dragster?
Speaker 2:Not really. I kind of like my car and definitely want to keep doing it.
Speaker 1:Have you ever raced under the lights like when it's dark?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I have that's. Definitely very cool.
Speaker 1:Do you like that? Or racing in the day?
Speaker 2:Um, I like racing in the dark better.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think I would too. I love, in fact, when we go on trips, my husband will drive during the day and I prefer to drive once it starts getting dark. I don't know why, I just like. I like that better, so I think I would rather race when it was dark too, yeah, so, um, do you have a favorite movie?
Speaker 2:Um, not really, I don't really watch movies. Um okay, um, not really, I don't really watch movies. Um okay, um, I'll watch the Lightning McQueen one with my little brother sometimes Okay. Have you seen?
Speaker 1:the F1 movie. Yet that came out, um, not yet. Okay, I haven't either, but I've heard a lot about it. So I I haven't seen it yet either, but I've I've got a lot about it, so I haven't seen it yet either, but I've got to get to it for sure. So, mackenzie, is there anything that I haven't asked you about that we just obviously missed about you or your story? Anything you've won Anything at all.
Speaker 2:I don't think so.
Speaker 1:No, so your little brother, just one little brother races Is the other one too young to start yet?
Speaker 2:Yes, he's too young right now, but we have a car for him.
Speaker 1:I was just going to say so. Is he interested in racing as well when he gets old enough?
Speaker 2:Yeah, he definitely wants to. He's really excited to do it. He's just a little too young right now.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:He'll sit in my car every once in a while and start playing with the steering wheel and everything.
Speaker 1:Pretend that he's you or pretend that it's him racing down the track? Yeah, studies you? Or pretend that it's him racing down the track? Yeah, well, I don't have any other questions. I mean, I have a lot of questions I could ask you, but I think we've kind of covered a lot of your story. I'd be glad to share anything else. You know, 131 Motorsports Park is in Martin, michigan, just for anybody that doesn't know. Um, this probably is not going to air before you race, so I'll be able maybe to share how you finished once. I you know after this weekend. So, um, that'll be fun to be able to, to share that and put that out there Now. Hopefully you'll let me know how that goes.
Speaker 1:I will yeah, so enjoy your time. It's almost the feel like temperature today in Michigan is 100. So it's pretty warm, and then Thursday, friday, saturday, it's going to be in the upper 70s, so it's going to be beautiful here when you guys are here for the race. So that's a good thing, because I bet it gets really hot in the car, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:Yes, it does. I have a fan in my car so it keeps me a little cool, but with all the safety equipment it's definitely really hot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and about how long are you in the car before you actually race normally? Yeah.
Speaker 2:And about how long are you in the car before you actually race. Normally, um, I would say like it just depends on what's going on with the track. Normally I get in a couple pairs back just because it I can get ready pretty quick and it's definitely really hot in the car. So I try to get in last minute, but if I am in the car it's normally like 15 minutes yeah.
Speaker 1:Sometimes longer. So it's not too bad, because that the pass that you make down the track goes pretty quick. Yeah, it definitely does. So what's the fastest that you've ever gone? Um 780. I've been faster, but it's definitely um something, yeah. And how long, how big of a track is that? Uh, eighth mile, eighth mile. Okay, yeah, that's pretty fast. Definitely is you. You're not. You don't get nervous thinking about how fast it is, it's just fun for you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I more like the thrill of it. I normally don't get nervous with the fast. I really like doing it faster. But I can't because of my age.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But I definitely like going fast.
Speaker 1:How old will you be? How old do you have to be in order to have a faster car?
Speaker 2:So I think when I'm 16, for one of the series, I can run 750s Okay, I have to get a license for it but I think the next step will be a big car, and I can get in a big car when I'm 16 or 18.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, that's good. So not far away? Yeah, definitely not far away. Yeah Well, mackenzie, I'm glad that you reached out to me and that we had a chance to talk. I'm going to keep track of you now even closer. Since we've met, even if it is virtually, it always feels better to be able to talk to you though face to face.
Speaker 1:So, um, I want to thank you for taking time on your trip today to talk to me. I hope you have a safe travel to michigan. You're going to go right up 131 and and go right past kalamazoo, and that's where I live, so you're not far. But yeah, next year when you come, I'll try to make sure I'm home so I can come and watch, cause I have gone to 131 several times in the past few years when somebody's reached out and said hey, I'm going to be in Kalamazoo or I'm going to be in Martin racing and and I can just go right up the highway and I'm there. So I love going to to watch you in person when I get the chance. So hopefully that'll work out. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, you're welcome, so just hang on while I end the recording.
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. 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.