Published: 28th May 2026, Sydney
True leadership isn’t just about standing on top of the podium, it’s about reaching back down to ensure the next generation has a clear path to follow.
True leadership isn’t just about standing on top of the podium, it’s about reaching back down to ensure the next generation has a clear path to follow.
For Ashlea Bates, founder of Dirt Track Girls, navigating the paddock as a young girl meant constantly fighting the friction of a “boys club”. It’s a space where you don’t just have to be fast, you have to be twice as resilient just to be taken seriously.
Instead of letting the culture dictate her limits, Ashlea used it as fuel. She chose to become the exact mentor, advocate and safe space she wished she had when she first grabbed the handles.
And she didn’t just talk about changing the game, she went out and dominated it, locking in an elite achievement as No.2 in Australia.
We are proud to have interviewed Ashlea for an upcoming exclusive feature series on Nomad Dirt Culture. Keep your eyes locked on our feed our official cinematic reel is dropping shortly, breaking down:
The raw, real story behind why she founded Dirt Track Girls. While building an unstoppable future for women in dirt motorsport.
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