List of female NASCAR drivers

The following is a list of female NASCAR drivers since the association's inception in 1949, along with their stat totals in their NASCAR careers. As of 2015, no female driver has won a race (In 2010, Johanna Long won the Snowball Derby, which frequently attracts various NASCAR drivers, being the second woman to do so, following Tammy Jo Kirk who won the event in 1994). As of 2015, the only female drivers to earn a pole position are Shawna Robinson and Danica Patrick. Most female drivers have started their careers in various open-wheel racing leagues, like the IndyCar Series (Danica Patrick, Janet Guthrie), as well as ARCA (Patrick, Erin Crocker, Tina Gordon). Most female drivers have also raced in either the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series or the Drive for Diversity program. 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.[1]

History

20th century

Janet Guthrie was the first woman to race on a superspeedway after racing in the World 600 in 1976
Danica Patrick clinched the pole position in the 2012 DRIVE4COPD 300, the season-opening race,[2] along with the 2013 Daytona 500

Unlike in the Indianapolis 500, where female participation during the early days were discouraged, NASCAR has allowed female drivers since its start in 1949. The first female driver was Sara Christian, racing in the inaugural NASCAR race at Charlotte Speedway, even though she had Bob Flock finish the race.[3] In the second official race at Daytona Beach and Road Course, Christian was joined by Ethel Mobley and Louise Smith, with Mobley finishing ahead of the 3, at 11th.[4] After 1949, female racers had been dormant until 1976, when Janet Guthrie participated in the 1976 World 600,[5] finishing 15th, ahead of Dale Earnhardt.[6] In 1977, Janet Guthrie, would become the first woman to lead a Winston Cup Series race under caution at Ontario Speedway. In 1986, Patty Moise would become the first woman to lead in a Busch Series race.[7]

In 1989, Shawna Robinson would be the first woman to earn the pole position in any NASCAR Series, earning it in the Goody's Dash Series. In 1994, Robinson would eventually become the first female driver to clinch the pole in any of the 3 major series, at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. In 1988, Robinson became the first woman to win a NASCAR Touring Series event. Also that year, she would win the "Rookie of the Year" and "Most Popular Driver" honors in the Goody's Dash Series.[8]

21st century

In the new millennium, female NASCAR drivers reached a surge with the founding of the Drive for Diversity program in 2004.[9] However, before the program's founding, Shawna Robinson was still one of the few female drivers. In 2001, Robinson would be the first woman to finish a race in the Winston Cup Series since Janet Guthrie in 1980.[8] In 2003, Robinson would also have the first all-female pit crew for a race at Texas Motor Speedway.[10]

In 2010, IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick joined NASCAR, racing part-time in the K&N Pro Series East and the Nationwide Series.[11] 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.[2] However, Patrick would finish 38th after a crash.[12] In 2012, Patrick would eventually race part-time in the Sprint Cup Series.[13]

In 2011, Snowball Derby winner Johanna Long[14] entered the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at 19 years of age, being the youngest female driver to race in the series.[15] Long would eventually race in the Nationwide Series, making her debut in the 2012 DRIVE4COPD 300, finishing ahead of Patrick by 17 places.[12][16]

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.[17]

In 2013, Patrick became the first woman in Sprint Cup history to have a full-time ride in the series (with Stewart-Haas Racing),[17] 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. Patrick later finished the race in 8th, the highest finish for a woman in the Sprint Cup Series. She also became the first woman to race at every racetrack on the circuit.[18]

In 2014, Patrick became the first woman to race in the 2014 Sprint Unlimited. At Talladega she became the first woman to lead laps there. That year she had three top 10 finishes with her best finish of sixth at Atlanta.

In 2015, Patrick tied Janet Guthrie for most top ten finishes for a woman with a 7th-place finish at Martinsville. A few weeks later she passed Guthrie for the most top ten finishes for a woman in Sprint Cup history at Bristol. At Michigan she became the first woman to lead under green on a non-restrictor plate track. At Kentucky, Patrick became the first woman to make 100 starts in NASCAR's Cup Series.

Drivers

All statistics used in these tables are as of March 29, 2016.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Sprint Cup Series

Formerly Strictly Stock Series, Grand National Series, Winston Cup Series and Nextel Cup Series

Driver No. Debut Season Starts Wins Top 5s Top 10s Poles Best Points Finish
Christine Beckers[19] Belgium Retired 1977 1 0 0 0 0 N/A
Ann Bunselmeyer[19] United States Retired 1950 1 0 0 0 0 126th (1950)
Ann Chester[19] United States Retired 1950 2 0 0 0 0 N/A
Sara Christian United States Deceased 1949 7 0 1 2 0 13th (1949)
Janet Guthrie[20] United States Retired 1976 33 0 0 5 0 23rd (1977)
Lella Lombardi[19] Italy Deceased 1977 1 0 0 0 0 N/A
Robin McCall[19] United States Retired 1982 2 0 0 0 0 74th (1982)
Ethel Mobley[21] United States Deceased 1949 2 0 0 0 0 52nd (1949)
Patty Moise[22][23] United States Retired 1987 5 0 0 0 0 59th (1988)
Marian Pagan[19] United States Retired 1954 1 0 0 0 0 N/A
Goldie Parsons United States Retired 1965 1 0 0 0 0 N/A
Danica Patrick[24][25] United States 10 2012 123 0 0 6 1 24th (2015)
Shawna Robinson[26][27] United States Retired 1995 8 0 0 0 0 52nd (2002)
FiFi Scott[19] United States Retired 1955 2 0 0 0 0 216th (1955)
Louise Smith[28][29][30] United States Deceased 1949 11 0 [a] 0 0 0 63rd (1949)

Xfinity Series

Formerly Busch Series and Nationwide Series

Driver No. Debut Season Starts Wins Top 5s Top 10s Poles Best Points Finish
Mackena Bell United States Inactive 2014 1 0 0 0 0 69th (2014)
Jennifer Jo Cobb[31] United States Inactive 2004 28 0 0 0 0 29th (2011)
Amber Cope[32] United States Inactive 2011 2 0 0 0 0 82nd (2011)
Angela Cope[33] United States Inactive 2011 7 0 0 0 0 55th (2011)
Erin Crocker[34] United States Retired 2005 10 0 0 0 0 67th (2006)
Kim Crosby[35] United States Inactive 2004 10 0 0 0 0 72nd (2004)
Maryeve Dufault[36] Canada Inactive 2011 2 0 0 0 0 77th (2011)
Milka Duno Venezuela Inactive 2014 2 0 0 0 0 74th (2014)
Tina Gordon[37] United States Inactive 2001 14 0 0 1 0 51st (2004)
Lisa Jackson United States Inactive 1982 1 0 0 0 0 135th (1982)
Tammy Jo Kirk[38][39] United States Retired 2003 15 0 0 0 0 45th (2003)
Johanna Long[40][41] United States Inactive 2012 42 0 0 0 0 20th (2012)
Debbie Lunsford United States Inactive 1989 1 0 0 0 0 85th (1989)
Patty Moise[22][23] United States Retired 1986 133 0 0 4 0 22nd (1990)
Danica Patrick United States Inactive 2010 61 0 1 7 1 10th (2012)
Mara Reyes[42] Mexico Retired 2005 1 0 0 0 0 131st (2005)
Shawna Robinson United States Retired 1991 61 0 0 1 1 23rd (1993)
Kat Teasdale Canada Inactive 1998 1 0 0 0 0 109th (1998)
Diane Teel United States Inactive 1982 11 0 0 2 0 40th (1983)
Chrissy Wallace United States Inactive 2010 2 0 0 0 0 106th (2010)

Camping World Truck Series

Formerly SuperTruck Series by Craftsman and Craftsman Truck Series

Driver No. Debut Season Starts Wins Top 5s Top 10s Poles Best Points Finish
Jennifer Jo Cobb United States 10 2008 117 0 0 1 0 16th (2014)
Amber Cope United States Inactive 2010 1 0 0 0 0 104th (2010)
Angela Cope United States Inactive 2010 1 0 0 0 0 111th (2010)
Madeline Crane United States Inactive 2015 0 0 0 0 0 N/A
Erin Crocker United States Retired 2005 29 0 0 0 0 25th (2006)
Claire Decker United States 10 2016 0 0 0 0 0 N/A
Natalie Decker United States 14 2016 0 0 0 0 0 N/A
Paige Decker United States 74 2015 1 0 0 0 0 76th (2015)
Gabi DiCarlo[43] United States Inactive 2009 3[44] 0 0 0 0 54th (2009)
Milka Duno Venezuela Inactive 2014 1 0 0 0 0 103rd (2014)
Cassie Gannis United States Inactive 2015 0 0 0 0 0 N/A
Tina Gordon United States Inactive 2003 16 0 0 0 0 25th (2003)
Tammy Jo Kirk United States Retired 1997 32 0 0 0 0 20th (1997)
Johanna Long United States Inactive 2010 24 0 0 0 0 21st (2011)
Teri MacDonald Canada Inactive 2002 7 0 0 0 0 55th (2002)
Alli Owens[45] United States Inactive 2011 0 0 0 0 0 N/A
Deborah Renshaw[46][47] United States Retired 2004 38 0 0 0 0 24th (2005)
Shawna Robinson United States Retired 2003 3 0 0 0 0 72nd (2003)
Natalie Sather[48] United States Inactive 2012 0 0 0 0 0 N/A
Caitlin Shaw United States Inactive 2009 2 0 0 0 0 88th (2009)
Kelly Sutton United States Retired 2003 54 0 0 0 0 26th (2004)
Michelle Theriault[49][50] United States Inactive 2008 6 0 0 0 0 68th (2009)
Chrissy Wallace United States Inactive 2008 7 0 0 0 0 42nd (2008)
Angie Wilson[51][52] United States Retired 2002 4 0 0 0 0 51st (2002)

Other Series

K&N Pro Series East, K&N Pro Series West, Pinty's Series, Whelen Euro Series Elite 1 Division, Whelen Euro Series Elite 2 Division, Whelen Modified Tour, Whelen Southern Modified Tour, etc.

Driver No. Debut Season Starts Wins Top 5s Top 10s Poles Best Points Finish Series
Nicole Behar United States Inactive 2014 16 0 2 11 0 10th (2015) K&N Pro Series West
Mackena Bell United States Inactive 2010 36 0 2 5 0 13th (2013) K&N Pro Series East
Sherry Blakley United States Deceased 1991 29 0 0 0 0 N/A Goody's Dash Series
Jessica Brunelli United States Inactive 2011 9 0 0 1 0 29th (2012) K&N Pro Series West
Kristin Bumbera[53] United States Inactive 2009 8 0 0 0 0 26th (2009 NKNPSE) K&N Pro Series East/K&N Pro Series West
Sarah Cornett-Ching Canada 02 2011 7 0 0 0 0 37th (2015 NKNPSE) K&N Pro Series East/Pinty's Series
Maryeve Dufault Canada Inactive 2010 2 0 0 0 0 44th (2010) Pinty's Series
Melissa Fifield[54] United States 01 2014 25 0 0 0 0 21st (2014 NWMT) Whelen Modified Tour/Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Cassie Gannis United States Inactive 2011 8 0 0 0 0 22nd (2012) K&N Pro Series West
Leslie González Mexico Retired 2005 1 0 0 0 0 N/A Mexico Series
Ali Kern United States 4 2010 6 0 0 0 0 47th (2011 NKNPSE) K&N Pro Series East
Julia Landauer United States 54 2016 1 0 0 1 0 N/A K&N Pro Series West
Francesca Linossi Italy 99 2014 19 0 0 9 0 9th (2015) Whelen Euro Series Elite 2 Division
Toni Marie McCray[55] United States Inactive 2010 2 0 0 0 0 48th (2010) K&N Pro Series West
Erika Monforte Italy 88 2014 14 0 0 2 0 10th (2014) Whelen Euro Series Elite 2 Division
Leilani Münter United States Inactive 2004 0 0 0 0 0 N/A Southeast Series
Hannah Newhouse United States 55 2012 6 0 0 2 0 29th (2015) K&N Pro Series West
Carole Perrin France 54 2012 30 0 3 13 0 10th (2015 NWES Elite 2) Whelen Euro Series Elite 1 Division/Whelen Euro Series Elite 2 Division
Gabriela Prado Brazil 21 2015 9 0 0 0 0 15th (2015) Whelen Euro Series Elite 2 Division
Estefanía Reyes Mexico Inactive 2007 17 0 0 0 0 N/A Mexico Series
Mara Reyes Mexico Retired 2004 28 0 8 20 1 5th (2005 NMS) K&N Pro Series West/Mexico Series
Kenzie Ruston United States Inactive 2013 44 0 7 17 0 6th (2013) K&N Pro Series East
FiFi Scott United States Inactive 1954 4 0 0 0 0 N/A K&N Pro Series West
Ashley Taws Canada Inactive 2008 1 0 0 0 0 44th (2008) Pinty's Series
Kat Teasdale Canada Inactive 1997 2 0 0 0 0 73th (1997) NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
Erica Theiring Canada Inactive 2014 11 0 0 2 0 17th (2015) Pinty's Series
Isabelle Tremblay Canada Inactive 2010 22 0 0 3 0 12th (2011) Pinty's Series
Dominique Van Wieringen Canada 30 2016 3 0 0 1 0 N/A K&N Pro Series East
Angie Wilson United States Inactive 2000 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Goody's Dash Series[56]

Notes

See also

References

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  2. 1 2 Post Comment (2012-02-24). "Danica Patrick wins pole position for Daytona Nationwide race - NASCAR News | FOX Sports on MSN". Msn.foxsports.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
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  4. "1949-02". Racing-Reference.info. 1949-07-10. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
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  6. "1976 World 600". Racing-Reference.info. 1976-05-30. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
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  27. "Shawna Robinson - December 22, 2002". NASCAR.com. 2002-12-22. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
  28. "Louise Smith - December 22, 2002". NASCAR.com. 2002-12-22. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
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  32. "Amber Cope Career Statistics". Racing-Reference.info. 1983-08-18. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
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  48. http://www.catchfence.com/2012/truckseries/03/13/natalie-sather-joins-make-motorsports/
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