Fueling Her Future: A UNOH Student’s First NASCAR Weekend
Posted on Friday, October 02, 2026
UNOH Motorsports Marketing Student Cara Hepler at Kansas Speedway
Cara Hepler, a senior in UNOH's Motorsports Marketing program, attended her first NASCAR Cup Series event last weekend at Kansas Speedway, and it was anything but ordinary. While Hepler has attended and participated in a wide variety of motorsports events, the NASCAR Cup Series has eluded her until now.
Her first NASCAR weekend came with a particularly meaningful connection. Hepler is a member of WIMNA Nation, the membership community of Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA). For the Kansas Speedway event, WIMNA and Spire Motorsports unveiled a very special livery for Daniel Suárez’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro. The names of the 350+ WIMNA Nation members were displayed across the hood, including Hepler’s.
Living next door in Colorado, Hepler knew it was an opportunity she could not miss. “I’m not sure my name will ever be on a NASCAR Cup Series car again, and I’m incredibly proud to be a member of WIMNA Nation,” said Hepler. “WIMNA does so much to help girls and women find opportunities within motorsports. Being even a small part of that community means a lot to me.”
On Saturday, rain canceled Cup Series practice and qualifying, but it did little to dampen Hepler’s enthusiasm for the weekend. With behind-the-scenes access, she toured the NASCAR garages before reconnecting with WIMNA leadership and meeting like-minded women working across a variety of sports industries. Hepler was able to observe various areas of NASCAR, including team operations, fan engagement, marketing campaigns, and the partnerships formed between race teams and their sponsors
Afterward, she watched the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race despite a lengthy weather delay. “The rain didn’t get me down,” Hepler said. “Delays can certainly be frustrating for teams and fans, but I was there to experience everything I could. Even a rain delay could be a learning opportunity or a chance to speak with someone new.”
Sunday brought an early start and even more opportunities. Hepler explored the midway and merchandise areas before meeting up with WIMNA and Spire Motorsports. She met driver Daniel Suárez and learned more about his support for WIMNA and his efforts to diversify the sport. Next, she toured areas of the Spire Motorsports operation, including the team’s hauler and pit box. Before race activities got underway, she walked the track, saw the start/finish line, and took plenty of photos.
As the cars were prepped for the race, Hepler got the first look at her name on the No. 7 car. “Seeing my name on a NASCAR Cup Series car felt absolutely surreal,” Hepler said. “My name was surrounded by the names of many incredible women in the industry: experienced directors, managers, coordinators and students just like me. It makes me incredibly excited for my future.”
Experiences like Kansas are helping Hepler build a résumé that combines her previous professional and management experience with hands-on exposure and networking across multiple forms of motorsports.
Hepler’s journey into motorsports began long before she enrolled at UNOH. Her love of cars, particularly Fords, came from her grandfather. Trips to the dealership with her father also helped fuel her early fascination with cars.
That interest became more serious after Hepler purchased her first Ford Mustang in 2014. Using YouTube videos, she began teaching herself how to modify the car and make it her own. After moving to Colorado and meeting her boyfriend in 2016, the two began working on the Mustang together. A year later, she traded it for a 2017 Ford Mustang GT and became increasingly involved in motorsports. That Mustang, now known throughout the car community as “Chaos,” evolved from Hepler’s daily driver into an autocross build and eventually a dedicated drag car.
“I wanted to try everything,” she said. “The more involved I became, the more I realized that what I loved wasn't competing. I enjoyed competition as a hobby. What I was more passionate about were the connections, relationships, and spreading excitement about motorsports.”
At the time, however, motorsports was a passion, not a profession. Hepler had worked in healthcare since 2012 and had built a career there. Following three significant personal losses within four months in 2023, including the loss of her grandfather, she began reevaluating what she wanted from her future. “It made me realize that life is too short not to spend it doing something you love,” Hepler said. “Healthcare had given me valuable professional and leadership experience, but I was ready for a new challenge. I also knew that if I wanted to make a career change, I needed to build new skills and diversify my résumé.”
The turning point came in 2024 when Hepler attended a WIMNA event at Pikes Peak. “That was when it clicked,” she said. “I realized I needed to work in motorsports. I was the happiest when I was around the people in this industry, and for the first time, I felt like I knew exactly where I was supposed to be.”
That realization led Hepler to the University of Northwestern Ohio and its Motorsports Marketing program. “I had seen UNOH banners at different motorsports events like Formula Drift and Monster Jam,” says Hepler. “All it took was a quick Google search. I applied immediately, and the rest is history.” She began her coursework in 2025 and is on track to graduate in 2027. Since enrolling at UNOH, Hepler has worked to combine classroom learning with hands-on industry experience.
In August 2025, she was selected to attend the WIMNA/Bosch Electrify Your Career event at Virginia International Raceway. Later that year, she attended the Women With Drive Summit and Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. At VIR, she learned directly from motorsports professionals, built relationships, and experienced the industry from a perspective beyond that of a fan or competitor. The Women With Drive Summit further opened her eyes to the variety of career paths available in motorsports and demonstrated how opportunities as simple as volunteering with a race team can lead to meaningful professional connections. Those experiences have strengthened Hepler’s communication, leadership, and networking skills while helping her build relationships throughout the industry.
“For someone making a career change, every experience matters,” Hepler said. “UNOH has provided me with a fantastic educational foundation, but attending a variety of races and events puts the concepts in motion.”
Her next stop will include the 2026 Women With Drive Summit and Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, where she plans to continue building the relationships and knowledge that have helped shape her career transition.
“There is still so much I want to learn and experience, but I am constantly reminded that I made the right decision to go after my dreams,” Hepler stated. “ I’m proud to be a UNOH Racer, proud to be part of WIMNA Nation, and excited to see where this journey takes me next.”
Category: Business, Health, and Occupational Professions, Campus & Community
Keywords: Motorsports Marketing, WIMNA
