13. The Interview: Tina Strader
Director of Communications, Team Penske
For many professionals in the motorsports industry, a passion for racing begins at a young age. Tina Strader was no exception, starting out racing alongside her sister, Michelle, in Connecticut. What began as a family pastime evolved into a career, with Strader holding roles in public relations, athlete management, and social media before becoming Director of Communications at Team Penske, one of the most prestigious organizations in racing. Along the way, she has credited her family’s love of the sport with giving her the confidence to pursue her ambitions.
KAITLYN VINCIE: I want to start with from a young age, you were helping your sister, Michelle, pursue becoming a race car driver. What was that experience like?
TINA STRADER: When people ask me about my experience and how I got started, I always say that, for me growing up, all I knew was that little girls raced cars or were involved in motorsports. My sister and I are about four and a half years apart, and when she was just five years old, she started racing quarter midgets. Our family weekends all took place at the racetrack, and I got to watch her race every weekend. We’re from the same home track in Connecticut where Joey Logano got his start, so we raced with a lot of people who are still in the sport today. I just always thought little girls raced, and eventually, I found myself racing as well. I got into quarter midgets, and I remember one race when we were traveling in New Jersey for a Grand National event. I ended up breaking my foot in an accident—at the time, we didn’t think it was broken, just a bad sprain. I ended up racing anyway against Joey in the A-Main, and he and I still talk about that to this day. My sister really took this on as more than just a passion or a hobby—it was something she wanted to turn into a career. My family went all in, and we moved from Connecticut to Georgia so she could pursue racing. She was a female in a male-dominated sport trying to make a name for herself. We would sit in our home office building sales pitches for potential sponsors, and I naturally gravitated toward writing. As a teenager, I was creating pitch decks and proposals for my sister. All of these opportunities in my own career really stemmed from a family passion, and they sparked my interest in communications within racing early on. It set the tone for the career I wanted to pursue.
KAITLYN VINCIE: That is so interesting—I never knew that you raced yourself, and alongside Joey. That’s very full circle now.
My first Cup Series win in Victory Lane with Team Penske was actually with Joey at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It truly felt like a full-circle moment. I thought back to when Joey was racing Bandoleros, my sister was racing Legends cars, and I was there cheering them both on. Now here we are—he’s a champion of the sport, and I’m the Director of Communications for Team Penske. We had a moment in Victory Lane where we looked at each other and said, “Man, this is pretty cool.”
KAITLYN VINCIE: That is incredibly special. I think back to when you were part of the Miss Sprint Cup program, which felt like such a special time in the sport. How do you think that program helped advance women in the industry and create more forward-facing female representation in the garage area?
What we coined Miss Sprint Cup as was “the fan’s friend on the inside.” The program really came onto the scene at the same time social media was evolving beyond private Facebook accounts into platforms like Twitter and Instagram. Miss Sprint Cup became a brand ambassador role that evolved into being a spokesperson and a true public relations professional promoting the Sprint brand. Social media gave those women a chance to provide exclusive access to fans who weren’t at the track, while also serving as on-site representatives.
They were students of the sport and deeply invested in the competitors, the fans, and the industry as a whole. It showcased the talent these women had, and the industry embraced the program. When I look at the alumni and what they’re doing now, it’s a testament to the visibility the program created and how it helped them grow.
KAITLYN VINCIE: It’s been amazing to see what those women have gone on to do. Now, as you mentioned, you’re Director of Communications at Team Penske. What does your role entail during the week and on race weekends?
I’m responsible for everything from traditional public and media relations to creative and social services. Social content creation has become a larger part of the role in terms of storytelling and distribution. On any given race week, my job is to ensure the Team Penske brand is protected while also being positioned to drive positive stories. We have an incredible lineup of drivers, and we compete across multiple series, including NASCAR, IndyCar, and sports car racing. I make sure all key players are up to date on scheduling and aligned on priorities—what we want to communicate and how we present ourselves as an organization. We represent more than 400 employees at Team Penske, as well as Penske Corporation brands, which is a bit unique to our role. We’re constantly finding ways to cross-promote what we do to reach audiences beyond motorsports. That’s where the creative and content elements come in—telling those broader stories. Another major part of my role, and my team’s, is ensuring our partners have strong visibility and are represented well across everything we do.
KAITLYN VINCIE: You work closely with Roger Penske—what has it been like learning from him?
Prior to my time at Penske, I worked closely with Brad Keselowski, who always spoke highly of Roger and said much of his approach to business came from emulating him. It’s been incredible to come here and see what Roger has built—not just in terms of wins, championships, and statistics, but in the way people conduct themselves. There’s a culture of where winning extends beyond the racetrack. Roger has his finger on everything. He knows what’s happening with every driver, every car, at every track. He’s deeply invested and wants to be involved in all of it. It’s been an honor to work with and for him. He doesn’t have to tell you he’s passionate and excited about what he’s doing—you just know because of how hard he works. It’s so impressive to me to see that drive and fire he has for all of it.
KAITLYN VINCIE: Let’s talk about the team’s 60-year anniversary. What has it been like hearing all the stories from across that history?
Even for a 60-year organization, there are still so many firsts happening. I think about the 24 Hours of Daytona with Porsche Penske Motorsports, the Coca-Cola 600/Indy 500 double with Ryan Blaney and Josef Newgarden, and Josef’s first Indy 500 win. When you look at everything Roger has accomplished, it’s amazing that the team is still achieving new milestones. It makes me proud to be part of something that continues to evolve and improve. There really is no ceiling. That mindset applies to everyone here—drivers, competitors, and staff alike. We’re always asking how we can get better and keep moving forward. It’s special to celebrate 60 years of history while also looking ahead to the future. This year is about honoring everyone who has contributed—from Roger to the employees, media, and fans. Hearing from team members who have been here for 40-plus years is incredible and I think it’s very telling of the commitment that people have here. The desire people have to be a part of what Roger has built.
KAITLYN VINCIE: I want to go back to where we started. You helped your sister pursue racing—now, looking at your own career, how does your family feel about what you’ve accomplished?
It makes me a little emotional. I probably don’t take enough time to reflect on it, but this really is a dream realized—not just for me, but for my family as well. For all of us to see something that started as a shared passion turn into a career is really meaningful. I know they’re proud, and I’m proud too. Motorsports has always been a place where I could challenge myself and grow, both personally and professionally. From public relations to social media management, to working with athletes at an agency, and now serving as a director of communications—it’s all come together in a really special way. There’s a saying: “Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” That’s truly how I feel about my career. There’s still plenty of growth ahead, which is important, but this has been a dream realized in many ways—and I’ll always keep dreaming a bit more.
I remember the Miss Sprint Cup ladies. At first I thought they were just going to be eye candy, much like the Monster Energy Girl's. They were so much more than that. Awesome job at what you're able to get of your interviewees Kaitlyn. You ask what seems like a simple question but we get so much more details than one would expect.