[3] The previous year, Thackson's interest in American Open Wheel Racing was enhanced when she served as an Indy 500 Princess in May 2001, having spent her childhood listing to the sport via radio.

For its 2008 season, the American Le Mans Series asked Thackston if she had an interest in becoming a pit lane reporter which she accepted.

She was working for Versus and became their pit lane reporter for the channel's coverage of the IndyCar Series in March 2009 and moved to Orlando, Florida.

[5] Thackston has also served as a trackside reporter for Indianapolis Motor Speedway's public announcement system, and has been involved with the morning newscast on Fox affiliate WXIN since October 2013.

[7] She married her husband Christian Hogue, who worked as a crew member for various IndyCar teams including Ed Carpenter Racing,[8] in January 2014.