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NASCAR has had many great champions, heroes on the track and amongst their fans. However one question can simply stump any racing fan, name three women who have raced in NASCAR. Usually they will know at least one female that has been on the track, but even the most die hard of fans have trouble remembering some of the most courageous and strong women in history. Racing takes a lot of money to pay for expensive equipment and qualified employees. NASCAR is known for its big sponsors who shell out big bucks for big name drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon. Not many sponsors are willing to take a chance on a woman and the ones that do, often are unable to give the money necessary to have quality competitive cars. There are a few women that despite the obstacles of money, image, and sexism have had relative success in NASCAR.

Sara Christian was the first woman to compete in NASCAR back on June 19, 1949 at a dirt track in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her career best finish in a race was in Heidelburg, Pennsylvania where she finished fifth. That same year she finished thirteenth in the point standing, but more importantly she inspired other women who dreamed of driving fast cars.

One of the women Sara Christian inspired was Louise Smith. Louise was from a small town in Georgia where women were not treated as equals by men. She met the founder of NASCAR, Bill France Sr. before he had even created the racing division. Three years before the birth of NASCAR Bill France Sr. needed an exciting driver to promote a race in Greenville, South Carolina and he chose Louise even though she had yet to drive a race car. Louise got hooked on racing when she finished third in her first race. She raced modifieds for eleven years between 1946 1956 winning 38 races. During her career she raced hard and wrecked hard, one wreck nearly taking her life and leaving her with four pins along with 48 stitches in her left knee. In 1999 Louise Smith was inducted into the Motorsports Hall Of Fame. She is remembered for her love of the sport and aggressive driving skills.

Another unforgettable woman driver is Ethel Flock Mobley of Atlanta, Georgia. On July 9th, 1949 she qualified for her first NASCAR Grand National race. Ethel also competed against Sara Christian and Louise Smith at the infamous Daytona Beach road course and again in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

Janet Guthrie was born in Iowa City, Iowa on March 7, 1938 and was not your ordinary child. Her pilot father gave Janet flying

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