She is one of the 16 women to ever participate in the NASCAR Cup Series and one of only three female drivers to race in the Daytona 500. But it was in 2016 she changed her tracks towards asphalt races and made her asphalt professional beginning in 2017. She is the first female driver to lead a Busch Series event. But here we have brought you 16 Best Female NASCAR Drivers who prove they are here to change the stereotype. [3], Six female drivers: Deegan, Kirk, Patrick, Robinson, Mara Reyes, and Brittney Zamora have won poles. Tammy Jo Kirk had 37 Top 10 finishes and two poles in the All Pro Series before becoming the first woman to start at the Camping World Truck Series. A handful of women (such as Mackena Bell and Kenzie Ruston) have raced with the help of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program since its creation in 2004. In a race that had a starting field of 45 drivers, including a handful of Hall of Famers, Christian dazzled with a sixth-place finish. During her rally career, she drove the Opel Kadett, Chevrolet Corvette, Opel Commodore, and Chevrolet Camaro. She took her Instagram to announce that she was hired to be a model for Victorias Secret on September 14, 2022. In 2010, IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick joined NASCAR, racing part-time in the K&N Pro Series East and the Nationwide Series. Danica Sue Patrick is an American retired professional racing driver, model, actress, and singer who is considered the most successful female racecar driver in the history of American open-wheel racing. At age 16, after national success in go-karts, Patrick left high school to race Formula Fords and Vauxhalls in the United Kingdom. In 1998, her full-time career as a racer began, and she flourished to the NASCAR Pro series by 1999. The full-time Camping World Truck Series driver was vying to make her first Cup Series start and become the first female to compete in the series since Danica Patrick retired from NASCAR in 2018 . That year she had three top 10 finishes with her best finish of sixth at Atlanta. suspended after using a racial slur at a virtual race last year. In 2011, she delivered the commencement speech for the graduating class of Unidad of Miami Beach & the New Generation Leadership and Workforce Institute's (NGLWI). One of her most impressive performances came in September at the challenging Langhorne Speedway, a circular 1-mile track outside of Philadelphia. She won in her debut in Whelen Euro Series Elite Club Division by lapping just 0.001 seconds from the reference time. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Tina Gordon On Her Phone (Source: Briefly News). Her first race was at the 2003 Florida Dodge Dealers and her last was at the 2004 Infineon 200. Her victory was the first for a female NASCAR driver since Tammy Jo Kirk won in 1994. "You . After investigating, the FBI concluded that the rope was a garage door pull rope and did not file any charges. The Busch Light Accelerate Her Program, which is being announced timed to the Daytona 500 this Sunday, marks a $10 million commitment from the brand to sponsor every female driver in NASCAR ages 21 and up over the next three years. "It's been a long road, a lot of struggle, and I'm a one-woman show so I'm doing everything on my own," Balcaen, 29, who is competing in the ARCA Menards Series this season, told ABC News. Though she competed in just seven races over the course of her career, she opened the door to racing for generations of women to come. Robinson is known as a competent racer who left a legacy in the male-dominated industry. Sara Christian was the first female driver in NASCAR history. Daniels said she has had to tune out a lot of negativity even while some celebrate her achievements in the sport. Kim Crosby, a NASCAR female driver, was born in Tallahassee in Florida on 8th December 1964. Danica Patrick. Christina Nielsen started racing as a teenager and now, at just 28 years old, she is the first female driver to win the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series. Brittney Zamora. The Last American Hero. The sister of early NASCAR racers Tim (Class of 2014), Bob and Fonty Flock, Ethel Mobley Flock competed in two NASCAR races in 1949, posting a best finish of 11th on the Daytona Beach-Road Course in July. March is Womens History Month, a 31-day celebration that was formally recognized by the federal government back in 1987. Stereotypically, womens driving skills are a standing joke, among others. Patrick later finished the race in eighth place, the highest finish for a woman in the Daytona 500. Sara Christian was the first female driver in NASCAR history, competing in the sanctioning body's first race on June 19, 1949 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Best Female NASCAR Drivers 10. Janet Guthries World 600 qualifying plaque is on display in Heritage Speedway at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Brehanna Daniels says she thinks about how much her life has changed in just five years. 3. Fifi Scott (2 / 1955) The first Daytona 500 was held in 1959. Patricia Moise-Sawyer was a NASCAR driver in the past. [6] In the second official race, at Daytona Beach and Road Course, Christian was joined by Ethel Mobley and Louise Smith, with Mobley finishing first out of the 3, in 11th. Danica Patrick (191 / 2012-2018) First Female to win Pole Position at Daytona 500: Danica Patrick: In 2013 Danica Patrick put in the fastest qualification lap to win pole position at the Daytona 500. Interestingly enough, the press had a field day confirming that she has never competed in a NASCAR nationwide touring or ARCA-sanctioned event. As her father used to run late models, Long got her inspiration from him. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Moreover, she finished in 29th position back in 2011, which is also her best. In 2016, Amber made Canadian history when she became the 1 st Canadian female to win a NASCAR Sanctioned race in the USA. Hailie Deegan, the daughter of Motocross and X Games icon Brian Deegan, is a three-time winner in what is now called the ARCA Menards Series West and was the first female driver to ever win races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. It wasn't until 2012, 64 years after NASCAR was founded, that it signed its first female pit crew member, Christmas Abbott. . [19][20] Long would eventually race in the Nationwide Series, making her debut in the 2012 DRIVE4COPD 300. Kim Crosby, born in 1964, is 58 years old talented NASCAR female driver who has won 10 races over three years. The 20 year old ARCA rookie earned pole position during the season opener in Daytona, making her the 3rd woman in ARCA history and the fourth in Daytonas 60 year existence to start a race from pole position. Formerly Euro-Racecar NASCAR Touring Series Elite Division (2012) and Whelen Euro Series Elite Division (2013), Formerly Euro-Racecar NASCAR Touring Series Open Division (2012) and Whelen Euro Series Open Division (2013), Note: Full statistics only available beginning with 2014 season, AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series (200406), Formerly RE/MAX Challenge Series (19982002) and International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series (2003), AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series (200406), Formerly Northwest Tour (198586), Winston Northwest Tour (198794), REB-CO Northwest Tour (199597), and Raybestos Northwest Series (19982003), AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series (200406), Formerly Winston All Pro Series (199193), Slim Jim All-Pro Series (19942000), Gatorade All Pro Series (2001), Hills Bros. All Pro Series (2002), and Kodak Southeast Series (2003), AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series (200306), Formerly Featherlite Southwest Tour (19862002), Formerly Baby Grand Division (197579), International Sedan Series (198082), Darlington Dash Series (198384), Daytona Dash Series (1985), Charlotte/Daytona Dash Series (198689) and Dash Series (199091), Note: Only partial statistics available for the late 1970s, Whelen Southern Modified Tour (20052016). In 2018, Hailie Deegan became the first female driver to win a NASCAR touring series race in roughly three decades, winning in the K&N Pro Series West in the series' race at Meridian Speedway. Most successful female NASCAR driver of all time; Most successful female in open-wheel racing . You don't see that every day in NASCAR. Robinson won three times between 1988 and 1989 in the now-defunct Dash Series,[1] Deegan won three races in the K&N Pro Series West between 2018 and 2019. In 2005, she also raced in the Camping World Truck, where she made 29 starts in conclusion. Passed Indianapolis 500 driver's test: May 8, 2005. The following is a list of female NASCAR drivers who have participated in a national or regional touring series race since the organization's inception in 1949, along with statistical totals for their NASCAR careers. As of September 30, 2018, only two women, Hailie Deegan and Shawna Robinson, have won a race in NASCARs touring series. From driving go-karts as a child to making history in US motor racing, Toni Breidinger has become the first Arab-American female to participate in Nascar stock car racing. Although her NASCAR career was brief, what Sara Christian accomplished has more than stood the test of time. What he needed, he decided, was a female driver who could handle the challenges of the track and hopefully bring more women out to the races. In 2013, Patrick became the first female driver to win a pole in a Cup Series race when she qualified No. She drove an Audi R8 LMS in the 2012 Super GT season, becoming the first female driver in the series. She never really had a chance. She debuted for NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2010 AAA Insurance 200 (IRP) and her last race for this series was in 2011 Winstar World Casino 350k (Texas). 23 car, jointly fielded by RSS Racing, Reaume Brothers Racing,[30] and later Our Motorsports. But it was in 2010, and she earned a total of one start achieving her record of World Truck Series at the Camping World Truck, where she finished in 111th place. Terri had previously attempted the NASCAR Sportsman series in the US. She would break the record weeks later and she would finish the season as the first woman to make 100 starts in NASCARs Cup series. She retired from full-time competition after the 2017 season. And yet, since receiving her racing license in 2010 -- the first African-American woman to do so-- Tia Norfleet has battled an alarming number of nay-sayers and obstacles. Another female racer, Louise Smith raced 11 times in the Cup Series between 1949 and 1952, with a best finish of 16th The 1949 NASCAR Strictly Stock race at Langhorne Speedway featured three female racers, Louise Smith (from left), Sara Christian and Ethel Flock Mobley. Ethel Flock Mobley. Later, she was signed by Rev Racing in both the years 2019 and 2020. Ann Chester (2 / 1950) At Chicagoland Speedway last June, Venturini Motorsports made history by fielding three female drivers in the same event in Natalie Decker, Leilani Munter and Toni Breidinger. Her last race for NASCAR Xfinity Series was in the 2006 AT&T 250 (Milwaukee). However, due to the race not having practice and qualifying, NASCAR would not approve Cobb to compete in it with her lack of prior Cup Series experience. But I think that inequality is still there and it kind of stems off of the fact that we are lacking on funding," Toni Breidinger, 22, who is competing in the ARCA Menards Series this season, told ABC News. She made history by being the first female driver to win West Series races in 2018 and 2019. However, Patrick would finish 38th after a crash. Natalie Decker is a young and upcoming racer competing part-time at NASCAR Xfinity. "NASCAR racing is one of the only sports nationally where men and women can compete at the exact same level," Krystyn Stowe, head of marketing for Busch Family Brands, Anheuser-Busch InBev, told ABC News. 2023 Nascar Hall Of Fame. Career Indianapolis 500 laps led: 29. Goldie Parsons (1 / 1965) Baker was named one of the 50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers. In 2016, she became a NASCAR Drive for Diversity team member and got awarded a Young Racer category prize. At the 2013 Daytona 500, Patrick became the first female driver to clinch pole position and lead a green flag lap. Louise Smith: The First Lady of NASCAR. In 1954, Betty Skelton Erde drove the pace car at Daytona and set the female stock car speed record. She also became the first woman to win the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour race in 2013 (Lucas Oil). 7. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "Especially, you know, a little black girl like myself at that time. Recently, celebrities like basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and rapper Pitbull have invested in the sport, helping diversify the face of NASCAR's team ownership -- investments that could help drive new interest. Toni Breidinger, 21, who is of Lebanese descent, has become the first Arab-American female to race in Nascar. "I could not be more proud of what she's accomplished both as an athlete, but she's been amazing with her brand and social media and creating awareness and really getting people excited about the fact that if she can do it, there are other people that can do it," Siegel told ABC News. [29] Trotter moved up from the West Series to the main ARCA Menards Series, where she would remain in Toyota's driver development program and drive part-time for Venturini Motorsports in the team's No. 20 Toyota, owned by her family. Although diagnosed with cancer in 2014, Robinson underwent several treatments and finally became cancer-free in 2015. Although she hasnt participated in the Sprint Cut Series, she is someone to keep an eye on. Trackhouse Racing. First woman to lead a lap in Indianapolis 500. During the Camping World Races of 2010, Long was booked to race only three races but ended up racing seven. Amber Balcaen is a third generation racecar driver from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Patricia made her debut in Busch Series in 1986 (Road Atlanta), driving the no.47 Buck Regal for Randy Hope. Her last race was back in 1998, and she is now happily retired, leaving her legacy behind. 71 Ford placed 14th. Her No. At the 2013 Daytona 500, Patrick became the first female driver to clinch pole position and lead a green flag lap. Finally, women are starting to make an impact in NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA, and more. NASCAR did not respond to a request for comment about Armstrong's comments. (WKMG 2021) In 2019, she became the . In 1978, Guthrie finished ninth in the Indianapolis 500, while in 1980, she was 11th in the Daytona 500. In a little over a decade, more than 60 of NASCAR's women and minority drivers have come through the Drive for Diversity program, he said. She announced to run for the District position on the Cherokee County, Alabama Commission post in 2008. Shawna Robinson (8 / 2001-2002) She finished 8th, the highest ever finish for an woman in the Daytona 500. Four years later at the invitation of NASCAR founder and chairman William H.G. 1 for the season-opening Daytona 500, the biggest race on the NASCAR schedule. Tia Norfleet wears $1,600 custom racing suits to work, but her chosen profession is far from posh, requiring both laser focus in the moment and continuous off-season training. Louise Smith. And that's difficult coming into the sport with little funding and maybe not a lot of seat time," Decker said. To this day, she remains the only female driver to post a top five in the Cup Series. After a 7th place finish in Martinsville a year later, Patrick tied Guthrie for most Top 10 finishes by a female NASCAR driver. Toni Breidinger is the first Arab-American female driver in NASCAR history. Although, now retired, Danica has successfully won 191 races in seven years of her career. She managed to grab the 55th position in the race, making her a solid contender to watch out for. Danica is a successful retired NASCAR driver and the first woman to win an Indy Car Series race. This point is hotly contested, to the point where Tia Norfleet has more or less disappeared from the limelight before her NASCAR racing career even started. Also, on October 9, 2021, she won a 100-lap Pro Late Model feature race, becoming the first woman to win a race in the tracks premier division at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. The article claimed that she had faced criminal charges in her youth, which Tia has not denied. Christine Beckers (1 / 1977) Last year, the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards honored Breidinger, the first Arab-American female driver to participate in any NASCAR national series, with its Developmental Series Driver Award. [12] In 2003, Robinson would also have the first all-female pit crew for a Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.[14]. 25 Toyota Camry.. She was the female driver with the most wins in United States Auto Club (USAC) history with 19. Finding sponsors as one of the only African-American racers proved incredibly difficult, and Norfleet found himself working harder than his peers to maintain positive relationships within motorsports. Tammy Jo Kirk NASCAR Racer (Source: Wikimedia). 107 women have qualified for and started at least one race in one of NASCARs touring series, including 16 at NASCARs premier level. Jennifer In Driven 2 Honor Program (Source: U.S. Army). So impressed was race winner and Hall of Famer Curtis Turner (Class of 2016) that he invited her to Victory Lane to celebrate with him. "It is very low. It's like, why wouldn't that matter? She recently competed in the 2022 Baptist Health 200 (Homestead). She was a competitive rally driver from 1965 through 1974. In 2016, Daniels was the only woman in a group of men trying out for one of the spots on a NASCAR pit crew team. So, Courtney, of course, feels advantages of having a sister as a champion of Funny Car division and father, John Force. Career Indianapolis 500 starts: 8 (2005-11, 2018) Best career Indianapolis 500 start: 4th in 2005. But she officially started racing in 1993 from the Xfinity Series and then made her Camping World Truck debut in 2003. Betty Skelton Erde wasn't technically a NASCAR driver, but she drove the pace car at Daytona in 1954, and was clocked at a speed of 105.88mph (170.40km/h) on the sand, setting a stock car speed record for women. Twelve years later, Breidinger has become the first Arab American female . Fisher was the first female driver to take a pole position in a significant American open-wheel race in 2002. . Ethel was among the early female race drivers in the NASCAR scene. Christian made seven starts in . In addition, she has competed in the Indianapolis 500 nine times, the most of any woman. Tina also entered for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2003. During college, the Norfolk State women's basketball point guard said she never once thought about NASCAR as a sport, let alone a career. As of April 2021, Shawna Robinson, Hailie Deegan, Manami Kobayashi, and Gracie Trotter remain the only women to have won a race in one of NASCAR's touring series. Tom is the Curatorial Affairs Manager of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and a veteran of more than 20 years in the NASCAR media industry. Mistakes are made, words are misinterpreted, and tempers flare. Additionally, her NASCAR license has come into question. 99. "Girl, you are crazy" she told ABC News about what the person she was at 17 would think about her now, a NASCAR pit crew member. "There was a time where when you think about race and sport, NASCAR would be on the not-so-positive end of the spectrum," Armstrong said. She finished 5th, the highest finish for a female, in the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series in 2020, Daytona. In 2018, she won Washington State Rookie and was selected as one of the invitees to Drive for Diversity. Loving racing karts when she was 5, she started to race at the age of 8. This article was last updated by Bikram Jirel on December 5, 2022. She was 42nd in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2020 and her best finish was 31st in 2019. "For me to be able to learn the business skills to be able to sign million-dollar sponsors is to me the thing that I'm most proud of because I had to learn how to be a businesswoman before a race car driver to be able to be a race car driver.". Both Bobby and Tia fondly remember how he added a little extra power her to her Barbie car when she was just a small tyke, which led to her love of zooming around at top speed. During her teens, she slowly moved up to the Auto racing ranks and is now at the age of 21, the only woman with 19 United States Auto Club Wins. Several women have qualified for and started at least one ARCA Menards Series race, like Danica Patrick, Leilani Munter, Alli Owens, Erin Crocker, Shawna Robinson, Sarah Cornett-Ching, Deborah Renshaw, Maryeve Dufault, Toni Breidinger, Milka Duno, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Nicole Behar, Hailie Deegan, Natalie Decker, and others. Then, keep on reading our list of best female NASCAR drivers. Deegan moved up from the ARCA Menards Series to the Truck Series full-time, continuing to drive for David Gilliland Racing. [32], Formerly Strictly Stock Series (1949), Grand National Series (195070), Winston Cup Series (19712003), Nextel Cup Series (200407), Sprint Cup Series (200816), and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (201719), Formerly Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series (198283), Busch Grand National Series (198494), Busch Grand National Division (19952003), Busch Series (200407), Nationwide Series (200814) and Xfinity Series (2015), Formerly SuperTruck Series by Craftsman (1995), Craftsman Truck Series (19962008), Camping World Truck Series (20092018), and Gander Outdoors Truck Series (2019). In 2003, she bagged the Knoxville award for Best Rookie. Born and raised in Georgia, Tammy started as a racer in the Xfinity series in 2003. 5. Learn how your comment data is processed. Regardless of having the talent, she had to beg her father to buy her a go-kart when she was nine years old. Ann Bunselmeyer (1 / 1950) [18], In 2011, Snowball Derby winner Johanna Long entered the Camping World Truck Series at 19 years of age, being the youngest female driver to race in the series. Still, young girls, especially those who have not come from privileged white backgrounds, look up to Tia Norfleet. She competed in over 100 NASCAR racing events. "Let's elevate these women and get them the opportunity and the time and the visibility that they need.". Although Erin never competed in the Sprint Cup, she made history as the top Female NASCAR Driver of all time. Similarly, her determination to become a NASCAR racer built up since she was a kid and racing behind the wheels of a go-kart. [17][21], In 2012, Danica Patrick was voted NASCAR's Most Popular Nationwide Driver, becoming the first woman to receive that award in NASCAR's top three divisions. Based on NASCAR's own data, provided to The Associated Press, 25% of fans identify as multicultural, only 9% as Black. However, as Tia worked to gain sponsors to advance her driving career, NASCAR officials have allegedly dissuaded any potential partnerships, citing her past. Formerly Busch North Series (19872005), Busch East Series (200607), Camping World East Series (200809) and K&N Pro Series East (201019), Formerly Pacific Coast Late Model Division (195469), Grand National West (1970), Winston West Series (197193), Winston Transcontinental Series (1994), Winston West Series (19952003), West Series (200405), AutoZone West Series (2006), West Series (2007), Camping World West Series (200809) and K&N Pro Series West (201019), Formerly Winston Modified Tour (198593) and Featherlite Modified Series (19942004), Formerly Desafo Corona (200406), Corona Series (200711), Toyota Series (201214), Mexico Series (2015), Note: Only partial statistics available prior to 2008 season, Formerly Mexico T4 Series (200407), Mini Stock Series (200910), Stock V6 Series (201115). Interestingly, the 1949 Daytona NASCAR event was the first to feature three female racers Christian, Mobley and Smith while the same three drivers also raced at Langhorne in 1949, the last NASCAR race with three female drivers.

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