A Young Woman Who’s Aiming for the Stars
Words & Photos: Jason Stilgebouer
A desert racer whose hard work and determination have gotten her here, and she is just getting started.
Desert racing has captured the hearts of many since the late 60s racing through the Baja Peninsula, it is a sport that is filled with a sense of survival and adventure. But it can be an intimidating sport to get into as well. There is no exact “how-to” guide in this sport; it takes determination, hard work and a group of people willing to support you. Racers like Vanessa Tortolero have been a perfect example of someone willing to put in the time and effort to go and race.
It is always great to see new faces in the sport, especially those who have the determination and mental willpower, such as Vanessa. Over the past few years, she has shown that she is serious about racing while making great sides in the industry. We got to catch up with her to learn a little more about what brought her to where she is today.
UTV Sports: Okay, quintessential question: How did you get into racing?
Vanessa Tortolero: My Dad raced with Perry McNeil and was his co-driver for many years, and I just grew up chasing them. My Dad would put me in my car seat in the chase truck, and I would just ride along. And that’s where I was introduced. So, I’ve always been out in the desert, but I had still never raced.
Then, I went to college out of state, which meant I couldn’t go to a race for the entire four years. Finally, I went to the 2018 Baja 1000, saw Sara Price out there competing, and it sparked my passion for motorsports again. I came home, and told my Dad I wanted to race. I paid for it myself, but I needed their support… And eventually, they came around.
USM: Wow, when did you get your first UTV?
VT: I bought a 2014 Polaris RZR 900 about a year later, ran my first event, and, somehow, I ended up First in my class. Kristen Matlock was the one who introduced me to District 38, where I could learn how to compete and, most importantly, obtain valuable seat time in the car. I really looked up to Kristen when I was growing up watching her race. I was star-struck she was even talking to me!
USM: When did you transition from the RZR 900 to the RZR XP1000 Turbo?
VT: After two races (haha). It was nice to have the 900 because even though it wasn’t very fast, it was bone stock, so it did not forgive at all. I really had to learn how to pick my lines. But again, it was crucial that I was able to drive it every weekend and build experience. However, at the end of the day, my 900 wasn’t competitive at all, and I needed a faster car.
USM: That is an interesting path to racing! You already understood racing from the garage, the pits and even the management side, but then you started your own program with no actual seat time in a car. What are some of the challenges you have faced since then?
VT: In the beginning, I always thought I was prepared based on what prior experience I had with my Dad or friends. Then I showed up and was like, “wow, I am not prepared at all.” Things would always come up [during an event] which seemed obvious, like I should have anticipated them in the first place. I still run into those challenges, but I think the biggest one is that there are so many moving pieces. I’m racing on a budget, and I don’t have endless parts so I really need to be methodical and calculate my every move.
USM: So, we know you look up to a few people in this industry such as Sara Price and Kristen Matlock, both among the most accomplished women in their field of off-road racing. Aside from Kristen’s intro to District 38, what other advice or tricks (if any) have they given you throughout the years?
VT: My biggest mental battle when I was starting two years ago was trying to make up for lost time; everyone seems to have started so young. I started at 22. I knew I had the motivation to get it going, but I questioned myself: “Am I too old to start? What if this is all a waste of time and money?” Kristen started racing in her late 20s, and when I talked to her, she told me, “age does not matter. You can literally start this whenever you want. That’s the beauty of this.”
USM: And what has Sara taught you?
VT: Sara is so determined. When she sets her mind to something, she’s going to do it. That has been the biggest inspiration to me because I have races where I get in my own head and don’t perform well because of it. She has shown me how to be mentally strong in this sport, and that is half the battle. You just have to keep pushing forward.
USM: Racing of any sort, let alone in a UTV, can be very expensive, and you’ve admitted to bootstrapping a bit. Figuring it out as you go. True grassroots racing! That shows how much tenacity and grit you have. How did you go about acquiring sponsors to support your program?
VT: Honestly, if you told me three years ago I would have this many companies supporting the program, I wouldn’t have believed you. It really came down to just asking, and then seeing how many companies were willing to partner. Racing is a hobby I’m really passionate about.
And while I can’t always afford to enter every event, I want to ensure I provide ROI to these companies which support me. At the end of the day, it is a business. And I’m investing in my program to go race. That is a part of the reason I launched and run my own clothing brand called Burn Fuel. It helps continue the dream.
USM: How has your season been so far?
VT: This year, I am racing for the SNORE points championship. Let’s say, we are figuring it out. Just had a string of bad luck racing so far. We just came off the Caliente 250, where I ended up nabbing Fifth Place after struggling with power issues all day. That was where we discovered we had issues with the ECU. But we are still in the Top Five for the championship. And this is my first entire season, so it’s just the beginning.
USM: What is next? Will we see you in Baja, California?
VT: I mean, that’s where I grew up, and that’s what I love. And Baja is where this passion started. Bringing it back full circle to a SCORE event would be like a dream come true. That would be my moment where I stand there and think to myself: Well, I made it. In due time, it will happen, and I will be a regular in the SCORE series.
USM: Your passion for this sport is undeniable, and your trajectory is aimed for the stars. It’ll be exciting to see where your tenacity, persistence and natural talents will take you. We’ll be looking for you on the podium!
Vanessa will be racing the SNORE Ridgecrest 300 race in October; make sure to keep an eye on her 2022 journey and follow along on social media: @vanessa.tortolero
