After no female raced in a decade, Janet Guthrie became the first woman driver to race in a superspeedway when she started the 1976 World 600, finishing in 15th place and ahead of Dale Earnhardt. You don't see that every day in NASCAR. 5. She retired from full-time competition after the 2017 season. Dominique Van Wieringen is a Canadian stock car racer racing part-time at the ARCA Menards for Rette Jones. Sara Christian's fifth-place finish in 1949 tops among the best finishes by a female race driver at a professional level. At only 22, she's been helping pave the way for up-and-coming female racers. Hailie Deegan, American Motorsports Racing Driver (Source: The Tennessean). Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images. Jennifer Jo Cobb. There are few women and minorities represented across the sport. Photo courtesy of Jared C. Tilton/NASCAR via Getty Images). Christian competed in NASCAR's first race on June 19, 1949 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 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. She was a rival and tied the second female to fellow race driver Louise Smith in 1949. [31] Cobb planned on making her Cup Series debut in the spring Talladega race, driving the No. I think that you will get an honest admission from everyone in the sport that there is a ton of work to be done," Siegel said. It wasn't even a thought in my mind," she said. In addition, she has competed in the Indianapolis 500 nine times, the most of any woman. In Australia, Terri Sawyer[13] won the Moomba 100 NASCAR race at the Calder Park Thunderdome, Melbourne on March 3, 1991 driving a Pontiac. Only three have been women of color. Christian, Ethel Mobley and Louise Smith competed in the second official race in Daytona with Mobley finishing ahead of the other two female racers and at 11th overall. She became the first female to compete in a NASCAR official event in 1949. Making her Sprint Cup beginning in 1987, the Jacksonville superstar Patty Moise-Sawyer is one of the 16 best female NASCAR drivers in history. She was a competitive rally driver from 1965 through 1974. [10] In 1977, Janet Guthrie would become the first woman to lead a Winston Cup Series race under caution, at Ontario Speedway. This season, there's a new face on the racetrack, and she's creating history. Born in 1973, Cobb has been an active name in the industry. She took her Instagram to announce that she was hired to be a model for Victorias Secret on September 14, 2022. 2023 Nascar Hall Of Fame. Tia established the "Driven to Read" literacy program, and participated in a variety of racing and charity events, including becoming a proud representative for the National African American Drug Policy Coalition and the Motorsports Institute, Inc. Credit Suisse First Boston Will Have Goldman Sachs-like Partners . Patricia made her debut in Busch Series in 1986 (Road Atlanta), driving the no.47 Buck Regal for Randy Hope. In 2011, she started driving the No. Robinson Signing Autographs For Her Fans (Source: ESPN). Decker ( leftmost in the photo above) is seen as the future. Top 10 Essential NASCAR Stats and Facts. 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 . Twelve years later, Breidinger has become the first Arab American female . NASCAR's program for potential stars, the K&N Pro Series, includes just one female -- 16-year-old Hailie Deegan, daughter of extreme motorcycle athlete Brian Deegan who made her K&N East debut . The following year, Robinson became the first woman to earn the pole position in a NASCAR race. Another female racer, Louise Smith raced 11 times in the Cup Series between 1949 and 1952, with a best finish of 16th "It's a lot easier when you see that it's been done before for you to believe in yourself to achieve that as well.". [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. Patrick was a novelty that they let in so they could say See we have a woman driver. California-native Breidinger, 21, made her debut in . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Later, she was signed by Rev Racing in both the years 2019 and 2020. Brehanna Daniels says she thinks about how much her life has changed in just five years. There are . But it was in 2016 she changed her tracks towards asphalt races and made her asphalt professional beginning in 2017. 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. 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. 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. Below is the list of 10 best female NASCAR drivers of all time to have achieved the seeming inconceivable. Through a new sponsorship opportunity with Busch Light, all three women will be able to gain financial backing and exposure that they hope will encourage more women to enter the profession, both on and off the track. In the 1940s, racing promoter Bill France, Sr. was looking for ways to attract more women to the sport. She is the first female driver to lead a Busch Series event. These women have made history in their field and continue to do so. Then in 2009, she debuted in NASCAR races, namely ASA Late Model Series, ARCA, and more. Marie-Claude Charmasson. Daniel Suarez. The article claimed that she had faced criminal charges in her youth, which Tia has not denied. Her first race in this series was in the 2010 Kroger 200 (Martinsville) and her last was in the 2020 Vankor 350 (Texas). She drove in the first race for the fledgling stock car association on June 19, 1949, on the dirt track at Charlotte Speedway. 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. Before starting her career as a racer, she was a principal of a Louisiana Middle School, where she ended her tenure in 2004, leading to her first race in 2004 at Aarons 312. Earlier this year, Toni Breidinger became the first Arab-American female race car driver to join the NASCAR family. She was best known for competing in Modified Division races. Passed Indianapolis 500 driver's test: May 8, 2005. Ann Chester (2 / 1950) Having a taste of the first race, Sara competed in five more competitions in 1949, finishing sixth and . In 2012, she became the youngest woman to compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Female NASCAR drivers are proof that stereotypes are often distorted. And right now, were also in the midst of a year-long observance honoring NASCARs 75th anniversary, which makes it a perfect time to recognize some notable female racers, most from the sports earliest days. Robinson is the first woman to win a top level NASCAR sanctioned race. She recently competed in the 2022 Baptist Health 200 (Homestead). Her net worth is alleged to be between $1 million and $5 million. Louise Smith (1949-1956) Louise Smith, tied for second female NASCAR driver alongside Ethel, became known as "The First Lady of Racing.". In 2008 at the Camping World Truck, Jennifer made her debut and had 92 starts in total. Buddy Baker (1941-2015) Getty Images / ISC Archives. Ethel Flock Mobley. Johanna Robbins (nee Long) was born on May 26, 1992, and is a historical name in NASCAR history. Born and raised in Iowa, now retired, Robinson started her career for the Spring Cup Series in 1995. Her last race for NASCAR Xfinity Series was in the 2006 AT&T 250 (Milwaukee). In 1978, Guthrie finished ninth in the Indianapolis 500, while in 1980, she was 11th in the Daytona 500. She signed with Black Cat Racing the same year but ended her tenure during Speedweeks. Leilani Munter - American Then in 2015, Long joined Obika Racing. Although her NASCAR career was brief, what Sara Christian accomplished has more than stood the test of time. In four of the six races, she finished in the top 15. In fact, Nielsen won the championship title twice: in 2016 and 2017. . 107 women have qualified for and started at least one race in one of NASCARs touring series, including 16 at NASCARs premier level. Female NASCAR Driver Stats across the three national series The three national series are: NASCAR Cup, XFINITY and Truck Series . [23] In 2014, Patrick became the first woman to race in the 2014 Sprint Unlimited. . 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. "I think it's very difficult to reach your full potential without the proper funding. Kirks last race in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series was the 1998 Sams Town 250 (Las Vegas), and in NASCAR Xfinity Series was the 2003 Ford 300 (Homestead). Robinson is known as a competent racer who left a legacy in the male-dominated industry. "I feel like a lot of women drivers tend to hit a plateau at a certain point and we just can't break through to get to that top level of NASCAR," she said. However, Patrick would finish 38th after a crash. That year, Patrick became the first woman to win the NASCAR Most Popular Nationwide Driver award. Christians next race was even better, as she finished fifth at Pittsburghs Heidelberg Raceway. This isnt a rank-based list. She finished 8th, the highest ever finish for an woman in the Daytona 500. You can check out her Instagram, where she keeps posting pictures of her family. Another woman (Alina Loibnegger) finished second, in the first time ever two women finished 12 in NASCAR history. [69] 2020 was the first season of ARCA as a NASCAR-sanctioned series, so this list begins with 2020. Relatively few women have contested a full season in any of NASCAR's touring series, although this is increasingly common. IndyCar series driver Danica Patrick joined NASCAR in 2010. Then, keep on reading our list of best female NASCAR drivers. One of the most talented female race drivers, Ashley is the daughter of former national drag . 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. "It's really difficult to gain respect, be trusted and for someone to really understand that you know what you're doing. Toni Breidinger made history as the first Arab-American female driver to compete in a NASCAR national series after she made her debut at Daytona International Speedway over the weekend. Indianapolis 500 career earnings: $2,865,240. She was also invited to NASCARs 2019 Drive for Diversity. [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. "I think it's really becoming more intentional in addressing its past, its racist past and things that they can do better to respond to this multicultural generation in this multicultural market in which it operates.". Through one simple child's go-kart, a NASCAR hopeful was born. During the Camping World Races of 2010, Long was booked to race only three races but ended up racing seven. Toni Breidinger, the first Arab American female driver in NASCAR, returned to the ARCA Menards Series for the first time since 2018, joining Young's Motorsports to compete part-time for them as part of the Truck Series team's first foray into ARCA. 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. an office employee by day and a sports storyteller by night. Throughout his racing career, Bobby dealt with discrimination on and off the track. Since then, only 15 pit crew members have been women, according to NASCAR. [3], Six female drivers: Deegan, Kirk, Patrick, Robinson, Mara Reyes, and Brittney Zamora have won poles. Although she hasnt participated in the Sprint Cut Series, she is someone to keep an eye on. 25 cars. Her last race was back in 1998, and she is now happily retired, leaving her legacy behind. The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program also aims for diversity across the sport, including the crew. Interestingly enough, the press had a field day confirming that she has never competed in a NASCAR nationwide touring or ARCA-sanctioned event. 5. "You see that symbol, you know that it evokes these feelings of hatred and racial denigration. The most popular female racer is Danica Patrick who retired early in 2018. Angela Cope Inside Her Truck (Source: Wikipedia). Chevrolet. Hailing from the iconic Wallace family, Chrissy Wallace is the nice of NASCAR legends Rusty Wallace and Kenny Wallace.Her father Mike Wallace was a veteran lower series driver. Driver Jennifer Jo Cobb poses for a photo during at Clutch Studios on January 19, 2022, in Concord, North Carolina. Tony stands out among the male-dominated sports, being just one of the four women to star in the Auto Menard Series this year. Born in Massachusetts, Erin started in the NASCAR field in 2005, where she created ten starts and received the 67th best finish the following year. After fielding a part-time Cup team and winning their first race at Indianapolis last year, Kaulig Racing has taken the next step and will field two full-time Cup teams in 2022.