She's the "Eve" of women on wheels — the first female to earn a driver's license.

[22] In 2016, a record 18 different women started a race in one of NASCAR's touring series. [10] However, Patrick would finish 38th after a crash. Elfrieda started as an aeroplane woman and wing walker before she changed to racing cars when she turned 20. It was never all plain sailing for Lee though; she was just about to start a race in the newly opened Robbins Speedway, Wichita in 1955 when an official came to her pit and told her that she wouldn’t be allowed to compete because she was a woman. [13][17], In 2012, Danica Patrick was voted NASCAR's Most Popular Nationwide Driver, becoming the first woman to receive that award in NASCAR's top three divisions.

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2012 was the first season as a NASCAR-sanctioned series, so the list will be made from 2012 onwards. She died in 1934 at the age of 42 from a stunt-gone-wrong, driving through a wall of fire. "The goal has always been NASCAR. Albania. From: Kansas 5 Major Benefits of Humidifiers, 5 Things That Contribute to a Good Night’s Sleep (And Those That Don’t), How To Choose A Mattress If You Share Your Bed. In 2016, Patrick led a career high 30 laps and completed more circuits than all but three other drivers.

fast women in history | auto racing’s tough female pioneers You have to take your hat off for these incredible women of motor racing history. Later, she went to ARCA Racing Series which is an automobile club and refined her driving skills by joining the Mark Gibson Racing series. 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. Her brief racing career ended with Shirley graduating and opening her own accountancy service.

Three! Registered in England and Wales No. You have entered an incorrect email address! Sara’s most celebrated race was the 1949 NASCAR meet where came fifth (behind four men) – a record finish that wasn’t surpassed until this year when Danica Patrick seized fourth place. In 1986, Patty Moise would become the first woman to lead in a Busch Series race.[8].

She won in her debut in Whelen Euro Series Elite Club Division by lapping just 0.001 seconds from the reference time. Born: 31st January 1916 Born: 1939 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 105.88 mph (170.40 km/h) on the sand, setting a stock car speed record for women. Driving Line® Accelerating Automotive Passion™ by providing a fresh angle of what fuels us. When asked about the prospects of female racing drivers, Stirling Moss once said: “I think they have the strength, but I don’t know if they have the mental aptitude to race hard wheel-to-wheel.”. McCluggage, a legend in the small portion of female drivers, led the way for other women to enter the competition for sports car racing, one was Donna Mae Mimms. The race could have turned out better for Roberta as, unfortunately, she rolled her car three times and it needed hoisted off the track as the photo below will attest. [19] In 2014, Patrick became the first woman to race in the 2014 Sprint Unlimited. [9] In 2003, Robinson would also have the first all-female pit crew for a Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.[11]. She then dived behind the wheel of a professional racing car and soon began making a name for herself. Father Chuck Decker was both a race car and snowmobile racer. We salute you. Hellé Nice, whose real name was Mariette Hélène Delangle, was one of the pioneers of female motor racing.

[3] 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.

You go, girl.

Hats off to each of these 11 inspiring leading ladies. The 1992 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year was the first woman to win that award and one of only a handful of women to ever qualify for the race (sixth in 1994).

Born: Indianapolis, Indiana From: Argonia, Kansas Michele Mouton is arguably the most successful female racing driver of all time. As her website says, "In 2010 in Indy Lights, Pippa had a record year where she became the first female driver to win a pole position at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in any category and only one of two female drivers to be a race winner in Indy Lights. Not only was she the first woman to win the NHRA Top Fuel Championship, but she was also the first person ever to win it three times (1977, 1980 and 1982). She retired from full-time stock car racing after the 2018 Daytona 500.[21]. Desara Muriqi born () 27 May 1985 (age 35) Argentina.

Lella Lombardi turned heads and received nods of approval from the male-dominated Formula One world as she competed in 17 Grand Prix races between 1974 and 1976. But despite not winning the championship, the French driver’s 162 stage wins in the WRC and a notable class victory at Le Mans are certainly a testament to her prodigious driving skills.