As NASCAR seeks new ways to advertise its brand to a wider audience, its female drivers have distinct views on the best modern strategies to promote themselves within the sport, following O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competitor Natalie Decker’s shirtless appearance at Daytona.
The image went viral almost instantly, and what followed was everything from support and outrage, including responses from fellow female drivers who believe the moment undercut years of work aimed at changing how women are viewed in stock car racing.
Taylor Reimer, who competes in the ARCA Menards Series for Pinnacle Racing Group, posted a lengthy message saying she had debated speaking out but felt it was her responsibility. The 26-year-old driver didn’t mention any specific instance, but shared her opinion on the “right way” to promote the sport.
“Every move you make, someone is watching. On and off the field. The same applies in racing. People are always watching: sponsors, teams, fans, and kids,” she said. “I work hard every day to earn respect in this sport. The only way that happens is through on-track performance, and that’s my main focus. I look forward to the day when a female driver in racing isn’t different, it’s expected.”
Reimer emphasized that, as a woman in motorsports, she believes respect is earned through on-track performance and professionalism. She acknowledged the challenge of securing sponsorship, noting that she is fully funded by the partners she recruits each season.
19-year-old Jade Avedisian, a standout in Toyota Racing Development, races part-time in ARCA with Nitro Motorsports and full-time in the ASA STARS National Tour. She supported Reimer’s stance, highlighting the need for high standards on and off the track, and thanked others for raising the issue.
The backlash also reached beyond current drivers. Karsyn Elledge, dirt racer and niece of Dale Earnhardt Jr., called the situation “honestly embarrassing,” referencing the photo and Decker’s Daytona race, where she finished 33rd after a mid-race crash. Her statement is what gave other girls in the sport the courage to speak.
The dispute is especially significant amid the strong push for women’s representation this season. Popular women’s drivers, including Katherine Legge, Toni Breidinger, Isabella Robusto, and others, have each spoken about how they earned their reputations in the sport.
Meanwhile, following her Cup Series debut, Legge documented hate mail and death threats just for being a female driver, and said, “Let me be very clear: I am here to race and I’m here to compete. I won’t tolerate any of these threats to my safety or to my dignity, whether that’s on track or off of that.”