Atasha Andrei N. Belen

My name is Atasha, and I’m the founder of “Other Than the Drivers.”

I’ve always been captivated by the thrill of motorsports. As someone with the shortest attention span possible, the unpredictability of each race keeps me on the edge of my seat and fully engaged. Knowing that no two moments are ever the same, racing is the one thing that’s truly captured all of me.

My passion for motorsports took a significant turn when I attended my first race in early 2023—a NASCAR race at Dover Motor Speedway in my home state. While most eyes were on the track, mine were more drawn to the action in the pit. I was heavily intrigued by the mechanics, engineers, journalists, etc. running back and forth tirelessly during the race.

I broke into the industry professionally with the SPARK program at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Daytona, FL in mid 2023. They threw me head on in the industry, giving me the opportunity to interview engineers and media personnel. This led to an invitation from Firestone Racing, Honda Racing, and Chip Ganassi Racing to the 2024 IndyCar season opener in St. Petersburg, Florida. My time in the paddock and trackside was exhilarating, and I took pleasure in speaking with the engineers, PR managers, pit crew, and other team members. Since then, I’ve been to races across different series and conversed with even more professionals. I’ve even had the opportunity to speak at the Motorsports Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremony in front of an incredibly influential audience!

Inspired by these experiences, I decided to launch this blog. Drawing from my initial interviews, I’m now dedicated to seeking out and highlighting the stories of more professionals who make motorsports possible. Welcome to “Other Than the Drivers.”