Speedway, IN | Continuing to forge ahead with a diversity program, the inclusion of Women in Motorsports, Black Sheep Racing has added Devin Alexandria Hofmann to the squad as she will be the Car Chief for Championship-Winning driver Laura Ely in 2023. Starting her passion for cars and motorsports at young age, Devin was destined to have a career in the automotive industry and the fast-paced life of motorsports.
“I am excited to have Devin as part of the BSR family in 2023, and this is just another example of our ‘Women in Motorsports’ efforts,” explained Laura Ely. “With such a passion for motorsports in general, her intense school program, and growing resume, Devin is a perfect example of what motorsports needs for women both now and in the future.”
Starting her love for cars when she was young, hearing the lop of the muscle cars and turbo spools of the tuner cars, she instantly wanted to know everything about them and how to make them faster. Devin went to school learning to use CAD/CAM and designed car parts for local race shops as a hobby after graduating from Augusta Technical College with a Mechanical Engineering Technology Associate’s Degree.
“I just love cars,” explained Hofmann. “The thrill of racing and making something that is already fast, faster, is a huge passion and I cannot wait to get started with Black Sheep Racing. A huge thanks to Laura and everyone in the program, and I hope that I can help make the team back-to-back champions.”
The hobby of making car parts led her to build and racing her own car, a 2015 Subaru STi, in grassroots ‘Time Attack’ where she worked with her sponsors to test and develop performance parts on track with her own car. During this time, Devin got picked up by BMW Manufacturing doing lean manufacturing engineering as well as testing and analysis for new products. This change motivated Devin to go back to school and get her Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
Devin’s love for the physics and data analysis of race cars led her to volunteer for teams ranging from NASA Spec Miata, WRL, GTO, to Super Trofeo to Trans-Am TA2. Devin has been working for teams doing pit crew work, data, and mechanic jobs in between her day job at GE Gas Turbine as a Lead Manufacturing Engineer and her own grassroots racing program.
Ely added, “Devin’s drive to learn and grow in this sport makes us happy to have her as one of the newest members on our team for the 2023 season.”