Racing Through The Noise with Taylor Reimer

A single bad clip can turn into a full-blown verdict online, and Taylor Reimer knows that pressure firsthand. From her first ARCA Menards Series DNF at Phoenix to the wave of commentary that followed, she breaks down what fans rarely understand about stock car racing physics, visibility in smoke, and why a 3,000 to 3,500 lb race car cannot “just stop” when chaos erupts ahead.

We talk through Taylor’s full racing story, starting in Oklahoma go-karts and dirt racing at Port City Raceway, then stepping away for cheerleading and college at the University of Oklahoma. That detour becomes a strength as she returns during COVID, falls back in love with competition, and eventually moves to North Carolina to chase a professional NASCAR path through late models, late model stock, and part-time ARCA starts. Along the way, she shares what it feels like to move states alone, rebuild confidence, and stay race-ready when seat time is limited.

The conversation gets real about being a woman in motorsports without wanting to be treated differently, while still recognizing the double standards that show up in media coverage and social media comments. Taylor also opens up about the business side of racing: how sponsorship and marketing partnerships make or break opportunities, what she’s learned working with BuzzBallz Cocktails and Free Nicotine, and why an agent and a clear personal brand matter. We wrap with practical advice for young girls who want to race, plus how she protects balance with training, routines, and time off the apps when the noise gets loud.

If you care about women in motorsports, ARCA racing, NASCAR driver development, sponsorship strategy, and the mental game behind the helmet, this one’s for you. Subscribe, leave a review, share with a racing friend, and tell us: what’s the hardest part of building a career in racing today?

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:02

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 trail drivers, 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.

Meeting Taylor Reimer

SPEAKER_02 0:55

Let's hit the track. Hello everyone.

SPEAKER_03 1:03

This is Melinda Russell with the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast. And I have a very familiar face and a familiar name with me today. And I'm excited that we get to finally connect. Taylor Reimer's with me today. She's a pretty well-known young lady in the racing community. And she's racing some ARCA and doing some really fun, exciting things. So, Taylor, I'm I'm glad we could connect. I'm glad I could have you on the show today. So why don't you start out by just sharing a little bit about yourself?

SPEAKER_00 1:32

Yeah, absolutely. First off, thank you for having me on. Excited to be a guest. It's been a while that we've been trying to set this up and we've we've finally got it together. But uh yeah, so I am originally from Oklahoma. I now live out in North Carolina as I try to pursue a career in racing. I have one younger brother. I have amazing parents that love me and support me so much. They love coming to my races with me, and I'm just so grateful to have a good support system. I have two dogs back home, Boomer and Dingo, Lab, and a German Shepherd. And then now out in North Carolina, I have two more. We just, Corey and I just got a puppy. He's a burnadoodle. He's now three months. So we're going through the puppy phase right now. And then we have a three-year-old bernadoodle as well. His name is Draco.

SPEAKER_03 2:23

I love burnadoodles, aren't they just the best?

SPEAKER_00 2:26

They are. They're great. They're very cuddly. And it's not, they're not athletic. And my dogs back home, they love to play fetch, they love to go on runs and walks. And so it's a little bit of an adjustment, but I do love how they like to cuddle. Like with my dogs back home, they weren't really cuddly. No. Um, I think they've turned to be cuddly, but that was after I moved out. So it's nice to have dogs that just like to snuggle up.

SPEAKER_03 2:51

I have a shih tzu. Anybody that listens to this show knows I have a little about 15-pound shih tzu, and he is quite the cuddler with both my husband and I. And I just love it. I I just absolutely love that. Yeah, he's the best. His name is his name is Crew, like Pit Crew. I love my husband wanted to name him Ricky Bobby, and I said absolutely not. And but he had to have some kind of yeah, he had to have some kind of motorsports name, right?

Go-Karts Dirt Racing And A Pause

SPEAKER_02 3:21

So yeah, absolutely, for sure.

SPEAKER_03 3:24

So, Taylor, tell me how did you get involved in motorsports? Take it, take me back to day one.

Falling Back In Love With Racing

SPEAKER_00 3:32

Yeah, so my dad got me in motorsports when I think I was seven years old. We started racing go-karts at our local track. My dad grew up racing all sorts of things from BMX bikes to drag cars to dirt cars, anything you can think of, jet skis. So he's always just kind of had a knack for racing. And he put me in a go-kart when I was a little girl. My mom was, she came home one day and we were out in the cul-de-sac riding around in a go-kart, and she wasn't very, she wasn't super sure of it at first. But once she kind of realized, like, oh, she's actually not bad, like she's she's pretty good. I think she kind of started to get used to it and accept it. So we raced go-karts for several years at our local track, track champion there, and then we decided to move to dirt racing. So we have a local track back in Oklahoma, Port City Raceway. That's kind of where I did a majority of my racing growing up. I started in junior spents and then we got the track championship there and then moved up to the restricted class, and I did that for a couple of years. And I think that was around when I was like 13, 14. It was a hot, it was more of a hobby for my dad and I. It wasn't really anything that, you know, we thought one day could, you know, potentially be make a career out of it at that time. You know, we didn't have tons of money to to go off and pay teams, and it was just a fun thing for for my family and I on the weekends on Saturday nights to get to go do. And I decided to stop racing. I ended up cheering throughout high school and then as well as college. So I went to the University of Oklahoma, got a degree in health and exercise science, and then minor in business. And about halfway through my through college, whenever COVID hit, my dad and I, we just I was home visiting for the weekend and we went out to Port City to watch watch a midget race. And we knew someone that I used that I grew up racing. He was starting a midget team and he asked if I wanted to practice. And I was like, yeah, sure, why not? I hadn't raced in like seven years at that point. So I I didn't really follow racing while I was in college. I was trying to be, you know, immersed in what I was doing, but I mean, it was always kind of in the back of my mind and practicing the midget and immediately fell back in love with it. I, you know, growing up, I always knew that I would get back into racing at some point. I just didn't really know when. And with all of that and how that kind of worked out, it just kind of worked out perfectly. I started racing midgets for a couple of years on dirt and then got the opportunity to move out to North Carolina and be about part of the Toyota development program. And I have now been out here for I think three and a half, almost four years, which is crazy. I moved out here all by myself. I didn't know anyone, but I was grateful to have the people that were a part of the Toyota program. Those were kind of like my first friends when I moved out here, and it made it a little bit easier. And again, if you want to be a race car driver, North Carolina is the mech of NASCAR. So um super, super glad that I'm out here now. And I kind of transitioned to pavement racing. So I did limited late models for a year, and then last year I did late model stock and part-time in ARCA. And then this year we're doing part-time in ARCA. And if I can get the funding, I would like to do some more late model races.

SPEAKER_03 6:56

Okay. So, where were you doing late model racing? Were you on in a tour or were you just racing like kind of locally there?

SPEAKER_00 7:04

Yep. I was just racing locally here with um leaf walk racing. We mainly race that hickory and tricounting, just locally in North Carolina.

unknown 7:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 7:14

So, you know, you say I you moved to North Carolina by yourself. Taylor, you'd be surprised how many girls have done that. Yeah. I mean, it sounds crazy, and but you were a little bit older. You were at the end of the year.

SPEAKER_00 7:28

I was older, so yes, yeah. I was for you makes a little more sense. 23. There's a lot of girls now that are moving when they're freshly 18, which is wild to me. I can imagine. I mean, I guess it's when you turn 18, that's the point where you're going to college it either way. So I guess it's not super crazy, but I don't know, it's just weird. Like moving out to another state without your parents. Like it's a it's a scary thing. I went to school close to home. I've always been a homebody. And you know, I was two hours away from home, so I could just easily drive home if I wanted to. Whereas like moving all the way out of state, it's it's a big jump for sure.

SPEAKER_03 8:08

Yeah, one of my friends, Liz Bristella, she's a tire specialist in NASCAR. Nice in the Cup Series. And 18 years old from California. Yeah, she moved, she knew she wanted to be involved in motorsports and she just took took an intern, took a job, took a job till now she is a tire specialist in the cup series. And she actually, I can't, I'm not 100% sure what team she's on full time this year, but the tire specialist for Tyler Reddick got hurt. Okay, and she filled in for the two race two of the races that he won.

SPEAKER_00 8:49

Oh, that's awesome! Wow, so it wasn't that cool.

SPEAKER_03 8:52

Yeah, yeah. So that was fun. Yeah, I saw her on TV and I yeah, you know, she posted, of course, a bunch of pictures. So I was really excited for her to do that. So yeah, you just never know where your opportunities are gonna land, right?

SPEAKER_00 9:08

Exactly. Yeah. When I when I was, you know, in college figuring out what I wanted to do with my life, I was thinking kind of the medical device sales route. And then, you know, here I am now trying to be a professional race car driver and make a career out of it. It's you know, quite the opposite, but I I love this sport and I love what I'm doing, and hopefully I can continue to do it for a long time.

SPEAKER_03 9:32

Yeah, I hope so too. And you know, the nice thing about the way you kind of did it, you've got that college education behind you. Yes, and I know that nowadays you can always go back and fall back onto something that you trained for or learned there. And I know some people would say, well, nowadays college isn't as important maybe as it was back in the past or whatever. Yeah. But just on a resume, the fact that you graduated and you completed such a big task, I think is impressive to teams or employers or whatever it might be. So nothing nothing bad about how you, you know, your journey to get to where you are today.

SPEAKER_00 10:15

No, for sure. I, you know, I always kind of think in the back of mind, like, oh, where would I be, you know, if I if I didn't stop racing and I continue doing it. But I learned so many life lessons in college, and some of my, you know, favorite memories were with my friends in college, and I don't regret it one bit. And I think college is an amazing place to not only learn, but just to grow and build relationships with other people. Um, it teaches you responsibility. That's the first time you're gonna be, you know, typically away from your family on your own. Teaches you how to live by yourself, how to attempt to cook food for yourself to provide. So I definitely don't regret it. But there's I always do think in the back of my head, like, oh, where would I be if you know I never stopped racing? But I'm very grateful for the path that I've taken. And it's unique too, which is yeah, cool.

Moving To NASCAR Country

SPEAKER_03 11:05

Yeah, it it is more unique. And you know, I know it's hard probably not to think back, but you're doing so well, and you're you've got a lot of years ahead of you and and things ahead of you to the point where you have to look at what you did in the past as preparing you for what you're doing now. Absolutely. Yeah, and and so that that's always that's always good to have that to lean on. So, Taylor, I know that every day at the racetrack's not the best day, and you know, you can attest to it as well as any other race car driver, you're not alone in that. So, how do you deal with that? Especially, you know, you're in a little bit of an upper series, you're you have a lot of name recognition, you know. I think broadcasters and media are harder on the women for sure. They, you know, they they expect so much more, or maybe it's because there's not as many of us in, but how do you deal with all of that?

Handling Wrecks Criticism And Doubt

SPEAKER_00 12:13

Yeah, that's a great question, and something that I'm actually, you know, working on right now. It's it's not an easy sport. Being a female in racing, you know, I don't like to focus on that I'm a female, I want to be treated the same as everyone else. Um, but I feel like it's my job to be a role model for the up-and-coming girls and just just have them be able to look up to someone in the sport because you know it being a female, it's it is different than you know, being a male. Like we have our own, our own path that we are going through, and it's not the same. So you can't really compare it, but it it is very hard. This past weekend raced at Phoenix, and I think that was my 10th Arca start, and that was my first DNF, first rec that I've been involved in in the series, and I got a little heat for it. And people just if you're not, if you've never been inside a race car or you don't know the sport and you're just sitting and watching, like you you don't understand what's going on inside the car. Um, arcade cars weigh 3,000, 3,500 pounds. Those cars don't just stop on a dime, like they don't just stop. No, no matter how much brake pressure, if you're full throttle off the corner, like it's it's hard to get them slowed down and anticipate the wrecks in front of you. So I think just having the support system that I have and trusting in myself and not letting it get to me too much. I know social media these days is a very brutal. I don't love social media. It's brutal. Yeah, it is. It's great for marketing and trying to make a brand for yourself and a name for yourself. And that's how I get partners is by posting on social media. But at the same time, it's hard. People, people always have an opinion. You have to have thick skin to be in the sport. And I was just saying the other day, I was like, I do not have thick enough skin for this. But it, you know, it's a reality check and just trying to focus on the positives. I was it's 150 lap race. I think we made it to like lap 130, and I'm getting to go back there in the fall. So yeah, taking the positives away from it and knowing, you know, I did learn a lot in the race. And my goal is always to finish the race, right? I think that's everyone's goal, but that's one that I really, really focus on because I get limited starts in this series. I don't race 30 to 40 times a year like all these other kids do. So um, I'm only able to do what I can by bringing in the sponsors, sponsorship that I do. So I know each lap is very, very important to develop my racecraft and to get better behind the wheel. See time is one of the biggest things, you know, is important to me. So wanting to get all those laps and then just the aftermath of like replay it in your head so many times and trying to think of like, oh, what could I have done differently? Could I have avoided it? And in that moment, I really don't think I could have. It it all happened so fast. And you know, you're I looked up and I saw a car stopped on the top. All you can see is smoke. I look down, people are stopped. And then I'm like, well, I don't know if I'm clear up, so I don't know if I can go up. I don't know if there's cars coming around me on that side. I'm trying to slow down as much as I can. You're trying to grab a gear to downshift to slow your momentum, and it just it all happens so fast. So yeah. For me, I I really am trying to focus on the positives and then just having the support system of my significant other and my parents and my family. And really the only people that matter are your family and the people that are good people that surround you, the people on social media, they don't matter, they don't know, they don't get it. And it is hard because I I've always like looked at the comments and and I work so hard to create a positive name for myself and for female in the sport. I try to at least. And for you know, that to happen and then to get all the backlash from it, like it's just it's so frustrating because I don't want that. I don't want that to be the rep for girls that we just like plow into wrecks, but sometimes there's things you just really can't avoid. And I know deep down that I'm doing everything that I can to try to be a good sample example.

SPEAKER_03 16:25

You know, it's it's so and it tailored not just you, any all the girls are getting, you know, Natalie got got a lot of got a lot of crap, if you will, uh after the Daytona, but and I I've known Natalie for a long time. Natalie does not want to cause drama and and do anything any more than you or anybody else does. Yeah, but and and the thing that I I just I listened to a lot of podcasts and I was just listening to I want to say it was either the teardown or or may I I'm not sure, maybe it was door bumper clear, whichever one it was. What they said was, what if that had been a guy? Would they have gotten all the backlash that a girl gets? And the same goes for uh, you know, so I live in Michigan and I'm from Kalamazoo and Portage, Michigan is the home of Carson Hosbar. So of course, he's one of my favorite drivers. I've watched him race since he was a little boy, race quarter midgets. My granddaughters raced against him, so I I've a huge fan, and I love that he's making waves, yeah, because Alley is important in the sport. NASCAR needs NASCAR needs to be a little bit shook up, but when you know they were saying, Oh, I think it was on the broadcast, they were saying, you know, there was a wreck, I think Joey Logano was involved in it, and the comment was you know, they don't say anything when Joey Logano does that, yeah. But if Carson had done it, the double standard is yeah, and and it's the same for girls, it is, you know, yeah, and so I think it's hard to navigate it is, and the media needs to needs to look at you as a driver, not as a woman, yeah, right.

SPEAKER_00 18:19

And the thing too is like these people they've never watched one of my races before. They see this one clip and completely judge me based on that, and you know, that's they're allowed to do that, but they don't really have a room to make an opinion, and people are just miserable with their own lives, honestly. Like, I could never imagine going and accommodating something terrible underneath someone's post and talking badly about them when they don't know the situation, they they have no idea. So I think just right now trying to navigate and realize that and just honestly, after you know, I I saw the wreck and I knew that it was gonna look bad for people that don't get it and they don't understand. So my took a couple days off social media, and I think it's important to sometimes do that if you need to, because this the sport is grueling and it's not all sunshine and rainbow. So taking time for yourself and you know, focusing on what really matters is is important.

SPEAKER_03 19:18

Absolutely, and you know, a lot of those people that are making those comments have never sat in a race car. No, no, that's the thing, you know. If it was if it was a woman who had raced a lot and and she really had knowledge about what happened, she would never post anything because she knows it's people who don't have a freaking colour.

SPEAKER_00 19:43

No, yeah, they don't know. And I just sometimes like, and it's what I've also had to learn is to like not engage and respond to these people, which is very hard because I like to defend myself and and just try to stick up for myself, but that's what the commoners the that's what they want. Like they want you to respond and they want to go back and forth with you, and it you're never gonna be able to change their opinion. So I I try my best to not, but sometimes in the back of my head, I'm like a little extra time, like I want to go go at it with them, but you really can't because it it never you're never gonna change anyone's opinion. You're it's not gonna do you any good, so you might as well just stay silent.

Thick Skin And Social Media Boundaries

SPEAKER_03 20:26

Absolutely, and the people that matter are the the only people that matter are the people that matter. I love that saying, and and you know the people around you and your crew chief, your your pit crew, you know, your family, Corey, all those people, those are the people that matter. And you just surround yourself with them and let the other people just let them go. Yep, for example. Yeah. So when you started racing and then you took a break and you came back, what what do you think actually drew you in? It's like, oh, I miss this. What was it that was like, oh, I just love this about racing?

SPEAKER_00 21:10

Yeah, I'm a very competitive person. I love to compete, I love to win, I love to try to beat everyone, and I love to go fast too. Like I I have a need for speed. So I think just a combination of both of those things really, really drew me in. And and just knowing that like I can do it, like I can win, I can compete against these guys easily. I think just a combination of all those, just being driven and ambitious and always wanting to better myself, I think is you know, just the I'm always up for a challenge. Like I want to try different things. I like to try different disciplines of racing. You know, I did midgets for a couple years, I did junior spends and restricted growing up. I did, you know, gofarts, and then now I'm trying, you know, late models and NASCAR and ARCA. So just trying different things. I love just trying. New things, I guess. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:01

Well, and the challenge of it, you know, you can get complacent if you just, you know, if you're running late models and you've never done anything for the last 10 years but late models, you can get complacent about it. And trying something new is exciting, and yes, you have to surround yourself with new people and you make new friends and relationships. That's that's really what it's about, is those relationships.

SPEAKER_00 22:26

100%. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:27

Yeah. So do your parents get to come to like did they go to Phoenix to the race? Do they get to come to a lot of your races?

SPEAKER_00 22:35

They do, yes. So when I started racing again and we did midgets, we'd race like 40 to 50 times a year. So they actually got a motor home and were able to travel with me to all of my races. And then now we actually sold our motorhome and they just fly to the races because it's not as consistent. But yes, they they come to as many of them as they can. My dad was in Phoenix, and then my older dog, he actually just had surgery. So my mom stayed back with him, but I knew that she wanted to be there. So every race that I do, they always try to come and just makes me feel at home having their support. Without them, I wouldn't be in this position. I wouldn't have been able to get where I am because growing up, like my parents were the ones who funded me. And now I'm trying to now I'm fully sponsored by the you know the sponsors that I bring in myself. I don't have my parents' money to that anymore. So I'm super grateful for where they were able to get me and love having them in my corner.

SPEAKER_03 23:34

Yeah, absolutely. Now, do you have a brother that also races?

What Brings Her Back To Racing

SPEAKER_00 23:39

So he doesn't race right now. He's in college actually at OU as well, where I went. But he he's actually kind of getting back into it. Like he started, he has a simulator at his house, and he tried it when he was younger, and I think he had a wreck that kind of scared him. Um so you know he stopped for a while, but I think he's actually gonna race a micro for the first time in a couple weeks with my dad, him and I or him and my dad are gonna go out to Port City and run with a you know a friend that we grew up racing with. So I'm excited for him. I'm excited to see what he thinks. I I know he would be really, really good too. I I think he just whenever he was younger and he had that accident, he kind of it kind of pushed him away.

SPEAKER_02 24:19

So yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 24:21

I was thinking I read something about your brother had raced or whatever. So yeah, that's cool. So if you had somebody come up to you, a mother with her daughter, little girl, and they said, you know, my little girl just loves you, Taylor. How can she get involved in racing? What would be your best advice for a family if their daughter wanted to start racing? Because, like you said, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. It's not, it's you got to be honest with them and yet encourage them. So, what would you say to them?

SPEAKER_00 25:00

Yeah, absolutely. I would say, you know, make sure you go at your own pace. There's lots of parts of racing that are difficult and it can be very, very overwhelming. But if you have a passion for it and you have the money to be able to race at the level that you want to, I would say go for it. I would say that it's not easy. And once you get higher up, it requires a lot of money. And most people can't afford that on their own. It's very not normal to have the amount of money that it takes to be in the sport. So I think definitely, you know, being able to just learn the business side of things is very, very important. But, you know, I would say always always chase your dreams. You, you know, you can come back to it at one point. But if that's something that you want to do right now, I say go for it.

SPEAKER_03 25:51

Yeah. We have to keep encouraging those kids for sure, and not just girls, boys too, but yeah, no, I'm in the balance of it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:00

You know, it's it's like you said, like it's not all sunshines and rainbows, but there are very, very rewarding parts of it. And for me, like that's the reason I keep doing it, is because I have people reach out and say that I'm a role model for younger girls, and that that is something that makes me very happy and is one of the reasons why I'm still racing.

SPEAKER_03 26:19

Yeah, absolutely. So, Taylor, let's talk about your sponsors. We've you've mentioned, you know, you can't do it without them. Do you want to talk about your sponsors? Let's give them some some glory because yeah, it's hard, it's hard for anybody to get a sponsor or a marketing partner, more even difficult for a girl. It really is. So talk about them. Share, share who they are.

Advice For Girls Who Want To Race

SPEAKER_00 26:46

Yeah. So my main sponsor that I've had for the last this is year five, is Buzzball's Cocktails. They're a pre-male cocktail, and they were originally owned by Marilyn Kick, and she is a woman in a male-dominated space, which is alcohol industry. And so I think that it is what initially drew them into me, and that's kind of why they were like they had never sponsored a race car driver, and I'm the only one that they currently sponsor. So um, for them to pick me out of everyone is is really, really special. And I think just having that common bond of me being a female in a male-dominated industry and then merely being the same in the alcohol industry was really, really special. And they've been an amazing sponsor for the last five years. I've truly like I wouldn't be racing without them. And they actually just got recently bought out by Savusrak, a large sphere company. But so I have Buzzwalls, and then I have a new sponsor this year. It's Free Nicotine, and they are sponsoring me as well as Riley Hurst in the Cup Series. And they're amazing to work with, they're super fun, they're, you know, a growing company as I'm, you know, growing in the sport as well. So I think it's a really, really cool partnership and looking forward to growing with them and hopefully, you know, meeting the needs that they're wanting out of our partnership as well.

SPEAKER_03 28:05

Yeah. And we know that having those names on the side of the car are it's a good way to to promote your business because they get talked about and you're going around, and businesses don't understand the eyes that are on those cars. And it might not, yeah. So I record the races if I'm not gonna be home. There it's automatically on record. Yep. So even if I can't watch when I'm home, I'm gonna watch it later. A lot of people do that, they go to the racetrack, and I it doesn't matter if you're a late model driver at Kalamazoo Speedway or if you're you know in the cup series, there's a lot of eyeballs on those businesses. And and people, people that own these, you know, companies, especially, I just think companies that cater to women are missing the boat because number one, women are the major purchaser of items in the household. Yep, yeah, and so you know, if buzzballs going around the track, when they go to the grocery store, what are they gonna look for? Yeah, buzzball. Yep, right, and and it's true of anything, Maybelline, you know, makeup, clarol shampoo, whatever it might be, those are huge companies, yes, but you've gotta you've gotta get to the person that cares or that understands. How do you like how do you go about reaching out to those sponsors? Is it sharing what you do through social media? Do you try to get one-on-one appointments? How do you go about getting those sponsors?

Sponsors Funding And The Business Side

SPEAKER_00 29:54

Yeah, absolutely. And then I'm gonna backtrack a minute to when you were talking about the sponsor. So I've had several people come up to me and have never heard of buzzballs before in the racing community. They, you know, they watch me race all the time and they'll come up and be like, oh, what's a buzzball? And they'll have no idea. And I'll like show them a picture of it or just show them, you know, the car, and they will go out and buy them and they'll like report back and they're like, oh my god, this is incredible! Like, I'm going to add it to my you know, week weekend drink or whatnot. So I definitely think there is a market there for sponsors, and it's really, really cool to help help the brand grow doing that through being on the racetrack, but then also social media. And sorry, what was your question? How do you go?

SPEAKER_03 30:40

How would you go about like reaching out to Maybelline or Clarel or somebody? It's so hard.

SPEAKER_00 30:46

Yes, it is. I so I have an agent that helps me, and we reach out to companies and share my deck, and it it's definitely hard, but sometimes people reach out to me, and then we reach out to a lot of companies as well. My my agent's a big help.

SPEAKER_03 31:00

Yeah, I would think you'd need somebody because you're trying to you're trying to do everything to stay in shape and do all the things to be ready to race.

SPEAKER_01 31:09

It's a lot, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 31:10

It's a lot, there's not enough time in the day for somebody to do everything, and agents certainly help, and they're a good representative of you, and so that's yeah, absolutely. So, how do you maintain balance, Taylor? Because you've got, I'm sure you still buy groceries and do laundry, and and you probably have to vacuum every once in a while, and and all the things that all that everybody does, and then you probably train, you know, you go to the gym, you do all those things. How do you maintain that balance?

SPEAKER_00 31:44

Yeah, so growing up, I've always lived a very chaotic, busy lifestyle. It's something that I've I love doing. I'm just used to it. I hate just sitting at home and doing nothing, like I always have to be doing something, keeping myself busy. So in in college, I cheered, I was working towards my degree, and then I was also in a sorority, so used to the chaotic life. But honestly, just having a daily routine, working out is my passion outside of racing. I love, you know, staying in shape physically and then mentally as well. But yeah, just you know, having a routine, sticking to it, like to work out in the mornings and then just trying to balance it all. It's definitely not easy, but it's something that I just prioritize. I always have like in my notes a little checklist of things I have to get done for the day. And then, you know, making time for myself and you know, my family is very, very important too. Like if you are way too immersed in in the business and in the sport, you can get burnt out easily. So I always make sure to make time for myself and prioritize me and do the things that I love to do outside of racing as well.

SPEAKER_03 32:54

Yeah, absolutely. You've gotta have you've gotta have something besides racing because after you have to have a balance or it's not gonna work. You get to access it too quick.

unknown 33:04

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 33:04

I love motorsports, I love doing the podcast and everything, but I'm also a crafter, so I love making crafts that have race themes and stuff on them. Oh, so I can blend what I do, and I've I've been a crafter for 25-30 years, more than that.

SPEAKER_00 33:21

Yeah, I hate to say it way more than that, but yeah, I have that anything, you know, anything sports-wise, like when it's nice out, I like to go golf, I like to play pickleball, just keeping myself active, taking my dogs on walks. I will say I don't really cook much, but I do the laundry. Um, but yeah, like practicing on the simulator today day to day, going to the race shop. If I have any meetings that I have for the week, prepping for the races, it it all definitely keeps me very busy, but I love that lifestyle.

SPEAKER_03 33:53

Oh, yeah, I I do too. And the TV might be on, but I'm on my computer doing something, yeah. Or I'm crafting. I can't just sit and watch TV, you know. I can't do that either. I I'm all I always have to be busy.

SPEAKER_00 34:06

Yeah, I know. I I I'm not a big movie person, like I can't just sit and watch a two-hour movie. Um, and with TV shows, like they have to be a limited series. Like, I need like eight episodes max. There was one show that I got to like the last episode, and I was just like, I just can't finish it. Like it was just too long. So my attention span isn't great, but yeah.

Agents Partner Outreach And Brand Value

SPEAKER_03 34:29

You know, and some of those some of those Netflix series that I watch are are about the right length, but there's been a few that have gone on season one, season two, season, and it's like I can't I need a limited series, yeah, season eight episodes.

SPEAKER_00 34:46

That's that's my go-to show. Like that I can do whenever you add a bunch of seasons, I just I can't do it.

SPEAKER_03 34:54

I feel obligated once I get started to watching it. If I will, you know, it's kind of like, well, I watched season one, now season two's out, and then I kind of feel like how much I enjoy it.

SPEAKER_00 35:06

Like if I'm really, really into it, I can get through it. It's still a push. But what happens for me is like a season will come out, and then the season two will come out four years later, or like two thirds. Oh, yeah, that doesn't work. I don't remember anything from season one. Like I'm gonna have to go back and re-watch season one. Exactly. Finish it.

SPEAKER_03 35:24

So yeah, I'm with you there. Yeah, for sure. So we talked a little bit about social media. I know that you're easy to find, Taylor Reimer, you're easy to find on social media, but what's your what is your favorite platform to use and and how do you use it to your benefit?

SPEAKER_00 35:42

Oh, that's a great question. I would say I like Instagram. I Twitter or X, I wasn't really on it much of college. Like I feel like the normal people don't really get on X anymore. Like none of my friends from college really use it. But once I got back into racing, I started using it a decent bit. I would say I like Instagram and TikTok. Uh Instagram and uh really all of my social media, like I usually post similar content, but I just like you know, sharing my experience at the races and you know, giving a recap and sometimes showing like my day-to-day life.

SPEAKER_03 36:22

Yeah, I think it's nice to see some day-to-day life because that makes you more human to people, and not to not saying this in a mean way, but people will put you on a pedestal. Yeah, and then and so what they have to understand is Taylor, you're you're just like any other 20, whatever year old, 20. How old are you? 23? I'm 26. 26. You look so young. So you know, and and it's good to see that, you know, you have dogs and you love dogs, and you do this, and you you play pickleball, and the things that you do, because that that people can resonate with that, I think. Yeah, and and it makes yeah, it makes you more more human, more like a friend almost that oh, my friend Taylor plays pickleball and blah blah. And so I think that's that's important to share some of that.

SPEAKER_00 37:17

Yeah, I agree. I I like TikTok too because they have you can like buy things off of links essentially. And so that's something that I really have kind of been into like off and on. But you know, I'll buy a product and usually it's clothes because I don't buy like super expensive clothes or anything. Um but I'll buy like an outfit, or I actually just bought a dress that I'm gonna wear to a rehearsal dinner for a wedding in May. And my sentence to my friends, I was like, Oh, what do you guys think? And they were like, Oh my god, that's so cute! Like, where'd you get it? And I was like, TikTok shop. So I like to go and you know, post things that I've bought off the app and then share with other people. And yeah.

SPEAKER_03 37:58

I think that, and you know what? Most people don't think about it being TikTok shop. They think about all the stuff that you know you can scroll through there, and so that's a really that's that's cool that you do that, and it's cheap too.

Routines Training And Avoiding Burnout

SPEAKER_00 38:12

Like it's really it's very budget friendly. Yeah, I don't have a ton of money to be spending, you know, hundreds of dollars on clothes, and especially for events like that. Usually I kind of will only wear them once or twice. So yeah, it's hard to justify spending you know$200 on a dress where I'm not gonna wear it that much. Whereas I can get on TikTok for like$25. I'm like, this is steal, like that's a good deal. Um I really I like TikTok for that reason, and there's not a lot of mean people on TikTok either. People are pretty nice, so people I kind of try to stay off of, but yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:45

Yeah, I I'm with you there. I kind of I kind of scroll Twitter every so often, or if I get a notification of somebody that I follow, but I don't really do that either. And at my age, Taylor, I don't have the I don't have a need for any of that drama and stuff.

SPEAKER_00 39:01

Like it's yeah, I I like TikTok because it's funny and it's yeah just relatable content. Like I I like watching relatable stuff to everyday lives, so I agree, I agree, and there's a lot of dog stuff on it if you've related the book. Yes, I I will like you like one thing, and then your whole feed will be about that. So I'll go and like like a post about a dog, and then every single video after that is of dogs, which is awesome. I'm like, this is perfect. I yeah, I love it so much.

SPEAKER_03 39:28

So there's there are so many videos out there about shih tsu doing doing crazy stuff, and then I'll watch it and be like, my dog does that, you know. So it's it's really fun. Well, Taylor, what have we not talked about? Um by the way, before we before we close, yeah, I was a cheerleading coach for 10 years.

SPEAKER_00 39:48

Oh my god, wait, that's awesome. Where at? Like locally in in Michigan.

SPEAKER_03 39:54

No, I lived in Warsaw, Illinois. Okay, I was born and raised there. My dad was a farmer, I went to a small high school there, and I was the cheerleading coach first for the junior high and then the high school, so 10-year span. And when I moved to Michigan, my one of my best friends took over the cheerleading job, and she's still doing it to this day. And so I love I love girls that cheer. So there you go.

SPEAKER_00 40:22

It's a great, it's an it's very hard and it gets overlooked. Like a lot of people are like, oh, it's on a sport. But what I loved most about it was the competing side, like cheering on the sidelines for a game of you was awesome, but just my competitiveness. Like I like to go and like to, you know, go to Florida and compete, and right um, you only get like two shots at your routine. So I I loved that side of it. And it I learned a lot in college, you know, like you learn so much just being on a team, and it's just like racing, a sense of teamwork and responsibility and time management and all of that. So I learned a lot of good life lessons that I was able to take from cheering into the side of racing.

SPEAKER_03 41:08

It's interesting you just said that about life lessons, because I had 12 typically I had 12 girls that were in high school from freshman to senior, they were on one squad. And so when you have 12 girls together, you're gonna have some drama. Yep. And there were times that we'd have practice and I would sit them down and I would say, today we're gonna learn some life lessons. Absolutely. Because maybe, maybe some things had kind of gotten out of hand, you know, here or there. Yes, no, I and so it's funny that you said life lessons because that's what I used to say to them. And and I still stay in touch with a handful of those girls still today, which is really cool.

Social Platforms And Sharing Real Life

SPEAKER_00 41:48

Yeah, it's just really my college cheer coach, you know, she was like, when you are going into an interview, they're they don't care if you can do a backflip, like they want to know if you are responsible, if you are going to be on time, if you are going to, you know, not you know, quit doing what you're doing, if you're gonna continue, if you are driven, if you're in perseverance, if you're personable, if you can be a role model for the company, if you're a leader, all of those life lessons like I was able to take and apply to everyday life. So my my coach did a really, really good job of you know making sure that we understood that and focusing on that as well, because obviously cheering is fun and it's great, but it's not going to be there forever. And you know, it's cool if you can do a backlit still, but like can you continue your job and work for a company for 10 years and be a good employee? And can you be a role model for your company as a cheerleader? You know, we always had eyes on us, so we were it was super important that we, you know, we were representing the university at a high level, and same thing when I'm racing, representing my company at a high level, it all translates.

SPEAKER_03 43:02

Yeah, your company, your team, and your sponsors, you know, they're depending on you. And so that good for her. I'm I'm glad that you had that kind of a coach. That's awesome. Yes, yeah. So is there anything that we haven't talked about or focused on that I totally just missed because we've gone down some little rabbit holes here.

SPEAKER_00 43:23

I don't think so. I think we talked about most of the important parts.

SPEAKER_03 43:27

Okay, so what does your race schedule look like so far now this year?

SPEAKER_00 43:32

Yeah, so I'm actually racing a legend car this weekend at the Charlotte Roal, just trying to get my feet wet on the road course side of things because I didn't really do that growing up. I did it when I was seven years old, but I don't remember anything. So trying to get my feet wet on the road course side of things. Legends are a really, really good tool to drive just because of the power to weight ratio. So um, and it's cool to race on the Charlotte Roel where NASCAR races. So I have that this weekend, and then my next. Next Arc race is Talladega. And then I have a couple of short tracks after that, a couple dirt races, and then we're ending the year at Phoenix. So kind of all over, but I still have six ARC races left for the year and continuing to look for sponsorship so I can do some late model racing as well, just to stay in the seat because it's super important.

SPEAKER_03 44:19

Yeah, absolutely. Phoenix is one of my very favorite places to go.

SPEAKER_00 44:24

I do like Phoenix. It's challenging, but it's and it's a unique short track. But I I do like it. Um, I love Phoenix in general. I would love to have a house there one day, but the track is really, really cool and they could do a good job there.

SPEAKER_03 44:36

My youngest two daughters live in the Phoenix area. So one lives in one lives in Glendale and one lives in Scottsdale. And so I've been to the Phoenix track more than any other NASCAR track, and and I'm hoping to get there in November. That's on my calendar to get there. Yes, because I can see my six grandkids and my my daughters. And yeah, so I love Phoenix, been there a lot. And yeah, so maybe I'll be able to catch up with you in person in November at the Arca race because I absolutely love going there.

SPEAKER_00 45:10

So yeah, we'll definitely try to try to make it out to that one. My best friend is moving to Phoenix and I'm jealous. I'm like, oh, like one day hopefully I can have a house by you. But yeah, Phoenix is it's a great. I love the weather. Bray and I went hiking this pack past weekend after my race just to kind of reset. And I really, really enjoyed it. I love yeah, the nature side of things and you know, just being active, staying outside, having the sun. So yeah, hopefully you can make it out and we can meet in person.

SPEAKER_03 45:40

Yeah, and November is a great, great weather, just like March there. July, not so much, but yeah, it's okay. I wouldn't I would much rather be there than in Michigan when it's snowing and it's zero degrees.

SPEAKER_01 45:54

So that's fair.

Schedule Merch And Closing Sendoff

SPEAKER_03 45:55

Yeah, yeah, for sure. Well, Taylor, this has been a joy to talk to you. I like I said, I followed you for quite a long time and and kept up with what you're doing, and and I will continue to do that. And if you ever want to be back on, you've got something fun going on, or you have something that you want to share, reach out. You're always welcome, thank you to be on the show. Yeah, and I just want to wish you the best of luck this year.

SPEAKER_00 46:22

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 46:23

I'm gonna be pulling for you, and I know you've got a lot of fans and a lot of people that are cheering for you, and you may not even know it. So thank you. I appreciate it. Don't get discouraged because we're all in your corner.

SPEAKER_00 46:37

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 46:38

You're welcome. So, any last words that you want to share?

SPEAKER_00 46:42

I don't think so. I thank you, thank you all for watching. I have some merchandise left if you want to purchase. I see a bunch of helmets back there.

SPEAKER_03 46:52

Yeah, it's kind of a combination of where would we find where would we go to get order a shirt or something?

SPEAKER_00 46:59

Yeah, so on my website, it's just tailorrymaracing.com. And then I have a you click on shop, and then there's a Shopify link, and it'll take you there. I only have a couple items left of the Buzzwall merch, it's smaller sizes, but I am in the process of making a new shirt for 2026. So stay on stay on the lookout.

SPEAKER_03 47:20

Oh, awesome! I'm gonna wait for the new shirt.

unknown 47:23

There you go.

SPEAKER_03 47:24

Sounds great. Well, Taylor, thank you again. Best of luck to you, not only on the track but off as well. And please stay in touch.

SPEAKER_00 47:33

I appreciate it. Thank you, Melinda.

SPEAKER_02 47:38

That's it for this episode of the Women's Motorsports Network podcast.

SPEAKER_03 47:43

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.