A rare partnership connecting professional sports ownership, women’s media, and motorsports will hit the track Friday when Dystany Spurlock returns to
ARCA Menards Series competition in the LIUNA 150 presented by IDEAL Door at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP).
Spurlock, who earlier this season became the first Black woman to compete in both ARCA—NASCAR’s top developmental series—and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, will carry the colors of She Pivots, the award-winning podcast and women-focused media brand founded by New York Giants and Gotham FC co-owner Emily Tisch Sussman.
The Indianapolis race marks She Pivots’ first athlete sponsorship and its entry into motorsports, with the brand set to appear on Spurlock’s No. 66 Toyota fielded by MBM Motorsports and Garage 66.
“I’m so excited to put this partnership on track and demonstrate what’s truly possible when women show up for each other,” Spurlock said. “She Pivots is all about empowerment and creating opportunities for women. Now it’s our turn to carry that message in Indianapolis.” Friday’s race provides a fitting stage for the partnership’s on-track debut. At just over two- thirds of a mile, IRP is one of the country’s premier paved ovals. Its progressive banking and wide layout often produce intense side-by-side racing with frequent passing. An abrasive surface also makes it highly sensitive to temperature changes, putting a premium on patience and smart tire management.
For Tisch Sussman, who will be at the track Friday to support Spurlock in person, the race represents an exciting new chapter in a relationship that began earlier this year, when the two were introduced by film producer Crystal McCrary at one of Gloria Steinem’s famed Talking Circles. Focused on women’s sports, the gathering brought together an influential group of leaders and changemakers. They quickly bonded over a shared passion for opening doors and expanding opportunities for women.
McCrary is also producing the long-form docuseries Driven by Dystany: The Road to NASCAR in partnership with Foxxtecca, the Detroit-based experiential media and events company operating at the intersection of mobility, culture, and technology. Co-founded by Chris Harris and Kellie Crawford, Foxxtecca has supported Spurlock’s racing efforts as she continues to break new ground.
“Every generation has defining moments that change the trajectory of a sport. This is one of them,” said Crawford. “Emily Tisch Sussman’s decision to sponsor Dystany Spurlock’s ARCA race in Indianapolis is an example of what happens when visionary leaders choose to invest beyond the boundaries of their own industries. When a leader from another professional sport steps forward to champion a history-maker like Dystany, it proves that the movement to expand opportunity for women is no longer confined to individual leagues or industries. It is a collective effort.
“This is another powerful reminder that investing in women’s sports isn’t simply about equity; it’s smart business,” Crawford continued. “The returns are measured not only in performance,but in influence, audience growth, and cultural relevance. This is exactly the kind of cross-industry collaboration Foxxtecca was built to create: bringing together visionary leaders from different industries who share a commitment to opening doors, expanding representation, and creating opportunities that redefine what’s possible for the next generation.” Behind the wheel, Spurlock has delivered a historic rookie season with notable moments and impressive results. Highlights include a seventh-place finish in her ARCA Menards Series East
debut, followed by a top-10 finish in her first ARCA Menards Series national race at Kansas Speedway.
Through six ARCA starts, she’s recorded four top-15 finishes while picking up valuable experience and sharpening her skills with each lap.
Before transitioning to stock cars, Spurlock was a standout motorcycle racer. She was the second Black woman in history to race in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle class, and in the XDA, she made history as the first woman to win the Real Street class.
For now, however, Spurlock is focused on Friday’s 150-lap race, where she looks forward to showing what this powerful partnership can accomplish on the track.
Start time for the LIUNA 150 presented by IDEAL Door is scheduled for July 24 at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT. It will air live on FS1, with streaming available on the FOX Sports app and radio coverage on MRN / Sirius XM Radio.
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