A heavy right foot and the power of a Chrysler Hemi engine helped Vicki Wood set speed records on Daytona Beach in the mid-1950s. Beyond raising "millions of dollars" just to get on the track, having female drivers paving the way is also crucial, Balcaen said. [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. Another female racer, Louise Smith raced 11 times in the Cup Series between 1949 and 1952, with a best finish of 16th 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. This post was originally published on July 9, 2021. In addition to Breidinger, Decker and Balcaen, the other recipients of the inaugural sponsorship are Jennifer Jo Cobb, Melissa Fifield, Stephanie Moyer and Brittney Zamora, Busch Light said. [17] In 2012, Patrick would eventually race part-time in the Sprint Cup Series. At least 125 women have qualified for and started a race in one of NASCAR's touring series, including 16 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Having a taste of the first race, Sara competed in five more competitions in 1949, finishing sixth and . . Four years later at the invitation of NASCAR founder and chairman William H.G. Patrick would record a major milestone by clinching the pole position in the 2012 DRIVE4COPD 300, being the first female driver to clinch it since Shawna Robinson. 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. That year she had three top 10 finishes with her best finish of sixth at Atlanta. The majority of the NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup has been finalized for the 2023 season. . Since 2009, the program has trained 75 gender and ethnically diverse candidates for NASCAR's pit crews. So how come you never hear of the women drivers or see them race on TV? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. By the end of the year, Daniels would make history again, as part of the first female duo in a NASCAR pit crew. Deegan grew up competing in off-road racing but made the switch to stock car racing in 2016. Patrick would record a major milestone by clinching the pole position in the 2012 DRIVE4COPD 300, being the first female driver to clinch it since Shawna Robinson. [31] Cobb planned on making her Cup Series debut in the spring Talladega race, driving the No. 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. 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. She also became the first woman to race at every racetrack on the circuit. Dr. Ketra Armstrong, a professor of race and inclusion in sports at the University of Michigan, told ABC News. Why wouldn't that be talked about?," Daniels said. Her awards include Quarter Midgets of the American Female Driver of the year continuously from 1993 to 1995. She won in her debut in Whelen Euro Series Elite Club Division by lapping just 0.001 seconds from the reference time. However, Patrick would finish 38th after a crash. Female NASCAR drivers are proof that stereotypes are often distorted. Darius Days Bio: Family, Contracts And Net Shaun Livingston Bio: Injuries, NBA Championships, Net Who Is Aaron Rodgers Wife? 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 . The Canadian racer bagged her first win at the Spartan Speedway in Mason. Ty Dillon. Her last races for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series were in the 2005 Emerson Radio 250 (Richmond) and 2008 San Bernardino County 200 (Fontana), respectively. From 1987 to 1989, Moise has driven in 5 Winston Cup races. Jennifer In Driven 2 Honor Program (Source: U.S. Army). 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 . 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. In 2018, she won Washington State Rookie and was selected as one of the invitees to Drive for Diversity. She competed in NASCAR's first race on June 19, 1949 at Charlotte Speedway. Kenzie Hemric was selected in 2013 and '14. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images. While Bobby Norfleet fought discrimination and disinterested sponsors on the track, he enjoyed inspiring his daughter Tia at home in Suffolk, Virginia. Deegan moved up from the ARCA Menards Series to the Truck Series full-time, continuing to drive for David Gilliland Racing. Another woman (Alina Loibnegger) finished second, in the first time ever two women finished 12 in NASCAR history. 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. The top tier of NASCAR, the cup series, has had 16 Female NASCAR drivers in its history. Similarly, her determination to become a NASCAR racer built up since she was a kid and racing behind the wheels of a go-kart. You Can Also Read About Romain Grosjean Bio: Crash, Wife, IndyCar & Net Worth>>. She made her debut at the Daytona International Speedway. Last September 29, 2018, 17 year old Hailie Deegan became the first female driver to win at the K&N Pro Series Level by winning the NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 208 at the Meridian Speedway in Idaho. Brehanna Daniels with ABC News' Faith Abubey. The 1949 NASCAR Strictly Stock race at Langhorne Speedway featured three female racers, Louise Smith (from left), Sara Christian and Ethel Flock Mobley. The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program also aims for diversity across the sport, including the crew. Danica Patrick (191 / 2012-2018) Furthermore, she's not the first NASCAR driver to have faced arrest. Goldie Parsons (1 / 1965) 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). [3], Six female drivers: Deegan, Kirk, Patrick, Robinson, Mara Reyes, and Brittney Zamora have won poles. Female NASCAR Driver Stats across the three national series The three national series are: NASCAR Cup, XFINITY and Truck Series . [12] In her sophomore Dash Series run, Robinson became the first woman to earn the pole position for a NASCAR touring series race. You have entered an incorrect email address! [24] Patrick opened 2017 season with a fourth place finish in the Advance Auto Parts Clash (an exhibition race for previous pole winners). Making her Sprint Cup beginning in 1987, the Jacksonville superstar Patty Moise-Sawyer is one of the 16 best female NASCAR drivers in history. Top-Ten Finishes by a female driver in the NASCAR Cup Series: Sara Christian, Pittsburgh, 10-2-1949, 5th (out of 23 cars) . Due to her good looks and style, she is also a . Chevrolet. Career Indianapolis 500 laps led: 29. This article was last updated by Bikram Jirel on December 5, 2022. 1 for the season-opening Daytona 500, the biggest race on the NASCAR schedule. Sara Christian was the first woman driver in NASCAR history. Named for the type of gasoline her father used in his taxi, Ethel Flock Mobley competed in more than 100 Modified stock car races in her career. after one of his crew members reported what looked like a noose, rapper Pitbull have invested in the sport, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Which is pretty much the standard for most competitive sports, isn't it? Marie-Claude Charmasson. Tia and Bobby Norfleet began a mission to bring awareness to motorsports to children of all backgrounds, especially those in underserved communities and from minority ethnic backgrounds. A few weeks later she passed Guthrie for the most top ten finishes for a woman in Sprint Cup history at Bristol. [69] 2020 was the first season of ARCA as a NASCAR-sanctioned series, so this list begins with 2020. Instead of bolstering her career, this move has vilified her in the media, with potential sponsors less than eager to support a driver who has been accused of misrepresenting herself. "Let's elevate these women and get them the opportunity and the time and the visibility that they need.". Sara Christian competed in the inaugural NASCAR race at Charlotte Speedway (she had Bob Flock finish the race). Martinsville Speedway is the Cup Series' shortest track. Yet, if she had not pursued her passion, she would not see her days when she had bagged numerous wins and awards. Sara Christian. Recently, in May 2022, she opened up about her breast implant and her struggles after that. Her last race for NASCAR Xfinity Series was in the 2006 AT&T 250 (Milwaukee). At only 22, she's been helping pave the way for up-and-coming female racers. In 1997, Kirk raced for the Camping World Truck Series and received her best points in the twentieth position. Since then, only 15 pit crew members have been women, according to . IndyCar series driver Danica Patrick joined NASCAR in 2010. Lella Lombardi (1 / 1977) In 2019, Manami Kobayashi became the third woman to win a race in a NASCAR touring series race. She also drives but only part-time for the NASCAR XFINITY series, driving the #55 Toyota Camry of JP Motorsports. In 19 Cup Series starts in 1977, Guthrie finished in the top 12 a total of 10 times, with a career-best finish of sixth at Bristol Motor Speedway. At Talladega she became the first woman to lead laps there. She was the first female driver selected to the NASCAR Next program, which highlighted rising young talent. If NASCAR fans didn't know the name Hailie Deegan before Saturday night, they do now. In 2012, Patrick would eventually race part-time . Janet Guthrie (33 / 1976-1980) Dominique won Super Late Model Track Champion in 2012 Springport Motor Speedway Outlaw. In 2005, she also raced in the Camping World Truck, where she made 29 starts in conclusion. It's as close to a biopic as Junior Johnson (driver, and later team owner) would ever get, and it delves deep into the bad boy image of "Junior Jackson," a bootlegger turned racing impresario. Young's also announced that she would make her debut in the Truck Series with them in their new part-time No. During . Daniels said she has had to tune out a lot of negativity. 23", "Jennifer Jo Cobb to make Cup debut at Talladega with Rick Ware Racing UPDATE", "NASCAR still searching for its Danica Patrick Racing", "Racerchicks.com: Racerchicks Janet Guthrie", "Racerchicks.com: Racerchicks Danica Patrick NEWS", "Patrick Follows in the Footsteps of Pioneers", "Racerchicks.com: Racerchicks Erin Crocker", "Canadian driver, model set for Nationwide debut - Aug 17, 2011 - NASCAR.COM", "NASCAR Nationwide Team Charlotte Auto Fair", "Mara Reyes at Driver Database | Motorsport", "Gabi DiCarlo to Make Truck Series Debut at Fontana", "Racerchicks.com: Racerchicks Alli Owens", "Racerchicks.com: Racerchicks Deborah Renshaw", "Racerchicks.com: Racerchicks Michelle Theriault", "Racerchicks.com: Racerchicks Angie Wilson", "NASCAR acquires ARCA, reaffirms commitment to growth | NASCAR.com", "UNOH Grad Following Her Heart into NASCAR", "Nascar Driver Kristin Bumbera Signs With Hamilton Racing", "NASCAR Female Driver Toni Marie McCray To Take On The Boys At The Showdown At Toyota Speedway", "Catalanos Making It A True Family Night at Stafford", "Open Division Championship Season 2012 Final", "Dexwet-df1 Racing with title ambitions in all divisions in 2019", "Racing-Total presents an international lineup", "NWES 2019 ELITE-Club final results after Hockenheim", D-BOX eNASCAR International iRacing Series, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_female_NASCAR_drivers&oldid=1124996170, Articles with dead external links from December 2022, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 December 2022, at 17:19. In 2007, she earned the title of the first female driver winner at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Last American Hero. She retired from full-time competition after the 2017 season. "Especially, you know, a little black girl like myself at that time. Louise Smith (1949-1956) Louise Smith, tied for second female NASCAR driver alongside Ethel, became known as "The First Lady of Racing.". She was best known for competing in Modified Division races. 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. Wedding, Kids & Girlfriends. Her fourth-place finish was the highest ever for a female driver, besting the previous record of ninth set by Janet Guthrie in 1978. Despite competing on only six of eight races, Christian finished 13th in points in 1949, her only full season of competition. She joined NASCAR in 2016 as part of the organization's "Drive for Diversity" program. Some of her other awards are the 2005 Indianapolis 500 Rookie and the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series. As of September 30, 2018, only two women, Hailie Deegan and Shawna Robinson, have won a race in NASCARs touring series. In 2013, she finished eight and became the first female NASCAR driver to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole, turning in the fastest qualifying lap since 1990 in qualifying for the Daytona 500 . Daniels said she has had to tune out a lot of negativity even while some celebrate her achievements in the sport. "When you're new and then you're also a woman on top of that? Spire Motorsports. As for what success looks like decades from now, the Drive for Diversity program is still writing that chapter but Daniels said she already likes where NASCAR going. Although the series has existed since 1953, the series was not officially affiliated with NASCAR until its buyout on April 27, 2018. She's continuing to break barriers in the historically white, male-dominated sport as a tire changer on . Julia Landauer was the most successful within her respective series, finishing fourth in points in the K&N Pro Series West with seven top-five finishes in fourteen races. Later, she was signed by Rev Racing in both the years 2019 and 2020. A portion of the commitment will also be reserved for up-and-coming talent, the company said. Robinson also took home Rookie of the Year and Most Popular Driver honors. She started racing by driving road course races at the age of 16 in the IMSA series. [22], In 2013, Patrick became the first woman in Sprint Cup history to have a full-time ride in the series (with Stewart-Haas Racing),[22] and eventually the first female driver to clinch the pole position and lead a green flag lap, both occurring at the 2013 Daytona 500, becoming the first woman to lead both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500. And that's difficult coming into the sport with little funding and maybe not a lot of seat time," Decker said. Here is the list: Louise Smith (11 starts/from 1949-1952) [2], In 2020, Gracie Trotter became the second female driver to win in the West Series, with her victory in the race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring on September 26. Then she started working for GIC-Mixon in 2005. Paris Berelc is suiting up for an adult role in the new Netflix NASCAR-inspired comedy series The Crew as up-and-coming race car driver Jessie de la Cruz, who is trying to bump Jake Martin . The following year, Robinson became the first woman to earn the pole position in a NASCAR race. . Don't miss a story! Sara Christians fire suit is on display in Heritage Speedway on the top floor of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Erin Mary Crocker Evernham gave birth to a daughter, Cate Susan Evernham, on July 25, 2015. Although diagnosed with cancer in 2014, Robinson underwent several treatments and finally became cancer-free in 2015. Leilani Munter - American Indianapolis 500 career earnings: $2,865,240. Patty Moise made a record 133 Xfinity Series starts between 1986 and 1998 and Tammy Jo Kirk scored 37 top-10 finishes and two poles in what was then known as the All Pro Series, before making the first starts for a woman in the Camping World Truck Series. The adrenaline and skill of driving at high speeds resides in the . Born and raised in Washington, Angela Cope is one of this times most famous NASCAR drivers. Christian made seven starts in . 11 August 1983 (age 39) Charlie Christina Martin born. Brehanna Daniels says she thinks about how much her life has changed in just five years. Born in Ontario, she got her degree in Mechanical Engineering. Danica Patrick - First Female NASCAR Driver. Brehanna Daniels is breaking down barriers in NASCAR. The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series formed the Lady Cup, a championship system for female drivers in 2014. She also became the first woman to win the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour race in 2013 (Lucas Oil). All Rights Reserved. Ethel Flock Mobley. Her first race in this series was in the 2010 Kroger 200 (Martinsville) and her last was in the 2020 Vankor 350 (Texas). Zamora debuted in the ARCA Menards Series preseason test session in January 2021. Learn how your comment data is processed. Then in 2018, Trotter was chosen as one of the 12 racers for NASCARS Drive for Diversity. "I feel like for the first time since I've been involved, a lot of those things are starting to be addressed head on and progress is being made," Siegel said. This season, there's a new face on the racetrack, and she's creating history. Meet NASCAR's First Arab-American Female Driver, 21-Year-Old Toni Breidinger The 21-year-old will make her debut at Daytona International Speedway on February 13. Moreover, she finished in 29th position back in 2011, which is also her best. Britany is a young stock car racer competing part-time at the ARCA Menards Series. For the first time in school history, the men's and women's teams earned regional titles in the same season, sweeping the Region 3 titles last Sunday. She managed to grab the 55th position in the race, making her a solid contender to watch out for. She started her career in 2004 through the Xfinity Series, where she made 27 total starts. Darius Days Bio: Family, Contracts And Net Worth, Gus Johnson Bio: Family, Documentary & Net Worth, Mike Conley Net Worth: Charity & Endorsements, Shaun Livingston Bio: Injuries, NBA Championships, Net Worth & Kids, Romain Grosjean Bio: Crash, Wife, IndyCar & Net Worth>>. Although she hasnt participated in the Sprint Cut Series, she is someone to keep an eye on. The 17-year-old became the first female driver to win a K&N Pro Series race, taking the checkered flag in . Sara Christian was the first female driver in NASCAR history. "It is very low. Since then, only 15 pit crew members have been women, according to NASCAR. 107 women have qualified for and started at least one race in one of NASCARs touring series, including 16 at NASCARs premier level. 15 and No. Then in 2015, Long joined Obika Racing. Her love for racing began in her husbands short-track stock car. She announced to run for the District position on the Cherokee County, Alabama Commission post in 2008. Toni Breidinger is the first Arab-American female driver in NASCAR history. Christians next race was even better, as she finished fifth at Pittsburghs Heidelberg Raceway. No. Since 2004, NASCAR has worked to develop female and ethnically diverse drivers through its Drive for Diversity Program. "You . She became the first female race car driver to win a Cup Series . Sara Christian's fifth-place finish in 1949 tops among the best finishes by a female race driver at a professional level. Dominique Van Wieringen is a Canadian stock car racer racing part-time at the ARCA Menards for Rette Jones. Born and raised in Beloit, Wisconsin, her go-karting fascination started at the age of ten, and it only started to grow further. Shawna is among the top 16 females competing in the NASCAR cup. Kim Crosby, born in 1964, is 58 years old talented NASCAR female driver who has won 10 races over three years. Her racing career started as a spectator and transformed into 38 wins in various NASCAR formats including sportsman, late models, midgets, and modified. Erin Mary Crocket Evernham (Source: MassLive.com). 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. Robinson Signing Autographs For Her Fans (Source: ESPN). 25 cars. Born August 27, 2001, Gracie Trotter is the 2nd female to win a West Series Race. Below is a list of top 10 talented female race car drivers. Another female racer, Louise Smith raced 11 times in the Cup Series between 1949 and 1952, with a best finish of 16 th at Langhorne Speedway in 1949. 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. As her father used to run late models, Long got her inspiration from him. 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. Finally, women are starting to make an impact in NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA, and more. Born and raised in Iowa, now retired, Robinson started her career for the Spring Cup Series in 1995. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images. More power to them! Later, she was signed by Rev Racing in both the years 2019 and 2020. 16 will . 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. From 2012-2018, Danica Patrick competed in 191 Cup Series races, posting seven top-10 finishes, including a best of sixth at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2014. She made her debut in NASCAR Xfinity Series in the 2011 Iowa John Deere Dealers 250 (Iowa) and her last race was in the 2018 Ford EcoBoost 300 (Homestead). She made history by being the first female driver to win West Series races in 2018 and 2019. Best career Indianapolis 500 finish: 3rd in 2009. 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. In 2004, NASCAR started the Drive for Diversity program, hoping to develop a more diverse driver base. Janet Guthries World 600 qualifying plaque is on display in Heritage Speedway at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. In 2016, Patrick led a career high 30 laps and completed more circuits than all but three other drivers. In 2013, Patrick became the first woman in Sprint Cup history to race full-time in the series. Patrick was a novelty that they let in so they could say See we have a woman driver. In 2016, Amber made Canadian history when she became the 1 st Canadian female to win a NASCAR Sanctioned race in the USA. In 2016, she became a NASCAR Drive for Diversity team member and got awarded a Young Racer category prize. NASCAR did not respond to a request for comment about Armstrong's comments. During the Camping World Races of 2010, Long was booked to race only three races but ended up racing seven. Shawna Robinson became the first woman to win a NASCAR Touring Series event in 1988. [15] While the program has succeeded in launching the careers of minority drivers including NASCAR Cup Series race winner Kyle Larson, Camping World Truck Series race winner Bubba Wallace, and 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Daniel Surez, the program's early years were less effective in expanding the roster of female drivers in NASCAR's top touring series. Hailee debuted for NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020 Clean Harbors 200 (Kansas) and 2022 Alsco Uniforms 302 (Las Vegas), respectively. AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series, AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series, AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series, List of female 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers, "Where Are They Now? In 2018, Hailee started driving full-time and won the West Series Championship, making history. Additionally, her NASCAR license has come into question. 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. #10-Danica Patrick made NASCAR history today during Coors Light Pole qualifying for the Daytona 500, becoming the first female driver to win a pole at NASCAR's top level - the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Women began to compete more frequently throughout NASCAR's lower series over the course of the 1990s. 99. That was until recruiters from NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program showed up on her college campus in 2016 and introduced her to the sport. In fact, Nielsen won the championship title twice: in 2016 and 2017. . California-native Breidinger, 21, made her debut in . Robinson is known as a competent racer who left a legacy in the male-dominated industry. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images. In addition, she has competed in the complete NASCAR national touring series, ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde and Charlotte/Daytona Dash Series. "You see that symbol, you know that it evokes these feelings of hatred and racial denigration. 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. She competed in over 100 NASCAR racing events. Though NASCAR reports that developing diversity in racing is extremely important to them, it does seem strange that officials for the organization have spent a significant amount of time reiterating that Tia Norfleet, a hopeful driver looking to someday progress her career by announcing her future racing goals, is not yet a fully-licensed NASCAR or ARCA driver. Though there have been strides over the years to diversify the male-dominated sport of auto racing, there are currently no female drivers competing at NASCAR's highest level, the Cup Series. Moving forward, they will continue to pave their way in the male-dominated field. Plan a visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and purchase tickets at NASCARHall.com/tickets. Moise is married to fellow NASCAR driver Elton Sawyer. However, Patrick would finish the race at 38th place after figuring in a crash. [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). She returned to ARCA in 2021 for Youngs Motorsports on a part-time schedule. Gracie Trotter (Source: Twitter) In 2007, she earned the title of the first female driver winner at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Only three have been women of color. France (Class of 2010), Wood set a female speed record at the newly opened Daytona International Speedway, where she ran a lap of more than 130 mph in a Pontiac. Danica is a successful retired NASCAR driver and the first woman to win an Indy Car Series race. Get the latest NASCAR news on driver Hailie Deegan. At age 14, Tia Norfleet decided that she wanted to become a race car driver. 5. Former "Price Is Right" Model Maryeve Dufault Had an Impressive Stint in NASCAR. She received the most popular driver award in THE 2021 and 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Robinson is the first woman to win a top level NASCAR sanctioned race. The following year, Guthrie became the first woman to lead a Winston Cup Series Race under caution at the Ontario Speedway in Canada. 3. She participated in five Winston Cup races between 1987 and 1989 and 133 . However, Patrick would finish 38th after a crash. In the NASCAR Cup Series, which began racing in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, women competed in the very first race at the old 0.75-mile Charlotte Speedway dirt track, near where Charlotte-Douglas International Airport stands today.