Lella Lombardi (1 / 1977) Sarah Christian was the first female NASCAR driver of all time. And that's difficult coming into the sport with little funding and maybe not a lot of seat time," Decker said. Danica Patrick - First Female NASCAR Driver. She competed in the 2018 Daytona 500 and the 2018 Indy 500 before officially retiring from full-time competition. Breidinger hopes programs like Busch Light's will have a "snowball effect" in encouraging more brands to sponsor female drivers. Quick Facts 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. She made history by being the first female driver to win West Series races in 2018 and 2019. Her No. 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. In 2010, IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick joined NASCAR, racing part-time in the K&N Pro Series East and the Nationwide Series. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images. Robinson is the first woman to win a top level NASCAR sanctioned race. The NASCAR fan base is also overwhelmingly white. In 1997, Kirk raced for the Camping World Truck Series and received her best points in the twentieth position. This article was last updated by Bikram Jirel on December 5, 2022. Her last race for NASCAR Xfinity Series was in the 2006 AT&T 250 (Milwaukee). [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. 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. In 2016, she became a NASCAR Drive for Diversity team member and got awarded a Young Racer category prize. Feb 21, 2018. In 1988, Charlotte/Daytona Dash Series (later the Goody's Dash Series) driver Shawna Robinson became the first woman to win a NASCAR Touring Series event, also earning "Rookie of the Year" and "Most Popular Driver" honors. A few compete in the lower levels, but they're looking for their big break. The following year, Guthrie became the first woman to lead a Winston Cup Series Race under caution at the Ontario Speedway in Canada. [10] In 1977, Janet Guthrie would become the first woman to lead a Winston Cup Series race under caution, at Ontario Speedway. However, she is still a racer to watch out for who drives for a team named after Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing and rides a Number ten. 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. Known as The Fastest Woman in Racing, Vicki Wood never competed in a Cup Series race, but in the 1950s, she set speed records on Daytona Beach during NASCAR time trials. She began drag racing and hitting the short track circuit for late model racing, with several top-15 finishes to her name. She was listed as one of the drivers for the #15 truck for Billy Ballew Motorsports as a teammate to Kyle Busch in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck. Although she hasnt participated in the Sprint Cut Series, she is someone to keep an eye on. "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. There is no stopping to Tony Breidinger, and she became the first NASCAR driver of Arab-American heritage in the NASCAR national series. Her last race was back in 1998, and she is now happily retired, leaving her legacy behind. Female NASCAR drivers are proof that stereotypes are often distorted. Photo courtesy of Jared C. Tilton/NASCAR via Getty Images). In 2013, Patrick became the first female driver to win a pole in a Cup Series race when she qualified No. During . 25 cars. Jennifer In Driven 2 Honor Program (Source: U.S. Army). On top of funding, gaining respect in the sport as a woman is another obstacle, she and Breidinger said. In 2004, NASCAR started the Drive for Diversity program, hoping to develop a more diverse driver base. Dominique won Super Late Model Track Champion in 2012 Springport Motor Speedway Outlaw. Darius Days Bio: Family, Contracts And Net Shaun Livingston Bio: Injuries, NBA Championships, Net Who Is Aaron Rodgers Wife? Marie-Claude Charmasson. I prefer drag racing where there are lots of women drivers and they actually win races on TV. During her rally career, she drove the Opel Kadett, Chevrolet Corvette, Opel Commodore, and Chevrolet Camaro. Buddy Baker (1941-2015) Getty Images / ISC Archives. Then in 2015, Long joined Obika Racing. Then she started working for GIC-Mixon in 2005. On January 14, 2020, she signed for Bill McAnally Racing in the ARCA Menards Series West. Brehanna Daniels with ABC News' Faith Abubey. A former NASCAR driver, Danica is one of the most successful women in open-wheel race history. Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for BET. After a 7th place finish in Martinsville a year later, Patrick tied Guthrie for most Top 10 finishes by a female NASCAR driver. 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. Although diagnosed with cancer in 2014, Robinson underwent several treatments and finally became cancer-free in 2015. Her net worth is alleged to be between $1 million and $5 million. In 2007, she earned the title of the first female driver winner at Charlotte Motor Speedway. She worked her way through the local series and was the first female late-model driver to win at Hickory Speedway.. Wallace has made seven Truck series and 2 Xfinity series starts. But like I said, I'm very proud of NASCAR and for all the progress it's made yeah, I love to see it," she said. Her first race was at the 2003 Florida Dodge Dealers and her last was at the 2004 Infineon 200. 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. Young's also announced that she would make her debut in the Truck Series with them in their new part-time No. At Michigan she became the first woman to lead under green on a non-restrictor plate track. Chrissy Wallace. 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. She was a competitive rally driver from 1965 through 1974. On Monday, just ahead of the Daytona 500, Busch Light announced the creation of the Busch Light Accelerate Her Program, a $10 million commitment to sponsor every female driver 21 years or older . 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. Toni Breidinger is the first Arab-American female driver in NASCAR history. In 2015, Patrick tied Janet Guthrie for most top ten finishes for a woman with a seventh place finish at Martinsville. Another female racer, Louise Smith raced 11 times in the Cup Series between 1949 and 1952, with a best finish of 16th Fire up your engines! In Australia, Terri Sawyer[13] won the Moomba 100 NASCAR race at the Calder Park Thunderdome, Melbourne on March 3, 1991 driving a Pontiac. Danica Patrick, a NASCAR driver for women, was born in Beloit, Wisconsin on the 25th of March 1982. In 2016, Patrick led a career high 30 laps and completed more circuits than all but three other drivers. "Let's elevate these women and get them the opportunity and the time and the visibility that they need.". 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. Deegans triumph was the first for a female NASCAR driver since Shawna Robinson three decades back. Starting with her love for go-karting at the tender age of 8, she later progressed to competing in legends cars. Louise Smith (1949-1956) Louise Smith, tied for second female NASCAR driver alongside Ethel, became known as "The First Lady of Racing.". Since 2009, the program has trained 75 gender and ethnically diverse candidates for NASCAR's pit crews. Still, young girls, especially those who have not come from privileged white backgrounds, look up to Tia Norfleet. We don't have to look far to find NASCAR's first ever female driver, because the very first race in June 1949 at Charlotte Speedway in North Carolina happened to have one in it. It wasn't until 2012, 64 years after NASCAR was founded, that it signed its first female pit crew member, Christmas Abbott. Then in 2009, she debuted in NASCAR races, namely ASA Late Model Series, ARCA, and more. Moreover, she finished in 29th position back in 2011, which is also her best. Catching Up With Shawna", "A FIRST IN EURO NASCAR HISTORY: MANAMI KOBAYASHI WINS IN ELITE CLUB DEBUT", "Gracie Trotter Makes History With Las Vegas Victory", "Trucks: Hailie Deegan returns to DGR for 2022 season - NBC Sports", "Toni Breidinger Announces Major Plans for 2022", "Motorsports pioneer Betty Skelton Erde dies at age 85", "HowStuffWorks "1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Chronology", "Patty Moise News, Stats and Info About the Racing Driver", "Racerchicks.com: Racerchicks Shawna Robinson", "Robinson team to feature first all-female pit crew Thursday May 29, 2003 10:11 AM", "Drive for diversity: NASCAR's push to develop minority drivers moving slowly NASCAR Sporting News", "Danica Patrick wins pole position for Daytona Nationwide race", "Unofficial Results | NASCAR Nationwide Series", "NASCAR Danica Patrick to NASCAR a win-win", "TRUCKS: Johanna Long Wins Snowball Derby", "Johanna Long bests Danica Patrick at 2012 Daytona Nationwide Series race NASCAR News | FOX Sports on MSN", "Danica Patrick finishes eighth in Daytona 500", "NASCAR driver Danica Patrick will retire from the track to become a full-time entrepreneur", "Whelen Euro Series News & Notes: Valencia", "Hailie Deegan makes history with K&N Pro Series West win", "Rising NASCAR star Hailie Deegan wins again with last-lap move", "Toni Breidinger to make Truck debut with Young's Motorsports", "Natalie Decker Signs with RSS Racing for Partial Schedule in Reaume-assisted No. She became the first female to compete in a NASCAR official event in 1949. In 2001, Robinson would be the first woman to finish a race in the Winston Cup Series since Janet Guthrie in 1980. Then in 2018, Trotter was chosen as one of the 12 racers for NASCARS Drive for Diversity. Moise is married to fellow NASCAR driver Elton Sawyer. 27-year-old Brehanna Daniels is the first Black female tire changer in NASCAR history. Patrick's racing career began with go-karts in her hometown of Beloit, Wisconsin, at age 10. 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. Breidinger notably introduced the first beauty brand to NASCAR through a sponsorship deal with the Arab-owned Huda Beauty last year. The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program also aims for diversity across the sport, including the crew. She made her debut with the Xfinity series, made 10 starts, and finished 72nd in 2004. . Moving forward, they will continue to pave their way in the male-dominated field. 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. In that first race at Charlotte in 1949, she became the first female driver to compete in NASCARs top division, qualifying 13th and finishing 14th in a Ford owned by her husband, Frank. leads a pack of cars in the Nascar Xfinity Series Go Bowling 250 at Richmond Raceway . She drove an Audi R8 LMS in the 2012 Super GT season, becoming the first female driver in the 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Danica Patrick (191 / 2012-2018) Danica Patrick. "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. The series exists since 2009, but was not officially affiliated with NASCAR until 2012. However, Patrick would finish 38th after a crash. Ann Bunselmeyer (1 / 1950) How NHL Chooses Their International Recruits, Australias horse racing jewels to go ahead as planned. 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 . "It's really difficult to gain respect, be trusted and for someone to really understand that you know what you're doing. Before we get to know the drivers better, let us look at an overview of the list. 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. an office employee by day and a sports storyteller by night. From 1987 to 1989, Moise has driven in 5 Winston Cup races. 16 will . 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. Danica is a successful retired NASCAR driver and the first woman to win an Indy Car Series race. Erin Mary Crocket Evernham (Source: MassLive.com). 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. The top tier of NASCAR, the cup series, has had 16 Female NASCAR drivers in its history. [31] Cobb planned on making her Cup Series debut in the spring Talladega race, driving the No. Patty Moise (5 / 1987-1989 note: Elton Sawyer's wife, plus ran 2 Winston Open's) In September, Trotter became the 4th woman to win a late model race at Hickory Motor Speedway. Natalie Decker sits in her truck during practice for the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series World of Westgate Las Vegas 200 in Las Vegas Sept. 13, 2019. Regardless of having the talent, she had to beg her father to buy her a go-kart when she was nine years old. She recently competed in the 2022 Baptist Health 200 (Homestead). 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. She retired from full-time competition after the 2017 season. Career highlights: Shares distinction of NASCAR's second female driver with Louise Smith, made more than 100 NASCAR Modified starts. 11 August 1983 (age 39) Charlie Christina Martin born. Her victory was the first for a female NASCAR driver since Tammy Jo Kirk won in 1994. [26] In 2016, a record 18 different women started a race in one of NASCAR's touring series. Though he successfully raced motorcycles, drag cars, and stock cars at low-level events, he was never able to raise enough money or sponsorship to actively compete. One of her most impressive performances came in September at the challenging Langhorne Speedway, a circular 1-mile track outside of Philadelphia. Later, she was signed by Rev Racing in both the years 2019 and 2020. 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. 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. Amber Balcaen enters her car at the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Developmental Program in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Oct. 18, 2016. She had further raced at the Xfinity Series and Road Atlanta in 1986. 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 . With NASCAR looking to boost the exposure of female racers, Brittney Zamora is one of the first to stand out. A portion of the commitment will also be reserved for up-and-coming talent, the company said. "It is very low. 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. You have entered an incorrect email address! She returned to ARCA in 2021 for Youngs Motorsports on a part-time schedule. "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.". . Patty Moise has a record of 133 starts for the XFINITY series from 1986-1998. Louise Smith. 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. Brittney Zamora, The First Woman To Win 100-Lap Pro Late Model Feature Race (Source: ENEOS). Natalie Decker is a young and upcoming racer competing part-time at NASCAR Xfinity. . In 2008 at the Camping World Truck, Jennifer made her debut and had 92 starts in total. 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. Twelve years later, Breidinger has become the first Arab American female . Patrick is best known for winning the 2008 Indy Japan 300 and becoming the first woman to win in an IndyCar Series race. There's so many obstacles.". For the 2021 ARCA Menards Series, Grace has decided to race ten races in total but a part-time, driving Number 15 and 25. You Can Also Read About Romain Grosjean Bio: Crash, Wife, IndyCar & Net Worth>>. 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. Shauntia Latrice "Tia" Norfleet may or may not be the first female African-American NASCAR driver. She managed to grab the 55th position in the race, making her a solid contender to watch out for. "You see that symbol, you know that it evokes these feelings of hatred and racial denigration. Jennifer Jo Cobb. ( 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. He said he has faced a lot of resistance in his efforts to bring more diversity to NASCAR but says he remains committed to the mission. "Brehanna was one of those who embraced it, came through the program, excelled," said Max Siegel, the manager of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program. The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series formed the Lady Cup, a championship system for female drivers in 2014. 15 for Rick Ware Racing and becoming the first female driver to race in the series since Patrick's retirement. The First African-American Female NASCAR Driver. While the Drive for Diversity program is keen to celebrate progress, Siegel said that success requires much more work. If you're a Black consumer, it's hard to enjoy the sports or the leisure or the activity when you're surrounded by this ambiance or this effervescence that's racially discriminating.". The 21-year-old, who once only drove go-karts, said racing at Daytona is an "unreal" dream come true. Plan a visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and purchase tickets at NASCARHall.com/tickets. Outside car racing, Patrick is the first woman to host the ESPYs, hosting the latest edition of ESPNs annual award show. 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. But it was in 2016 she changed her tracks towards asphalt races and made her asphalt professional beginning in 2017. 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. Sara Christian was the first female driver in NASCAR history. March is Womens History Month, a 31-day celebration that was formally recognized by the federal government back in 1987. Career Indianapolis 500 starts: 8 (2005-11, 2018) Best career Indianapolis 500 start: 4th in 2005. People tend to assume women are lacking physically and have no road sense of direction. 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. In 2012, Patrick would eventually race part-time . 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). You can check out her Instagram, where she keeps posting pictures of her family. How many women have competed in the NASCAR cup: 16 Female Drivers - Full list here. Later, she was signed by Rev Racing in both the years 2019 and 2020. The Best Female NASCAR Drivers 10. Brehanna Daniels says she thinks about how much her life has changed in just five years. In 2019, Daniels became the first Black woman to pit in NASCAR's historic Daytona 500 race. In 2010, IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick joined NASCAR, racing part-time in the K&N Pro Series East and the Nationwide Series. 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. 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. Since the 20th Century, female drivers have been leaving their mark on NASCAR history. Shawna Robinson competed in all three NASCAR Touring series. She was best known for competing in Modified Division races. As for the 2022 season there are only 2 females running a full season Hailie Deegan[4] and Toni Breidinger. Female NASCAR Driver Stats across the three national series The three national series are: NASCAR Cup, XFINITY and Truck Series . Over the years, some of NASCAR's drivers have also been embroiled in controversies about race. Earning the pole for the 2013 Daytona 500 was a history-making event for Danica Patrick and her Stewart-Haas Racing team. Her awards include Quarter Midgets of the American Female Driver of the year continuously from 1993 to 1995. Patrick removed the implants after having them for seven years. Siegel himself was NASCAR's first highest-ranking Black executive. 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. 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 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. She received the most popular driver award in THE 2021 and 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. 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 . First woman to lead a lap in Indianapolis 500. "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. "I think it's very difficult to reach your full potential without the proper funding. Drivers say more funding is key to supporting women on the track. Former "Price Is Right" Model Maryeve Dufault Had an Impressive Stint in NASCAR. Although, now retired, Danica has successfully won 191 races in seven years of her career. She made her debut at the Daytona International Speedway. Kim Crosby, born in 1964, is 58 years old talented NASCAR female driver who has won 10 races over three years. She finished 28th even though she started 42nd. At age 16, after national success in go-karts, Patrick left high school to race Formula Fords and Vauxhalls in the United Kingdom. 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. Best career Indianapolis 500 finish: 3rd in 2009. No. Kenzie Hemric was selected in 2013 and '14. Patty also appeared in 133 races from 1986 to 1998 for Busch Series. "It's great that men and women can compete in NASCAR. Danica Patrick In 2019 Camping World 500 (Source: Wikimedia). Alumni include NASCAR Cup Series drivers Bubba Wallace and Daniel Suarez. 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. 99. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. However, her biggest accomplishment, she told ABC News, was earning her sponsorship with RV product manufacturer ICON Direct last year. [69] 2020 was the first season of ARCA as a NASCAR-sanctioned series, so this list begins with 2020. In fact, Nielsen won the championship title twice: in 2016 and 2017. . "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.". Which is pretty much the standard for most competitive sports, isn't it? [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. Cope made her beginning in this field through the Xfinity Series back in 2011. Marie-Claude Charmasson is a lesser-known female race car driver who we think deserves more recognition. Angela Cope Inside Her Truck (Source: Wikipedia). Martinsville Speedway is the Cup Series' shortest track. So how come you never hear of the women drivers or see them race on TV? Ann Chester (2 / 1950) Tina also entered for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2003. 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. She is the first female driver to lead a Busch Series event. 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. Since 2004, NASCAR has worked to develop female and ethnically diverse drivers through its Drive for Diversity Program. Christians next race was even better, as she finished fifth at Pittsburghs Heidelberg Raceway. 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. Natalie Decker stands by her truck during qualifying for the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series Corrigan Oil 200 in Brooklyn, Mich., Aug. 10, 2019. Driving in the Northwest Super Late Model Series in 2017 and 2018, Zamora was the 1st female winner.