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. Let's check out five female NASCAR drivers that deserve a shot in the Cup Series. 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. Born and raised in Beloit, Wisconsin, her go-karting fascination started at the age of ten, and it only started to grow further. Brehanna Daniels is just 27 years old and changing tires on race cars -- and breaking barriers for women and people of color along the way. 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 . Her skills on the court were an easy fit for the fast-paced needs in a NASCAR pit crew. Christian competed in NASCAR's first race on June 19, 1949 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Earning the pole for the 2013 Daytona 500 was a history-making event for Danica Patrick and her Stewart-Haas Racing team. This post was originally published on July 9, 2021. Richard Petty's 200 wins make him the winningest driver. 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. Starting with her love for go-karting at the tender age of 8, she later progressed to competing in legends cars. Danica Patrick, a NASCAR driver for women, was born in Beloit, Wisconsin on the 25th of March 1982. 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. Although the series has existed since 1953, the series was not officially affiliated with NASCAR until its buyout on April 27, 2018. 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. Career Indianapolis 500 starts: 8 (2005-11, 2018) Best career Indianapolis 500 start: 4th in 2005. Trackhouse Racing. Dr. Ketra Armstrong, a professor of race and inclusion in sports at the University of Michigan, told ABC News. At only 22, she's been helping pave the way for up-and-coming female racers. 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 adrenaline and skill of driving at high speeds resides in the . Here are the Female Drivers with the most stars across the three National Series (Cup, NXS, Truck): Johanna Long Robbins was the winner of the 2010 Snowball Derby at the Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola. Although diagnosed with cancer in 2014, Robinson underwent several treatments and finally became cancer-free in 2015. Therefore, they believe women cant drive, let alone race. During the 1990s many women raced in NASCARs lower series. In 2012, she became the youngest woman to compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Kim Crosby, a NASCAR female driver, was born in Tallahassee in Florida on 8th December 1964. Zamora debuted in the ARCA Menards Series preseason test session in January 2021. Patrick didn't win a race in seven seasons, but her seven top-10 finishes are most among female drivers in NASCAR history. At the age of 12, she progressed to legends car races. She drove the #10 Sticks N Stuff Chevy for Davis Motorsports at Talladega in 2004. This season, there's a new face on the racetrack, and she's creating history. Her net worth is alleged to be between $1 million and $5 million. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images. But she officially started racing in 1993 from the Xfinity Series and then made her Camping World Truck debut in 2003. Still, young girls, especially those who have not come from privileged white backgrounds, look up to Tia Norfleet. Loving racing karts when she was 5, she started to race at the age of 8. She also won the 2010 Snowball Derby. She married fellow short track driver and Kyle Busch Motorsports engineer Hunter Robbins. She retired from full-time stock car racing after the 2018 Daytona 500.[25]. 7. Christian stands alone as the first woman driver in NASCAR history. 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. Despite competing on only six of eight races, Christian finished 13th in points in 1949, her only full season of competition. Toni Breidinger, 21, began racing in the 2021 ARCA season opener at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Saturday. Shawna Robinson competed in all three NASCAR Touring series. Date of Birth: . 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. 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. [3], 2021 saw a number of milestones for female drivers. 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. Below is the list of 10 best female NASCAR drivers of all time to have achieved the seeming inconceivable. Female NASCAR Driver Stats across the three national series The three national series are: NASCAR Cup, XFINITY and Truck Series . In 2005, she also raced in the Camping World Truck, where she made 29 starts in conclusion. At Talladega she became the first woman to lead laps there. 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. Which is pretty much the standard for most competitive sports, isn't it? Career Indianapolis 500 laps led: 29. A blonde among these female NASCAR drivers, she is famous for being the younger sister of Ashley Force Hood which I just mentioned. 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. 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. 82 truck. 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. She made history by being the first female driver to win West Series races in 2018 and 2019. 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. Moreover, she finished in 29th position back in 2011, which is also her best. You don't see that every day in NASCAR. The top tier of NASCAR, the cup series, has had 16 Female NASCAR drivers in its 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. But it was in 2016 she changed her tracks towards asphalt races and made her asphalt professional beginning in 2017. Then, keep on reading our list of best female NASCAR drivers. "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.". 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 . NASCAR did not respond to a request for comment about Armstrong's comments. "There's always room for improvement. Shane Acedera has been writing online sports articles since 2003 but have been a writer and a blogger since high school. 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. A Professional Stock Car Racer, Johanna Robbins (Source: AL.com). Brittney Zamora. Janet Guthrie (33 / 1976-1980) 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. Her first race in this series was in the 2010 Kroger 200 (Martinsville) and her last was in the 2020 Vankor 350 (Texas). The last time a woman drove in the Daytona 500 -- the kickoff to the premier racing series -- was 2018, with trailblazer Danica Patrick. That year, Patrick became the first woman to win the NASCAR Most Popular Nationwide Driver award. One of her most impressive performances came in September at the challenging Langhorne Speedway, a circular 1-mile track outside of Philadelphia. 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. Her first race was at the 2003 Florida Dodge Dealers and her last was at the 2004 Infineon 200. Daniel Suarez. Yet, if she had not pursued her passion, she would not see her days when she had bagged numerous wins and awards. Deegan moved up from the ARCA Menards Series to the Truck Series full-time, continuing to drive for David Gilliland Racing. Since 2009, the program has trained 75 gender and ethnically diverse candidates for NASCAR's pit crews. The Canadian racer bagged her first win at the Spartan Speedway in Mason. Four years later at the invitation of NASCAR founder and chairman William H.G. Louise Smith. Some of her other awards are the 2005 Indianapolis 500 Rookie and the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series. 107 women have qualified for and started at least one race in one of NASCARs touring series, including 16 at NASCARs premier level. Brehanna Daniels with ABC News' Faith Abubey. Passed Indianapolis 500 driver's test: May 8, 2005. 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. By the end of the year, Daniels would make history again, as part of the first female duo in a NASCAR pit crew. 20 Toyota, owned by her family. However, as Tia worked to gain sponsors to advance her driving career, NASCAR officials have allegedly dissuaded any potential partnerships, citing her past. 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. [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. Auto racing has been around for over 100 years, and the sport has been consistently dominated by men. She returned to ARCA in 2021 for Youngs Motorsports on a part-time schedule. She participated in five Winston Cup races between 1987 and 1989 and 133 . Quick Facts Indianapolis 500 career earnings: $2,865,240. Chrissy Wallace. Moise is married to fellow NASCAR driver Elton Sawyer. Don't miss a story! Brian Cleary/NASCAR via Getty Images, FILE, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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? At age 14, Tia Norfleet decided that she wanted to become a race car driver. Brehanna Daniels is breaking down barriers in NASCAR. 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). However, Patrick would finish 38th after a crash. 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. She was best known for competing in Modified Division races. Patty Moise has a record of 133 starts for the XFINITY series from 1986-1998. Then in 2009, she debuted in NASCAR races, namely ASA Late Model Series, ARCA, and more. Similarly, her determination to become a NASCAR racer built up since she was a kid and racing behind the wheels of a go-kart. 5. . [19][20] Long would eventually race in the Nationwide Series, making her debut in the 2012 DRIVE4COPD 300. Baker was named one of the 50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers. 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. As for the 2022 season there are only 2 females running a full season Hailie Deegan[4] and Toni Breidinger. A few compete in the lower levels, but they're looking for their big break. Female NASCAR drivers are proof that stereotypes are often distorted. Deegan debuted in 2018 through NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and has 18 races in her bag in just under three years. Then she started working for GIC-Mixon in 2005. In the 1940s, racing promoter Bill France, Sr. was looking for ways to attract more women to the sport. 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. Meet Tia Norfleet, the first African-American female NASCAR driver and daughter of legendary NASCAR driver Bobby Norfleet. Formerly Busch North Series (19872005), Busch East Series (200607), Camping World East Series (200809) and K&N Pro Series East (201019), Formerly Pacific Coast Late Model Division (195469), Grand National West (1970), Winston West Series (197193), Winston Transcontinental Series (1994), Winston West Series (19952003), West Series (200405), AutoZone West Series (2006), West Series (2007), Camping World West Series (200809) and K&N Pro Series West (201019), Formerly Winston Modified Tour (198593) and Featherlite Modified Series (19942004), Formerly Desafo Corona (200406), Corona Series (200711), Toyota Series (201214), Mexico Series (2015), Note: Only partial statistics available prior to 2008 season, Formerly Mexico T4 Series (200407), Mini Stock Series (200910), Stock V6 Series (201115). During college, the Norfolk State women's basketball point guard said she never once thought about NASCAR as a sport, let alone a career. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. We believe these NASCAR drivers are the best in their way and working their way up to the top. They are basically second class citizens and the men will never let them race in the big time. 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. With NASCAR looking to boost the exposure of female racers, Brittney Zamora is one of the first to stand out. Chevrolet. 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. Robinson also took home Rookie of the Year and Most Popular Driver honors. She was a rival and tied the second female to fellow race driver Louise Smith in 1949. Later, she was signed by Rev Racing in both the years 2019 and 2020. 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). Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images. Deegan also has a family YouTube channel called The Deegans, where she posts her everyday life and beyond. Erin Mary Crocker Evernham gave birth to a daughter, Cate Susan Evernham, on July 25, 2015. She finished the race in fifth place, her best career finish. Danica Patrick. Are you looking for fast and fabulous women in the racing field? While the Drive for Diversity program is keen to celebrate progress, Siegel said that success requires much more work. 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 became the first female race car driver to win a Cup Series . Besides racing, she runs Tinas Dream Ranch business and is also politically active. 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. But here we have brought you 16 Best Female NASCAR Drivers who prove they are here to change the stereotype. In 2016, Patrick led a career high 30 laps and completed more circuits than all but three other drivers. Moving forward, they will continue to pave their way in the male-dominated field. Driving in the Northwest Super Late Model Series in 2017 and 2018, Zamora was the 1st female winner. 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. 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. Sara Christian (7 / 1949-1950) She was also invited to NASCARs 2019 Drive for Diversity. 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.". Jennifer Jo Cobb. She drove an Audi R8 LMS in the 2012 Super GT season, becoming the first female driver in the series. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? In 2016, she became a NASCAR Drive for Diversity team member and got awarded a Young Racer category prize. This year, at the Daytona 500, Siegel said he watched proudly when alumni of the program made up 10% of the field, including NASCAR stars like Bubba Wallace, Kyle Larsen and Daniel Suarez. At age 14, Tia Norfleet decided that she wanted to become a race car driver. Although she hasnt participated in the Sprint Cut Series, she is someone to keep an eye on. Amber Balcaen is a third generation racecar driver from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. "When you're new and then you're also a woman on top of that? Atlanta-based . [12] In 2003, Robinson would also have the first all-female pit crew for a Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.[14]. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? On top of funding, gaining respect in the sport as a woman is another obstacle, she and Breidinger said. While the media paints Tia Norfleet as a liar and a criminal, it seems that she was right on par with other young drivers trying to find their way in the wild world of motorsports. 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. 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 . 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. Even before she started competing in NASCAR, Zamora was a super late model racer. [7] Through the 1950s and 1960s, female racers made only a handful of starts in NASCAR's touring 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. Born in 1973, Cobb has been an active name in the industry. Chevrolet. Her No. She also became the first woman to win the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour race in 2013 (Lucas Oil). However, she did not race for Youngs Motorsports as she left them to join Venturini Motorsports in July. 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. NASCAR, founded in 1948, didn't have its first female pit crew member -- Christmas Abbott -- until 2012. 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 . Since the 20th Century, female drivers have been leaving their mark on NASCAR history. Beyond raising "millions of dollars" just to get on the track, having female drivers paving the way is also crucial, Balcaen said. [3], Six female drivers: Deegan, Kirk, Patrick, Robinson, Mara Reyes, and Brittney Zamora have won poles. Then in 2018, Trotter was chosen as one of the 12 racers for NASCARS Drive for Diversity. "Girl, you are crazy" she told ABC News about what the person she was at 17 would think about her now, a NASCAR pit crew member. During her teens, she slowly moved up to the Auto racing ranks and is now at the age of 21, the only woman with 19 United States Auto Club Wins. Danica Patricks 2013 Daytona 500 pole award is on display in Heritage Speedway at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. She was the first female driver selected to the NASCAR Next program, which highlighted rising young talent. Sara Christian was the first female driver in NASCAR history. In 2001, Robinson would be the first woman to finish a race in the Winston Cup Series since Janet Guthrie in 1980. Larson, a NASCAR cup series driver and an alumni of the Drive for Diversity program, found himself in the pit fire and was suspended after using a racial slur at a virtual race last year. Get the latest top sport news and stories delivered to your inbox. There are two straight-shooting, let's-take-NASCAR-seriously flicks on this list, and "The Last American Hero" is one of them. In 2010, IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick joined NASCAR, racing part-time in the K&N Pro Series East and the Nationwide Series. Although her NASCAR career was brief, what Sara Christian accomplished has more than stood the test of time. "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. [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). NASCAR Driver Hailee Deegan (Source: Wikimedia). Spire Motorsports. Christian made seven starts in . She took her Instagram to announce that she was hired to be a model for Victorias Secret on September 14, 2022. That success is what Siegel said he wants for all his recruits who come through the Drive for Diversity program. "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. an office employee by day and a sports storyteller by night. Young's also announced that she would make her debut in the Truck Series with them in their new part-time No. 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. More power to them! Ann Slaasted (1 / 1950) [16] However, Patrick would finish 38th after a crash. 25 Toyota Camry.. She was the female driver with the most wins in United States Auto Club (USAC) history with 19. At Chicagoland Speedway last June, Venturini Motorsports made history by fielding three female drivers in the same event in Natalie Decker, Leilani Munter and Toni Breidinger. Patricia Sawyer Moise drove in five Winston Cup races from 1987-89 and 133 Busch Series races from 1986-1998. It wasn't even a thought in my mind," she said. At age 16, after national success in go-karts, Patrick left high school to race Formula Fords and Vauxhalls in the United Kingdom. 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. Throughout his racing career, Bobby dealt with discrimination on and off the track. She found out about the NASCAR tryout from a friend . 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. Her passion for racing began at the tender age of seven, inspired by her father, Brian Deegan. She retired from full-time competition after the 2017 season.