Women’s History Month offers a great opportunity to dig into the stories behind the announcements, and Audra Paradie’s journey is undeniably one worth telling. Beyond the results sheets and a recent press release is a driver motivated by passion, persistence, and a clear desire to grow within the sport, all of which ultimately led her to apply for – and receive – the 2026 Wendi Allen Scholarship through SCCA® Women on Track.

The news itself broke in February, when the Sports Car Club of America™ revealed that the New England Region member had been chosen as one of three Wendi Allen Scholarship recipients for the year. Backed by the SCCA Foundation and Mazda Motorsports, the scholarship delivers both financial backing and meaningful support aimed at helping Paradie compete on the National stage in SCCA Solo® competition.

That assistance will fuel her autocross efforts throughout the season, with her sights firmly set on Lincoln, NE, where her year will wrap up at the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships.

Still, the real story lies in the details, in the experiences, decisions, and determination that shaped Audra Paradie long before her earning the Wendi Allen Scholarship.

Taking Hold

Graduating college in 2021 with a degree in electrical engineering, Paradie was introduced to autocross by a coworker who convinced her to come out for ride-alongs. “The moment I hopped into that first car, I knew I wanted to come back and try driving for myself,” she says. From there, she autocrossed with SCCA’s New England Region along with a couple of other clubs, with 2025 being her third full year of autocrossing.

“In my first year, I raced in just two events,” she reveals. “The following year – my first full year – I did 10 events.”

One of her early National autocrosses was the Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo® Series event at Brunswick.

“It was my sixth ever event,” she says. “To say I was a bit overwhelmed would be an understatement, but I was hooked on the ProSolo event structure. In my second full year, I did 14 events, which included a BMW novice school, and the Bristol ProSolo. I also branched out from autocross and did my first driver’s education track day through Porsche Club at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.”

In 2025, she logged 27 days of autocross, six of those being National SCCA Solo events – Brunswick ProSolo and Solo National Tour, plus the Finger Lakes Solo National Tour. She also participated in two track days at Thompson Speedway, one of which was an SCCA Track Night in America® Driven by Tire Rack event where, she says, “I had an amazing time.”

Then her motorsports adventure traveled online.

“In October, I began sim racing thanks to Amy Houseal starting the Liberty Belle Ladies League,” Paradie says. “I wanted to join my local SCCA sim racing league, but everyone seemed so intense and I was too intimidated to try. The Ladies League was the safe space I needed to try it out, and I immediately wanted to keep improving and practice more.”

Since then, she’s moved onto other leagues as well and has upgraded her rig to include a three-monitor setup and racing seat, all of which she hopes will keep her skills sharp during the off season.

Getting Into the Groove

Paradie’s most challenging experience at an autocross came at the Finger Lakes Solo National Tour. While she’d been autocrossing for a couple of years at the time and had done a few National events, it wasn’t until the Finger Lakes National Tour in 2025 that her car was ready, the weather was perfect, and she wanted to perform.

“It was a brand-new site for me, the weather was perfect, and I was incredibly nervous,” Paradie says. “On day one, I completely forgot how to drive. Through the SCCA Women on Track program, I was designated a mentor who mentioned he didn’t see much body roll when I was driving. That comment snapped me out of my panic and reminded me to trust myself and drive the way I do at my local events.

“Still, I was anxious, and in an attempt to calm myself, I turned on the radio. I only had one CD in my Miata, and it was Black & Blue by Backstreet Boys. Shape of My Heart started playing, and I instantly felt grounded listening to the familiar song. It reminded me that I may be in a new place with new faces, but I needed to focus on what I could control – like the music!”

On day two, Paradie drove like she knew she could. “I fought hard to get back in the rankings,” she says. “I almost trophied, but unfortunately coned my fastest run. Even though I didn’t get the result I wanted, I was proud of myself for pushing through the nerves and doing the best that I could.”

Confidence Inspiring

That confidence has moved from the autocross course into her daily life.

“Participating in motorsports has made me a more confident, focused, and grounded person,” she explains. “Before I found autocross, I was a new grad in a job I didn’t particularly enjoy, trying to adjust to the culture shock of going from the freedom of college to a 9-5 corporate desk job. I felt lost and unsure of who I was supposed to be and what the purpose of life was.

“When I first started autocrossing, I loved the environment but struggled mentally. I felt like I was destined to lose forever… That started to change when I bought my Miata. I was finally free to go to all the events I wanted to, and my driving and mindset started to change significantly. I let go of the idea that winning and my worth were connected. I wanted to go to events to have a good time and see all my new friends.”

What The Future Holds

Paradie’s short-term goals are to continue growing in autocross, both in comfort and speed.

“I want to be chasing hundredths instead of seconds,” she says. “I want to become more consistent and more confident at the limit. My long-term goals are more than just improving my own driving. I want to participate in different types of motorsports and help break down stigmas around autocrossers and women in motorsports. I think all of the different types of motorsports make you ultimately better at one thing: car control. While they may require different skills and techniques, they all help each other.

“I also want to continue to challenge myself in the car. My goal is to become the most well-rounded driver I can be, as well as spread awareness about the different forms of motorsports. I hope I can continue my involvement in motorsports until I am very old.”

You Can Help

Funding for Paradie’s portion of the Wendi Allen Scholarship came courtesy of SCCA Foundation. If you would like to help support the Wendi Allen Scholarship Fund, donations can be earmarked specifically for this program through SCCA Foundation’s website.

The SCCA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that is a supporting organization of the Sports Car Club of America. The Foundation supports charitable and educational programs in furtherance of the SCCA’s purposes and for the benefit of the community as a whole served by the Club.