NASCAR has certainly had many women who have taken a large roll in it's organization, both on and off the track. Women have had equal opportunity with NASCAR, proving that they too can compete with the best of them. Thanks to NASCAR's support and acceptance, women have been able to fulfill their passions of racing, and be a part of NASCAR's history.
In the beginning of NASCAR's journey of becoming one of America's favorite motor sport, Louise Smith was NASCAR's first lady on the track. Louise Smith, born July 31,1916 in Barnesville, Georgia began her career with NASCAR in 1946 at the Daytona Beach Road Course (raced on the beach itself). In addition to racing for NASCAR's Grand Nationals (currently known as the Sprint Cup Series), she also raced modified cars, and sportsman cars. "I enjoyed every minute of it." says Louise Smith. In the beginning, when she didn't have a car to enter a race, so she used her husbands personal car; wrecked it, and then told her husband that it was "a lemon". An excuse for not winning the race, as well as wrecking his Ford Coupe. Along with being one of the highlight of many drivers, she also used her charm to advertise for NASCAR. Women had a way with advertising, and Louise was certainly the perfect person for the job. She continued her career as a driver through 1956 with a total of 38 victories. During the 70's she joined NASCAR again as a car owner for several drivers. She also got involved with the Miss Southern 500 Scholarship Pageant at Darlington Raceway. She became the first woman inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999. Louise passed away from cancer at the age of 90 on March 4th 2006. Louise Smith is truly one of the favorites of NASCAR, as well as thousands of fans around the world. And she will forever remain NASCAR's sweetheart.
NASCAR's second female driver was Janet Guthrie, born March 7th 1938 in Iowa City, Iowa. She began racing for NASCAR in 1976 entering a few races, yet unsuccessful finishes until she had a 15th place finish in the Charlotte 600. She drove a Chevy for the First Union National Bank vice president Lynda Ferreri at what was then known as Charlotte Motor Speedway; now called Lowes Motor Speedway. She made history in 1977 when she became the first woman to earn a starting spot in the Daytona 500. During that race her engine failed, and she finished in 12th place; however, she was the top rookie of the race. Due to lack of sponsorship, regardless, she continued racing. But was most pleased by her gradual acceptance by the drivers of NASCAR. And Janet's best Winston Cup finish of 6th place came at Bristol in 1977. Janet Guthrie was induction into the Women's Sports Hall of Fame in 1980, and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame on April 27, 2006.
Shawna Robinson, born November 30,1964 in Des Moines, Iowa began racing NASCAR in 1988 when she was named Rookie of the Year in the Dash Series, and won Most Popular Driver in 1988 and 1989. She finished her Dash Series career with 3 wins and 21 top ten finishes. Shawna made her Busch Series debut (currently known as the Nationwide Series) at the Orange County Speedway in 1991 while driving the #77 Sparky's Famous Hot Dogs car. She continued her racing career through the years racing many track, organizations, etc. In 2001, Shawna joined Michael Waltrip Racing. She raced three races that year with the best finish of 19th at Talladega Superspeedway. Shawna's best Busch Series finish was 10th place, and she also became the first and only woman, to date, who has ever won the pole position with a record of 174.330 mph. at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Her career in the Busch Series concluded in 1995. In 2002, she made seven Winston Cup starts. Her best finish was 24th place in the Daytona 500. In 2003, she drove the #49 Aaron's Chevrolet Silverado for Team Texas, with a pit crew made up of only women, yet another record. Her best finish was 18th place at the Texas Motor Speedway.
Erin Crocker, born March 23, 1981, in Wilbraham, Massachusetts began racing at the age of 7 years old in the Custom Quarter Midget Club, in Thompson, Connecticut. Erin continued on through the years with a variety of other organizations and professional racing circuits. In 2004, Erin joined NASCAR's Busch Series when she had the opportunity to drive for Ford Motor Company in their driver development program. The following year of 2005, she left Ford Motor Company and joined the driver development program for Evernham Motorsports. Erin made her NASCAR debut at Richmond International Raceway driving the #6 Country Crock Dodge for Evernham in the Busch Series. The following race at Dover International Speedway, she qualified 9th, however, wrecked on the 11th lap. A wreck which caused a cracked rib, leading her to sit out of a few scheduled races that year. Her best Busch Series finish was 19th at Gateway International Raceway. In 2006 Erin joined NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series while driving the #98 full-time. To date, her best Truck Series finish of 16th came at both Kansas Speedway and Phoenix Int'l Raceway. Her best qualifying position of 2nd came at Lowe's Motor Speedway. She finished the season 25th in championship points. Ray Evernham decided to close the #98 team after having several struggles during that season on and off the track. Erin has left Evernham Motorsports and will test for Morgan Dollar Motorsports throughout 2008. She will also run a limited 2 race schedule in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Patty Moise, born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida December 29, 1960. As her father was a road racer, she born into a race family. Although racing was in the family, at a young age she didn't have an interest in being a driver. Once she was old enough to drive she began to take a personal interest in the sport. In 1986, Patty ran her first NASCAR Busch Series race at Road Atlanta while driving the #47 Citgo/Red Roof Inns car for Randy Hope, and she was the first woman to lead a NBS event. It was a great beginning for Patty's career. In 1990, Patty married Elton Sawyer, another one of NASCAR's Busch Series drivers. Their time together was especially tough when they both raced against each other in the Busch Series. "I think it's great for us to work together," Patty says; "It allows us to spend time with each other, share information, and support one another. As for racing on the track with Elton, this sport takes such a high level of concentration that you really don't have time to think of others, including my husband. But deep down I can tell you that passing Elton for a win would make an interesting conversation during the ride home." She finished her Busch Series career in 1998 while driving the Ford Taurus owned by Michael Waltrip.
Tammy Jo Kirk, born in Dalton, Georgia on May 6, 1962 was the first female NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series driver in 1991, and in 1994 she was named the Most Popular Driver. And in 1996 she finished sixth in points. She was the first woman to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series while driving for Geoff Bodine Racing in1997. Tammy made her debut at the Walt Disney World Speedway; qualified 9th and finished the race in 24th place. Her best finish came that year at Heartland Park Topeka in11th place. In 1998, she started her own team with her # 51 Ford. Her best finish that year was 13th at Bristol Motor Speedway. She finished 29th in points that year. Unfortunately, due to lack of sponsorship she only entered 13 races, and finally shut down her team in 1999.
In 2003, she returned to NASCAR once again, this time driving the #49 Advil Ford Taurus for Jay Robinson Racing in the Busch Series. Her best finish out of 15 races was 21st place at the Trim Spa Dream Body 250.
Deborah Renshaw born in Bowling Green, Kentucky on October 28, 1975. Deborah began racing dating back to 2001 with other circuits; and finally joined NASCAR during 2004 driving part time. She drove the #29 Ford F-150 for K Automotive Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series. She became the first woman to ever lead a race in that series when she led one lap in the Darlington 200. Deborah joined Bobby Hamilton Racing's driver development program in 2004. She became the first woman to ever run a complete schedule in one of NASCAR's three premier series. She finished in 24th place in points for the Craftsman Truck Series. In December 2006, she married one of NASCAR's drivers Chad Blount.
And finally, Kelly Sutton, born September 24, 1971, in Crownsville, Maryland. In 2000, Kelly joined the NASCAR Dash Series. She only competed in two races, however she pulled off a 16th place finish. She won the Most Popular Driver award in 2002. Sutton made her NASCAR Craftsman Series debut in 2003 while at the Memphis Motorsports Park. She started the race in 34th and finished in 27th. She ran three more races that year, with the best finish of 19th at the season-ending Ford 200. She finally began racing full-time in 2004. Her best race finish was 20th place, and she finished 7th place for NASCAR Rookie of the Year Honors. In 2007 she drove the #51 truck for Billy Ballew Motorsports. In June 2007, Kelly finished 20th at the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200.