[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. Tina also entered for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2003. Ann Chester (2 / 1950) Sarah Christian was the first female NASCAR driver of all time. 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. But here she is, at 27 years old, on the NASCAR pit road, changing tires on race cars and breaking barriers for women and people of color along the way. She won the Snowball Derby in 1994. 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. During the Camping World Races of 2010, Long was booked to race only three races but ended up racing seven. She received the most popular driver award in THE 2021 and 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. She was born on June 25, 1997, in Eagle River, Wisconsin, U.S. Decker has competed at the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series and in 2015, participated in the Drive for Diversity. She retired from full-time competition after the 2017 season. [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. Driver Jennifer Jo Cobb poses for a photo during at Clutch Studios on January 19, 2022, in Concord, North Carolina. Patrick didn't win a race in seven seasons, but her seven top-10 finishes are most among female drivers in NASCAR history. 16 will . 107 women have qualified for and started at least one race in one of NASCARs touring series, including 16 at NASCARs premier level. 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 . "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. Then in 2018, Trotter was chosen as one of the 12 racers for NASCAR'S Drive for Diversity. Tammy Jo Kirk NASCAR Racer (Source: Wikimedia). She led 19 laps of the race, becoming the first woman ever to . Martinsville Speedway is the Cup Series' shortest track. Making her Sprint Cup beginning in 1987, the Jacksonville superstar Patty Moise-Sawyer is one of the 16 best female NASCAR drivers in history. Since 2009, the program has trained 75 gender and ethnically diverse candidates for NASCAR's pit crews. 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. Career Indianapolis 500 laps led: 29. Source: Wikimedia Commons. 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. Although she hasnt participated in the Sprint Cut Series, she is someone to keep an eye on. 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. There's so many obstacles.". Also in 2020, the former K&N Pro Series East and K&N Pro Series West became the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West, respectively. You Can Also Read About Romain Grosjean Bio: Crash, Wife, IndyCar & Net Worth>>. Driving in the Northwest Super Late Model Series in 2017 and 2018, Zamora was the 1st female winner. Learn how your comment data is processed. Patrick later finished the race in eighth place, the highest finish for a woman in the Daytona 500. In addition, she has competed in the complete NASCAR national touring series, ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde and Charlotte/Daytona Dash Series. She used to drive as a full-timer at Bill McAnally Racing in the ARCA West and part-time in ARCA East. Natalie Decker moved up from the Truck Series to the Xfinity Series, where she would run five races in the No. leads a pack of cars in the Nascar Xfinity Series Go Bowling 250 at Richmond Raceway . Photo courtesy of Jared C. Tilton/NASCAR via Getty Images). She has competed in one NASCAR-sanctioned event. "NASCAR hasn't had very much success with the African American community at large because of NASCAR's association with the Confederate flag," Armstrong said. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images. In 2017, Patrick became the first female NASCAR driver to lead the prestigious Coca Cola 600. Over the years, some of NASCAR's drivers have also been embroiled in controversies about race. NASCAR's first Arab American female driver makes her Daytona debut . Angela Cope Inside Her Truck (Source: Wikipedia). In 1955, Wood finished third overall in the Class 4 (Unlimited Displacement) category for U.S. Stock Production Passenger Cars. In 2003, she bagged the Knoxville award for Best Rookie. Her passion for racing began at the tender age of seven, inspired by her father, Brian Deegan. Robinson would later become the first female driver to clinch the pole in any of the three major series, winning qualifying for the March 12, 1994 Xfinity Series Busch Light 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 2023 Nascar Hall Of Fame. Deegan also has a family YouTube channel called The Deegans, where she posts her everyday life and beyond. [5], NASCAR has seen varying levels of participation by female drivers throughout its ranks since the sanctioning body's inception in 1949. [7] Through the 1950s and 1960s, female racers made only a handful of starts in NASCAR's touring series. 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. Since then, only 15 pit crew members have been women, according to . 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. Later that year, she announced that she would be retiring from full-time racing at the end of the 2017 season. Brittney Zamora, The First Woman To Win 100-Lap Pro Late Model Feature Race (Source: ENEOS). [3], Six female drivers: Deegan, Kirk, Patrick, Robinson, Mara Reyes, and Brittney Zamora have won poles. 99. In 2016, Patrick led a career high 30 laps and completed more circuits than all but three other drivers. Throughout his racing career, Bobby dealt with discrimination on and off the track. Born August 27, 2001, Gracie Trotter is the 2nd female to win a West Series Race. Her awards include Quarter Midgets of the American Female Driver of the year continuously from 1993 to 1995. Shawna Robinson became the first woman to win a NASCAR Touring Series event in 1988. She began drag racing and hitting the short track circuit for late model racing, with several top-15 finishes to her name. The majority of the NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup has been finalized for the 2023 season. "When I saw Danica Patrick in the Cup Series, that made me believe that I could somehow, someday be in the Cup series," Balcaen said. NASCAR Driver Hailee Deegan (Source: Wikimedia). 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. She competed in NASCAR's first race on June 19, 1949 at Charlotte Speedway. "You see that symbol, you know that it evokes these feelings of hatred and racial denigration. "It's great that men and women can compete in NASCAR. Ethel Flock Mobley. She also won the 2021 Trans Am Series SGT Class ProAm Challenge. For women competing professionally in the sport, exposure and sponsorships are key to rising in the ranks, but both can be difficult to come by, female NASCAR drivers told ABC News. The Last American Hero. In 2019, Daniels became the first Black woman to pit in NASCAR's historic Daytona 500 race. Toni Breidinger (born July 14, 1999) is an American professional stock car racing driver & Victoria's Secret Model who competes full-time for Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. Let's check out five female NASCAR drivers that deserve a shot in the Cup Series. However, she did not race for Youngs Motorsports as she left them to join Venturini Motorsports in July. Patricia Moise-Sawyer is a former NASCAR driver born on 29 December, 1960 and is married to a former fellow NASCAR driver Elton Sawyer. [12] In her sophomore Dash Series run, Robinson became the first woman to earn the pole position for a NASCAR touring series race. Jennifer In Driven 2 Honor Program (Source: U.S. Army). The top tier of NASCAR, the cup series, has had 16 Female NASCAR drivers in its history. 15 for Rick Ware Racing and becoming the first female driver to race in the series since Patrick's retirement. She also became the first woman to race at every racetrack on the circuit. Moise is married to fellow NASCAR driver Elton Sawyer. Christine Beckers (1 / 1977) She announced to run for the District position on the Cherokee County, Alabama Commission post in 2008. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 27-year-old Brehanna Daniels is the first Black female tire changer in NASCAR history. In 1997, Kirk raced for the Camping World Truck Series and received her best points in the twentieth position. So, Courtney, of course, feels advantages of having a sister as a champion of Funny Car division and father, John Force. "It is very low. At 29 years of age, Amber has successfully utilized her racing platform to be one of motorsport's largest female influencers - Inspiring and motivating others to pursue their dreams . In her career in the NASCAR Xfinity series, she appeared in 15 races in just a year and 32 races in the Camping World Truck. 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. She's continued to set records: In 2013, she became the first female NASCAR driver to take a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole in the 2013 Daytona 500; her eighth place finish is the highest finish . 5. Brittney Zamora. Brehanna Daniels is breaking down barriers in NASCAR. After a 7th place finish in Martinsville a year later, Patrick tied Guthrie for most Top 10 finishes by a female NASCAR driver. But here we have brought you 16 Best Female NASCAR Drivers who prove they are here to change the stereotype. ( 1981-08-24) 24 August 1981 (age 41) Pauline Mayman born 26 May 1928, died 1989 (aged 60-61) Sally Miall born 18 December 1918, died 6 October 2010 (aged 91) Sarah Moore born. Why wouldn't that be talked about?," Daniels said. Tia Norfleet is the daughter of NASCAR driver Bobby Norfleet. 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 . Ann Slaasted (1 / 1950) We believe these NASCAR drivers are the best in their way and working their way up to the top. This season, there's a new face on the racetrack, and she's creating history. She found out about the NASCAR tryout from a friend . Patricia Moise-Sawyer, A Former NASCAR Driver (Source: Twitter). Natalie Decker, 24, who is competing one level below the Cup Series in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season, told ABC News she has looked for sponsorships since she started racing at the age of 9 to help fund the expensive sport. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Passed Indianapolis 500 driver's test: May 8, 2005. Her last race was back in 1998, and she is now happily retired, leaving her legacy behind. Danica Patrick. Robinson is the first woman to win a top level NASCAR sanctioned race. Having a taste of the first race, Sara competed in five more competitions in 1949, finishing sixth and . Kim Crosby, born in 1964, is 58 years old talented NASCAR female driver who has won 10 races over three years. However, Patrick would finish 38th after a crash. In 1954, Betty Skelton Erde drove the pace car at Daytona and set the female stock car speed record. In 1978, Guthrie finished ninth in the Indianapolis 500, while in 1980, she was 11th in the Daytona 500. Chrissy Wallace. The first Daytona 500 was held in 1959. Jennifer Jo Cobb. Only three have been women of color. Some of her other awards are the 2005 Indianapolis 500 Rookie and the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series. Leilani Munter - American She never really had a chance. [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. Don't miss a story! In four of the six races, she finished in the top 15. Richard Petty's 200 wins make him the winningest driver. During her rally career, she drove the Opel Kadett, Chevrolet Corvette, Opel Commodore, and Chevrolet Camaro. In 2012, she became the youngest woman to compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. . The following year, Guthrie became the first female racer to qualify for the Daytona 500, where she finished 12th, and the Indianapolis 500. If NASCAR fans didn't know the name Hailie Deegan before Saturday night, they do now. While some female NASCAR drivers have transitioned or attempted to transition from open-wheel racing and sports car racing (such as Sarah Fisher, Janet Guthrie, and Danica Patrick), most have climbed the stock-car racing ladder (such as Tammy Jo Kirk, Johanna Long, and Shawna Robinson), beginning to race full-sized stock cars in their teenage years. Wedding, Kids & Girlfriends. The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series formed the Lady Cup, a championship system for female drivers in 2014. Who are the most beautiful and talented female racing drivers 10. Breidinger hopes programs like Busch Light's will have a "snowball effect" in encouraging more brands to sponsor female drivers. 23 car, jointly fielded by RSS Racing, Reaume Brothers Racing,[30] and later Our Motorsports. Get to Know These Top Female Drivers. Patty Moise has a record of 133 starts for the XFINITY series from 1986-1998. Christian made seven starts in . Quick Facts She returned to ARCA in 2021 for Youngs Motorsports on a part-time schedule. The last time a woman drove in the Daytona 500 -- the kickoff to the premier racing series -- was 2018, with trailblazer Danica Patrick. 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. Buddy Baker (1941-2015) Getty Images / ISC Archives. 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). [3], 2021 saw a number of milestones for female drivers. Brian Cleary/NASCAR via Getty Images, FILE, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. Patty also appeared in 133 races from 1986 to 1998 for Busch Series. During her NASCAR Xfinity Series career, she finished once in the pole position and once in the top ten. Interestingly enough, the press had a field day confirming that she has never competed in a NASCAR nationwide touring or ARCA-sanctioned event. In 2019, Daniels became the first Black woman to pit in NASCAR's historic Daytona 500 race. She drove an Audi R8 LMS in the 2012 Super GT season, becoming the first female driver in the series. Erin Mary Crocker Evernham gave birth to a daughter, Cate Susan Evernham, on July 25, 2015. 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. Danica Patrick, in full Danica Sue Patrick, (born March 25, 1982, Beloit, Wisconsin, U.S.), American race car driver and the first woman to win an IndyCar championship event. At age 14, Tia Norfleet decided that she wanted to become a race car driver. Deegan grew up competing in off-road racing but made the switch to stock car racing in 2016. 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. Instagram. That year, the series became sanctioned by ARCA and renamed the ARCA Menards Series West, so Trotter became the first female to win in the series under the ARCA name. In 2013, Patrick became the first woman in Sprint Cup history to race full-time in the series. Alumni include NASCAR Cup Series drivers Bubba Wallace and Daniel Suarez. While Bobby Norfleet fought discrimination and disinterested sponsors on the track, he enjoyed inspiring his daughter Tia at home in Suffolk, Virginia. 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. Credit Suisse First Boston Will Have Goldman Sachs-like Partners . Female NASCAR Driver Stats across the three national series The three national series are: NASCAR Cup, XFINITY and Truck Series . Moving forward, they will continue to pave their way in the male-dominated field. There she made 15 starts and ended up in the 45th position. These female racers are setting an example for the females of the next generation. Natalie Decker stands by her truck during qualifying for the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series Corrigan Oil 200 in Brooklyn, Mich., Aug. 10, 2019. Robinson Signing Autographs For Her Fans (Source: ESPN). Similarly, her determination to become a NASCAR racer built up since she was a kid and racing behind the wheels of a go-kart. Marie-Claude Charmasson is a lesser-known female race car driver who we think deserves more recognition. Meet Tia Norfleet, the first African-American female NASCAR driver and daughter of legendary NASCAR driver Bobby Norfleet. Lella Lombardi (1 / 1977) Patrick bagged numerous winnings for women in the auto racing field, including the IndyCar, NASCAR cup, Indianapolis 500, and Daytona 500. Since 2004, NASCAR has worked to develop female and ethnically diverse drivers through its Drive for Diversity Program. Here is the list: Louise Smith (11 starts/from 1949-1952) Another female racer, Louise Smith raced 11 times in the Cup Series between 1949 and 1952, with a best finish of 16th 11 August 1983 (age 39) Charlie Christina Martin born. 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. 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. Jennifer Jo Cobb. In 2015, Patrick tied Janet Guthrie for most top ten finishes for a woman with a seventh place finish at Martinsville. One of her most impressive performances came in September at the challenging Langhorne Speedway, a circular 1-mile track outside of Philadelphia. She managed to grab the 55th position in the race, making her a solid contender to watch out for. 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. Her last race for NASCAR Xfinity Series was in the 2006 AT&T 250 (Milwaukee). 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 . 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. Brehanna Daniels with ABC News' Faith Abubey. It wasn't until 2012, 64 years after NASCAR was founded, that it signed its first female pit crew member, Christmas Abbott. Amber Balcaen is a third generation racecar driver from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 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. 7. The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program also aims for diversity across the sport, including the crew. [I] definitely was like, I'm never getting into NASCAR. Robinson is known as a competent racer who left a legacy in the male-dominated industry. She made her . Born in 1973, Cobb has been an active name in the industry. "It's really difficult to gain respect, be trusted and for someone to really understand that you know what you're doing.