Motorsports
Driven to Care Motorsports Student Experiences honors the groundbreaking contributions of three generations of the Rahal racing family and Janet Guthrie.
These events bring students up close to the action - learning directly from industry pros, touring garages and tracks, and hearing firsthand stories that shape racing history. Exciting, hands-on, and unforgettable, each experience is designed to open doors and spark passion for careers in motorsports.
The Rahal Racing Legacy: Three Generations of Excellence
Mike Rahal began his racing career in 1957 with the SCCA, driving an Austin-Healey 100 LM and went on to compete in various production sports cars and sport racers during the 1960s and 1970s. He achieved several class wins, including a notable victory in the under-two-liter class at the 1967 Road America 500 in a Porsche-powered Elva.
Bobby Rahal was an American race car driver who won the 1986 Indianapolis 500 and became a three-time CART series champion (1986, 1987, and 1992), with 24 career CART victories to his name. After retiring from driving, he transitioned into team ownership and leadership, co-founding Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, which went on to earn Indy 500 wins in 2004 and 2020.
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Graham Rahal is a six-time IndyCar Series race winner who became the youngest winner in series history at age 19 by winning the 2008 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on April 6, 2008. Graham currently drives for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Janet Guthrie: A Trailblazer in Motorsports
Janet Guthrie shattered barriers in motorsports. She became the first woman to qualify and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500 in 1977.
A former aerospace engineer and pilot, Guthrie began racing through the SCCA, winning her class at the 12 Hours of Sebring before transitioning to NASCAR and IndyCar, and ultimately being inducted into the IMS Museum and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Her pioneering spirit and perseverance paved the way for future generations of women in racing.
Carry Forward the Legacy
The Rahal Family and Janet Guthrie Motorsports Fund are designed to support students pursuing careers in the technical and mechanical aspects of racing.
Donate to support Driven to Care programs in Illinois or Texas, track-day experiences, and support Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) scholarships & teams, such as Bobcat Racing (Texas State University) and Longhorn Racing (University of Texas at Austin).
Please make checks payable to
The Footprints Foundation - DTC Program
420 East Ogden, Hinsdale, IL, 60521
Or use our Donate button below (donations made through PayPal incur a 1.99% fee + $0.49 per transaction).
Together, we can carry forward the trailblazing spirit of Guthrie and the Rahal family while inspiring future racing leaders.