first female nascar driver first female nascar driver

She is one of the 16 women to ever participate in the NASCAR Cup Series and one of only three female drivers to race in the Daytona 500. How many women have competed in the NASCAR cup: 16 Female Drivers - Full list here. In 1978, Guthrie finished ninth in the Indianapolis 500, while in 1980, she was 11th in the Daytona 500. Robinson Signing Autographs For Her Fans (Source: ESPN). Her victory was the first for a female NASCAR driver since Tammy Jo Kirk won in 1994. Patrick's racing career began with go-karts in her hometown of Beloit, Wisconsin, at age 10. 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 . In the male-dominated sport of car racing, some women have chosen this sport as their career, proved they can compete, and even won the pole position. NASCAR Driver Hailee Deegan (Source: Wikimedia). Feb 21, 2018. Stay up to date with Hailie Deegan news, rumors, updates, analysis, social feeds, and more at FOX Sports. 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. You don't see that every day in NASCAR. "I could not be more proud of what she's accomplished both as an athlete, but she's been amazing with her brand and social media and creating awareness and really getting people excited about the fact that if she can do it, there are other people that can do it," Siegel told ABC News. She also became the first winner in any ARCA-sanctioned series, because there have been no female winners in the main ARCA Menards Series as of April 2021. In 2019, Manami Kobayashi became the third woman to win a race in a NASCAR touring series race. 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. Patrick is best known for winning the 2008 Indy Japan 300 and becoming the first woman to win in an IndyCar Series race. 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. Then in 2018, Trotter was chosen as one of the 12 racers for NASCAR'S Drive for Diversity. Martinsville Speedway is the Cup Series' shortest track. Then she started working for GIC-Mixon in 2005. 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.". Yet, if she had not pursued her passion, she would not see her days when she had bagged numerous wins and awards. In 2014, Danica Patrick had three top 10 finishes including 6th place in Atlanta. Breidinger hopes programs like Busch Light's will have a "snowball effect" in encouraging more brands to sponsor female drivers. In 2019, Daniels became the first Black woman to pit in NASCAR's historic Daytona 500 race. Toni Breidinger says that when she sat behind the wheel of a go-kart at age 9, she knew she would become a race car driver. 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. Trackhouse Racing. In 2016, Patrick led a career high 30 laps and completed more circuits than all but three other drivers. To this day, she remains the only female driver to post a top five in the Cup Series. A former NASCAR driver, Danica is one of the most successful women in open-wheel race history. Top-Ten Finishes by a female driver in the NASCAR Cup Series: Sara Christian, Pittsburgh, 10-2-1949, 5th (out of 23 cars) . In 2010, IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick joined NASCAR, racing part-time in the K&N Pro Series East and the Nationwide Series. Starting with her love for go-karting at the tender age of 8, she later progressed to competing in legends cars. Sara Christians fire suit is on display in Heritage Speedway on the top floor of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Earlier this year, Toni Breidinger became the first Arab-American female race car driver to join the NASCAR family. Her love for racing began in her husbands short-track stock car. "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. Buddy Baker (1941-2015) Getty Images / ISC Archives. 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. 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. It wasn't until 2012, 64 years after NASCAR was founded, that it signed its first female pit crew member, Christmas Abbott. 15 and No. Dominique won Super Late Model Track Champion in 2012 Springport Motor Speedway Outlaw. In 1954, Betty Skelton Erde drove the pace car at Daytona and set the female stock car speed record. Robinson and NASCAR Truck Series driver Jennifer Jo Cobb competed in the 16th installment of The Amazing Race but did not win the contest. Later, she was signed by Rev Racing in both the years 2019 and 2020. In 2013, Patrick became the first woman in Sprint Cup history to race full-time in the series. Jennifer Jo Cobb. Most recently, she was also featured in the video for Maroon 5s Girls Like You single. Plan a visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and purchase tickets at NASCARHall.com/tickets. The following year, Guthrie became the first female racer to qualify for the Daytona 500, where she finished 12th, and the Indianapolis 500. She got the title of the first female driver who won with number one in 2013 racing series. Daniel Suarez. She also became the first woman to win the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour race in 2013 (Lucas Oil). Moreover, she finished in 29th position back in 2011, which is also her best. Earning the pole for the 2013 Daytona 500 was a history-making event for Danica Patrick and her Stewart-Haas Racing team. During . Deegan grew up competing in off-road racing but made the switch to stock car racing in 2016. Since then, only 15 pit crew members have been women, according to . In 2010, IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick joined NASCAR, racing part-time in the K&N Pro Series East and the Nationwide Series. She finished 8th, the highest ever finish for an woman in the Daytona 500. Later, she was signed by Rev Racing in both the years 2019 and 2020. The history of NASCAR started in December 1947. . Richard Petty's 200 wins make him the winningest driver. [3], 2021 saw a number of milestones for female drivers. Another female racer, Louise Smith raced 11 times in the Cup Series between 1949 and 1952, with a best finish of 16th Then, keep on reading our list of best female NASCAR drivers. Robinson is the first woman to win a top level NASCAR sanctioned race. [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. Breidinger notably introduced the first beauty brand to NASCAR through a sponsorship deal with the Arab-owned Huda Beauty last year. In 2008 at the Camping World Truck, Jennifer made her debut and had 92 starts in total. Canadian Stock Car Racing Driver, Dominique Van Wieringen (Source: Instagram). I prefer drag racing where there are lots of women drivers and they actually win races on TV. 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 her debut with the Xfinity series, made 10 starts, and finished 72nd in 2004. . In September, Trotter became the 4th woman to win a late model race at Hickory Motor Speedway. In that race, Patrick became the first female driver to lead a lap in a Cup Series race under green-flag conditions and finished the race in eighth place. She won the Snowball Derby in 1994. Deegans triumph was the first for a female NASCAR driver since Shawna Robinson three decades back. 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. Born in 1973, Cobb has been an active name in the industry. The Busch Light Accelerate Her Program, which is being announced timed to the Daytona 500 this Sunday, marks a $10 million commitment from the brand to sponsor every female driver in NASCAR ages 21 and up over the next three years. This article was last updated by Bikram Jirel on December 5, 2022. Janet Guthries World 600 qualifying plaque is on display in Heritage Speedway at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. In 1998, her full-time career as a racer began, and she flourished to the NASCAR Pro series by 1999. "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. 107 women have qualified for and started at least one race in one of NASCARs touring series, including 16 at NASCARs premier level. Ann Slaasted (1 / 1950) 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. That year, Patrick became the first woman to win the NASCAR Most Popular Nationwide Driver award. Wedding, Kids & Girlfriends. She made history by being the first female driver to win West Series races in 2018 and 2019. Atlanta-based . At age 14, Tia Norfleet decided that she wanted to become a race car driver. California-native Breidinger, 21, made her debut in . Career Indianapolis 500 laps led: 29. From driving go-karts as a child to making history in US motor racing, Toni Breidinger has become the first Arab-American female to participate in Nascar stock car racing. Now at 27, Daniels is NASCAR's first Black female tire changer. In 1997, Kirk raced for the Camping World Truck Series and received her best points in the twentieth position. You can check out her Instagram, where she keeps posting pictures of her family. Source: Wikimedia Commons. 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? 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. 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. Fifi Scott (2 / 1955) The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program also aims for diversity across the sport, including the crew. 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. Although the series has existed since 1953, the series was not officially affiliated with NASCAR until its buyout on April 27, 2018. Patty Moise has a record of 133 starts for the XFINITY series from 1986-1998. This season, there's a new face on the racetrack, and she's creating history. Christians next race was even better, as she finished fifth at Pittsburghs Heidelberg Raceway. The Last American Hero. One of her most impressive performances came in September at the challenging Langhorne Speedway, a circular 1-mile track outside of Philadelphia. Larson, who is half-Japanese, later apologized and said, "I wasn't raised that way.". However, Patrick would finish 38th after a crash. Driving in the Northwest Super Late Model Series in 2017 and 2018, Zamora was the 1st female winner. Patrick bagged numerous winnings for women in the auto racing field, including the IndyCar, NASCAR cup, Indianapolis 500, and Daytona 500. Born and raised in Beloit, Wisconsin, her go-karting fascination started at the age of ten, and it only started to grow further. Kim Crosby, born in 1964, is 58 years old talented NASCAR female driver who has won 10 races over three years. Christian competed in NASCAR's first race on June 19, 1949 at Charlotte Motor 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. Brittney Zamora, The First Woman To Win 100-Lap Pro Late Model Feature Race (Source: ENEOS). 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. These women have made history in their field and continue to do so. The last time a woman drove in the Daytona 500 -- the kickoff to the premier racing series -- was 2018, with trailblazer Danica Patrick. [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. Get the latest top sport news and stories delivered to your inbox. Patricia Sawyer Moise drove in five Winston Cup races from 1987-89 and 133 Busch Series races from 1986-1998. 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. The article claimed that she had faced criminal charges in her youth, which Tia has not denied. 16 will . He won 19 races including the 1980 Daytona 500 and was the first driver to break 200 . 11 August 1983 (age 39) Charlie Christina Martin born. However, as Tia worked to gain sponsors to advance her driving career, NASCAR officials have allegedly dissuaded any potential partnerships, citing her past. So how come you never hear of the women drivers or see them race on TV? In that first Strictly Stock season of 1949, Christian competed in six of the eight races. 5. Siegel himself was NASCAR's first highest-ranking Black executive. The majority of the NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup has been finalized for the 2023 season. The E2 Northeast Motorsports team became the first multicultural team to race competitively in NASCAR, with four black and Latino drivers two in the camping world truck series and two in . She had further raced at the Xfinity Series and Road Atlanta in 1986. So, Courtney, of course, feels advantages of having a sister as a champion of Funny Car division and father, John Force. Toni Breidinger is the first Arab-American female driver in NASCAR history. 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). [12] In her sophomore Dash Series run, Robinson became the first woman to earn the pole position for a NASCAR touring series race. [19][20] Long would eventually race in the Nationwide Series, making her debut in the 2012 DRIVE4COPD 300. 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. However, Patrick would finish the race at 38th place after figuring in a crash. 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. Before we get to know the drivers better, let us look at an overview of the list. Despite competing on only six of eight races, Christian finished 13th in points in 1949, her only full season of competition. Christine Beckers (1 / 1977) Ethel Flock Mobley. Marie-Claude Charmasson. after one of his crew members reported what looked like a noose, rapper Pitbull have invested in the sport, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Dr. Ketra Armstrong, a professor of race and inclusion in sports at the University of Michigan, told ABC News. She started racing by driving road course races at the age of 16 in the IMSA series. ( 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. As of 2023, Tammy is happily retired, makes her living as a motorcycle dealer, and has a net worth of $1.5 million. 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. "You see that symbol, you know that it evokes these feelings of hatred and racial denigration. Photo courtesy of Jared C. Tilton/NASCAR via Getty Images). She has established herself as one of the hottest racing drivers, as well as one of the hottest female athletes in general. Stock Car Racing Driver And Victorias Secret Model, Toni Breidinger (Source: New York Post). The top tier of NASCAR, the cup series, has had 16 Female NASCAR drivers in its history. Only three have been women of color. In 2004, NASCAR started the Drive for Diversity program, hoping to develop a more diverse driver base. Tina also entered for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2003. 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. . Since then, only 15 pit crew members have been women, according to NASCAR. She began drag racing and hitting the short track circuit for late model racing, with several top-15 finishes to her name. [26] In 2016, a record 18 different women started a race in one of NASCAR's touring series. She has run 15 races in the Xfinity Series and 32 races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Toni Breidinger, 21, began racing in the 2021 ARCA season opener at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Saturday. She bagged the 2008 Indy Japan 300, the only woman in the scene. Deegan, Robinson, Danica Patrick, Tammy Jo Kirk and Mara Reyes have won Poles. 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. 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. As her father used to run late models, Long got her inspiration from him. Beyond raising "millions of dollars" just to get on the track, having female drivers paving the way is also crucial, Balcaen said. While the Drive for Diversity program is keen to celebrate progress, Siegel said that success requires much more work. 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. 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. First woman to lead a lap in Indianapolis 500. Ethel [Flock] Mobley (2 / 1949) Over the years, some of NASCAR's drivers have also been embroiled in controversies about race. [23] In 2014, Patrick became the first woman to race in the 2014 Sprint Unlimited. 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. Dominique Van Wieringen is a Canadian stock car racer racing part-time at the ARCA Menards for Rette Jones. She participated in five Winston Cup races between 1987 and 1989 and 133 . For the last twelve years, Siegel and his team have worked to recruit, train and support minorities like Daniels to increase diversity in all areas of NASCAR. Lella Lombardi (1 / 1977) Making her Sprint Cup beginning in 1987, the Jacksonville superstar Patty Moise-Sawyer is one of the 16 best female NASCAR drivers in history. Tony stands out among the male-dominated sports, being just one of the four women to star in the Auto Menard Series this year. "It is very low. Daniels said she has had to tune out a lot of negativity. Toni Breidinger gets ready to race in the ARCA Menards Series Calypso Lemonade 200 in Winchester, Ind., July 31, 2021. Brittney Zamora. Louise Smith: The First Lady of NASCAR. There are . Jennifer Jo Cobb. 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. She began drag racing and hitting the short track circuit for late model racing, with several top-15 finishes to her name. She competed in NASCAR's first race on June 19, 1949 at Charlotte Speedway. You have entered an incorrect email address! Marie-Claude Charmasson is a lesser-known female race car driver who we think deserves more recognition. In 2010, IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick joined NASCAR, racing part-time in the K&N Pro Series East and the Nationwide Series. [5], NASCAR has seen varying levels of participation by female drivers throughout its ranks since the sanctioning body's inception in 1949. 20 Toyota, owned by her family. During the 1990s many women raced in NASCARs lower series. Regardless of having the talent, she had to beg her father to buy her a go-kart when she was nine years old. Danica Patrick - First Female NASCAR Driver. Twelve years later, Breidinger has become the first Arab American female . Fisher was the first female driver to take a pole position in a significant American open-wheel race in 2002. She is the first female driver to lead a Busch Series event. However, her biggest accomplishment, she told ABC News, was earning her sponsorship with RV product manufacturer ICON Direct last year. "It's great that men and women can compete in NASCAR. Furthermore, she's not the first NASCAR driver to have faced arrest. Erin Mary Crocket Evernham (Source: MassLive.com). The first "Strictly Stock" race was held in 1949. Patricia made her debut in Busch Series in 1986 (Road Atlanta), driving the no.47 Buck Regal for Randy Hope. However, she did not race for Youngs Motorsports as she left them to join Venturini Motorsports in July. They are basically second class citizens and the men will never let them race in the big time. Meet Tia Norfleet, the first African-American female NASCAR driver and daughter of legendary NASCAR driver Bobby Norfleet. Tom is the Curatorial Affairs Manager of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and a veteran of more than 20 years in the NASCAR media industry. Ann Bunselmeyer (1 / 1950) "There's always room for improvement. Chevrolet. It wasn't until 2012, 64 years after NASCAR was founded, that it signed its first female pit crew member, Christmas Abbott. Amber Balcaen became the first Canadian woman to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race in the U.S. in 2016. Credit Suisse First Boston Will Have Goldman Sachs-like Partners . 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. [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. She has competed in one NASCAR-sanctioned event. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? In 1955, Wood finished third overall in the Class 4 (Unlimited Displacement) category for U.S. Stock Production Passenger Cars. leads a pack of cars in the Nascar Xfinity Series Go Bowling 250 at Richmond Raceway . In 2013, Patrick became the first female driver to win a pole in a Cup Series race when she qualified No. People tend to assume women are lacking physically and have no road sense of direction. Sara Christian's fifth-place finish in 1949 tops among the best finishes by a female race driver at a professional level. Who are the most beautiful and talented female racing drivers 10. 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. After a 7th place finish in Martinsville a year later, Patrick tied Guthrie for most Top 10 finishes by a female NASCAR driver. In the 1940s, racing promoter Bill France, Sr. was looking for ways to attract more women to the sport. She competed in the 2018 Daytona 500 and the 2018 Indy 500 before officially retiring from full-time competition. 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 married fellow short track driver and Kyle Busch Motorsports engineer Hunter Robbins. Then in 2015, Long joined Obika Racing. 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. As for the 2022 season there are only 2 females running a full season Hailie Deegan[4] and Toni Breidinger. Mistakes are made, words are misinterpreted, and tempers flare. Young's also announced that she would make her debut in the Truck Series with them in their new part-time No. 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. Patricia Moise-Sawyer was a NASCAR driver in the past. 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. 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). Johanna Robbins (nee Long) was born on May 26, 1992, and is a historical name in NASCAR history. Career highlights: Shares distinction of NASCAR's second female driver with Louise Smith, made more than 100 NASCAR Modified starts. . Then in 2018, Trotter was chosen as one of the 12 racers for NASCARS Drive for Diversity. 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. Louise Smith. Meet NASCAR's First Arab-American Female Driver, 21-Year-Old Toni Breidinger The 21-year-old will make her debut at Daytona International Speedway on February 13. 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. Ty Dillon. Jennifer In Driven 2 Honor Program (Source: U.S. Army). [17] In 2012, Patrick would eventually race part-time in the Sprint Cup Series.