Bristol Motor Speedway will celebrate some of the most influential women in motorsports and sports media on Saturday, April 11, with “Racing Toward Change: Women Leading the Way,” a special Speedway Children’s Charities event presented by State Water Heaters. The event will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the O. Bruton Smith Building, 3rd Floor Banquet Room, with the featured panel discussion set for 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event is also listed on the Speedway Children’s Charities Bristol calendar for April 11, 2026.
The event will bring fans together for an inspiring and candid conversation with accomplished women whose work has helped shape the sport from the newsroom and television booth to the team competition side. Proceeds from the event will benefit Speedway Children’s Charities.
“Bristol Motor Speedway has always been a place where big moments and big voices shine, and this event will showcase women who continue to make a tremendous impact across our sport,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “Racing Toward Change will be a meaningful addition to race weekend and a great opportunity for fans to hear from leaders who have helped drive motorsports forward.”
Featured panelists include Deb Williams, one of the most respected journalists and historians in motorsports. Williams is a contributing editor for Autoweek.com, a longtime writer and author, past president of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) and a decorated member of the racing media community whose honors include multiple writing awards and induction into the NMPA Hall of Fame in 2024 and receipt of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Squire-Hall Award in 2026.
Also featured is Jamie Little, one of the most accomplished and groundbreaking broadcasters in motorsports. Little is a NASCAR pit reporter, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series play-by-play announcer and NTT INDYCAR SERIES pit reporter, reflecting her wide-ranging presence across some of racing’s biggest stages. Little became the first woman to serve as television play-by-play announcer for a national motorsports series, a milestone that helped further open doors for women across the industry. A San Diego State University journalism graduate, Little has earned widespread respect for her dynamic storytelling, on-air versatility and longtime impact on the sport.
The panel also includes Tina Strader, Director of Communications for Team Penske, one of the most successful organizations in motorsports. In her role, Strader helps lead communications for a championship-caliber operation competing at the highest levels of the sport, bringing key insight into team messaging, media strategy and brand stewardship. The University of Georgia graduate spent time at a variety of notable PR firms, including Jackson Spalding, Octagon and Weber Shandwick, before joining Team Penske. Her appearance comes during a milestone year for the organization, as Team Penske celebrates its 60th anniversary season in 2026, honoring six decades of performance, innovation and excellence in global motorsports.
Joining them will be emcee Heather Williams, executive producer of sports and special projects at News 5 WCYB. Williams joined the station in 2015 as weekend sports anchor and multimedia journalist and has become a familiar and trusted voice in regional sports coverage. She has won multiple honors for her work from both Virginia and Tennessee press associations and earned the prestigious Catlin Motorsports Journalism Award in 2006 while at WTVC-TV in Chattanooga. Most recently, Williams earned first place in Best Specialty Reporting for her motorsports content at the 2026 Virginia/West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Awards and also earned a first place NMPA award for “Live Coverage” in 2024 at WCYB TV. Before joining WCYB, Williams covered sports in multiple markets, including Wichita, Kansas; Chattanooga and Nashville, Tennessee; Greenville, Mississippi; and Springfield, Missouri.
“Racing Toward Change: Women Leading the Way” adds another engaging fan experience to a packed Bristol weekend and will highlight the perspectives, leadership and momentum of women helping shape the future of the sport.
The race weekend kicks off with the Craftsman Trucks on the Bristol high banks on the evening of April 10 for the Tennessee Army National Guard 250 Truck Race (7:30 p.m., FS1, PRN Radio, SiriusXM Radio); On Saturday, April 11, it will be action-packed with the Suburban Propane 300 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race (7:30 p.m., The CW, PRN Radio, Sirius XM Radio) and Bush’s Beans Qualifying for both the Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. For ticket information, contact BMS online at www.bmstix.com or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158.
The Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, a 501©(3) nonprofit organization committed to raising funds for distribution to children-based nonprofit organizations, was established in 1997. Since its inception, the chapter has raised more than $22 million, awarding grants to hundreds of qualified organizations in the 18-county area surrounding Bristol Motor Speedway. The board of trustees for the Bristol Chapter consists of 18 members, a diverse group of individuals from across the region with wide-ranging backgrounds. The trustees, two staff members and more than 300 volunteers are responsible for hosting numerous events at Bristol Motor Speedway and throughout the Bristol (Tennessee/Virginia) community. For more information about the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, visit speedwaycharities.org/bristol.
