Jerry Bonkowski


It’s been nearly 38 years since legendary Top Fuel driver Shirley Muldowney (photo) made history by becoming the first female drag racer to win a National Hot Rod Association national event, June 13, 1976 in Columbus, Ohio.
With Alexis DeJoria’s second win of the season and Erica Enders-Stevens’ first win of 2014, both at the last NHRA event two weeks ago at Las Vegas, female drivers are only two wins away from reaching 100 in the sport’s history.
Achieving that milestone could come as early as this weekend’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C.
In total, 14 different women have won an NHRA national event. And with eight females entered in this weekend’s event across all four major pro classes – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – that historic mark could be reached in Sunday’s finals.
“To get the hundredth win for women, it would be amazing,” said Funny Car driver Courtney Force, daughter of 16-time NHRA Funny Car champ John Force. “(It’s) definitely going to be my goal at this point.
“If I had a picture-perfect world, honestly it would be me getting 99 and Brittany (Force) getting a hundred all in this weekend. Obviously, Top Fuel runs after us. That would be a picture-perfect world.
“I definitely hope Brittany gets on that list, too. To get the hundredth, it goes down in the history books. Your name is not going to be coming off that list. It would really be a proud moment if you can have your name next to 100.”
Heading into Friday’s first round of qualifying, Brittany Force and Leah Pritchett are entered in the Top Fuel category. Courtney Force and DeJoria are in the Funny Car class. Enders-Stevens is the only female in the Pro Stock ranks, and three other females will be competing in Pro Stock Motorcycle: Angie Smith, Katie Sullivan and Elvira Karlsson.
“It would be a wonderful accomplishment,” DeJoria said. “It would be great to go in the history books for something like that, for sure. If Erica (Enders-Stevens) gets it, I would be very happy for her. Same with Courtney, Brittany.
“I think we do support each other, but at the same time, we are racers at heart and very competitive. So we would love to get that for ourselves. If it goes to one of the other ones, I’d definitely be supporting that.”
Although retired since her “Last Pass Tour” in 2003, Muldowney has long been an inspiration for female drivers that followed her, including today’s ranks.
“Shirley certainly paved the way for all of the females who have followed in her footsteps,” Enders-Stevens said in an NHRA media release. “She is certainly a hero of mine, a legend in our sport. She’s an idol, she’s awesome.
“I looked up to her and to Angelle (Sampey) and Shelly Anderson Payne. Those were my heroes when I was a little kid going to the racetrack. My dad drove in the sportsman classes. I’d run around and get autographs.
“Those are my three favorite women and I’m sure I stood at the back of their pits more than they wanted to see me. She’s had a huge hand in us being able to accomplish the things we do now.”

 

Thanks to the great stats and PR folks at NHRA, here’s a brief history of female drivers who have competed in the sport, as well as a complete list of all female winners:
The following women (listed in alphabetical order by category) have competed in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel (1: Vivica Averstedt, Dannielle DePorter, Vicky Fanning, Gina Ferraro, Brittany Force, Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Lori Johns, Kim LaHaie, Lucille Lee, Shirley Muldowney, Shelly Payne (Anderson), Cristen Powell, Leah Pritchett, Sue Ransom, Joanne Reynolds, Rachelle Splatt, Melanie Troxel, Hillary Will.
Funny Car (14): Alexis DeJoria, Vicky Fanning, Courtney Force, Ashley Force Hood, Rodalyn Knox, Paula Martin, Shirley Muldowney, Paula Murphy, Cristen Powell, Leah Pritchett, Susie Spencer, Melanie Troxel, Della Woods, Carol Yenter.
Pro Stock (6): Erica Enders-Stevens, Grace Howell, Judy Lilly, Lucinda McFarlin, Shay Nicols, Shirley Shahan.
Pro Stock Motorcycle (16): Dawn Matthews Baugues, Connie Cohen, Vicki Farr, Lori Francis, Linda Jackson, Anne Hansen, Elvira Karlsson, Peggy Lewellyn, Dawn Minturn, Stephanie Reaves, Angelle Sampey, Angie Smith (McBride), Karen Stoffer, Katie Sullivan, Valerie Thompson, Holly Wallace
Female leaders in victories:
1. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle 41 (first at Reading 1996, last at Houston 2007)
2. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel 18 (first at Columbus 1976, last at Phoenix 1989)
3. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock 7 (first at Chicago 2012, last at Las Vegas 1 2014)
4. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle 6 (first at Houston 2004, last at Denver 2011)
5. Melanie Troxel, Top Fuel-Funny Car 5 (first at Pomona 1 2006, TF, last at Bristol 2008, FC)
6. Shelly Payne, Top Fuel 4 (first at Reading 1993, last at Seattle 1996)
Lori Johns, Top Fuel 4 (first at Pomona 1 1990, last at Memphis 1991)
Ashley Force Hood, Funny Car 4 (first at Atlanta 2008, last at Indianapolis 2010)
9. Courtney Force, Funny Car 3 (first at Seattle 2012, last at Epping 2013)
10. Alexis DeJoria, Funny Car 2 (first at Phoenix 2014, last at Las Vegas 1 2014)
11. Lucille Lee, Top Fuel 1 (Atlanta 1982); Cristen Powell, Top Fuel 1 (Englishtown 1997); Peggy Llewellyn, Pro Stock Motorcycle 1 (Dallas 2007); Hillary Will, Top Fuel 1 (Topeka 200.

 

I know a lot of writers come to Tampa Racing. Here's a few more statistics.-Bob

Female pro series world champions:
Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel – 3 (1977, 1980, 1982)
Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle – 3 (2000, 2001, 2002)
NHRA Mello Yello Series victories by female drivers:
1. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, June 13, 1976, Columbus, Ohio
2. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Oct. 10, 1976, Ontario, Calif.
3. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, June 12, 1977, Columbus, Ohio
4. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, July 16, 1977, Englishtown, N.J.
5. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Aug. 7, 1977, Montreal
6. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Feb. 3, 1980, Pomona, Calif.
7. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, June 8, 1980, Columbus, Ohio
8. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Sept. 21, 1980, Seattle
9. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Oct. 19, 1980, Ontario, Calif.
10. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, March 15, 1981, Gainesville, Fla.
11. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, April 26, 1981, Atlanta
12. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, March 14, 1982, Gainesville, Fla.
13. Lucille Lee, Top Fuel, April 25, 1982, Atlanta
14. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, June 13, 1982, Columbus, Ohio
15. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Aug. 22, 1982, Brainerd, Minn.
16. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Sept. 6, 1982, Indianapolis
17. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Feb. 13, 1983, Pomona, Calif.
18. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Oct. 16, 1983, Irvine, Calif.
19. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Oct. 15, 1989, Phoenix
20. Lori Johns, Top Fuel, Feb. 4, 1990, Pomona, Calif.
21. Lori Johns, Top Fuel, April 22, 1990, Atlanta
22. Lori Johns, Top Fuel, May 6, 1990, Memphis
23. Lori Johns, Top Fuel, May 5, 1991, Memphis
24. Shelly Anderson, Top Fuel, Sept. 19, 1993, Reading, Pa.
25. Shelly Anderson, Top Fuel, Feb. 6, 1994, Pomona, Calif.
26. Shelly Anderson, Top Fuel, May 5, 1996, Richmond, Va.
27. Shelly Anderson, Top Fuel, Aug. 4, 1996, Seattle
28. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 15, 1996, Reading, Pa.
29. Cristen Powell, Top Fuel, May 18, 1997, Englishtown, N.J.
30. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 28, 1997, Topeka, Kan.
31. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 17, 1998, Englishtown, N.J.
32. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 20, 1998, Reading, Pa.
33. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Oct. 11, 1998, Memphis
34. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, March 21, 1999, Gainesville, Fla.
35. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 16, 1999, Atlanta
36. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 25, 1999, Englishtown, N.J.
37. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 27, 1999, St. Louis
38. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Oct. 10, 1999, Memphis
39. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 9, 2000, Las Vegas
40. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 7, 2000, Atlanta
41. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 18, 2000, Columbus, Ohio
42. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, July 16, 2000, Denver
43. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 9, 2000, Englishtown, N.J.
44. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, March 25, 2001, Houston
45. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 17, 2001, Columbus, Ohio
46. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, July 8, 2001, Pomona, Calif.
47. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, July 22, 2001, Denver
48. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 3, 2001, Indianapolis
49. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Oct. 7, 2001, Reading, Pa.
50. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Nov. 11, 2001, Pomona, Calif.
51. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 5, 2002, Atlanta
52. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 2, 2002, Chicago
53. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 30, 2002, St. Louis
54. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 2, 2002, Indianapolis
55. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 16, 2002, Reading, Pa.
56. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Oct. 27, 2002, Las Vegas
57. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, March 16, 2003, Gainesville, Fla.
58. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 13, 2003, Houston
59. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 1, 2003, Chicago
60. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 18, 2004, Houston
61. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 16, 2004, Atlanta
62. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Aug. 1, 2004, Sonoma, Calif.
63. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Oct. 10, 2004, Reading, Pa.
64. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Nov. 14, 2004, Pomona, Calif.
65. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 10, 2005, Houston
66. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 26, 2005, St. Louis
67. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 18, 2005, Reading, Pa.
68. Melanie Troxel, Top Fuel, Feb. 12, 2006, Pomona, Calif.
69. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, March 19, 2006, Gainesville, Fla.
70. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 2, 2006, Houston
71. Melanie Troxel, Top Fuel, April 9, 2006, Las Vegas
72. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 21, 2006, Columbus, Ohio
73. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Oct. 1, 2006, Richmond, Va.
74. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, March 18, 2007, Gainesville, Fla.
75. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 1, 2007, Houston
76. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 29, 2007, Atlanta
77. Melanie Troxel, Top Fuel, May 6, 2007, St. Louis
78. Melanie Troxel, Top Fuel, Sept. 16, 2007, Memphis
79. Peggy Llewellyn, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 23, 2007, Dallas
80. Ashley Force Hood, Funny Car, April 27, 2008, Atlanta
81. Melanie Troxel, Funny Car, May 18, 2008, Bristol, Tenn.
82. Hillary Will, Top Fuel, June 1, 2008, Topeka, Kan.
83. Ashley Force Hood, Funny Car, March 29, 2009, Houston
84. Ashley Force Hood, Funny Car, Sept. 7, 2009, Indianapolis
85. Ashley Force Hood, Funny Car, Sept. 6, 2010, Indianapolis
86. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, July 24, 2011, Denver
87. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, July 1, 2012, Chicago
88. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, Aug. 5, 2012, Seattle
89. Courtney Force, Funny Car, Aug. 5, 2012, Seattle
90. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, Aug. 19, 2012, Brainerd, Minn.
91. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, Sept. 30, 2012, St. Louis
92. Courtney Force, Funny Car, Feb. 17, 2013, Pomona, Calif.
93. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, Feb. 24, 2013, Phoenix
94. Courtney Force, Funny Car, June 23, 2013, Epping, N.H.
95. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, Sept. 29, 2013, St. Louis
96. Alexis DeJoria, Funny Car, Feb. 23, 2014, Phoenix
97. Alexis DeJoria, Funny Car, March 30, 2014, Las Vegas
98. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, March 30, 2014, Las Vegas

 

[h=2]IHRA: Muldowney battles back after surgery[/h] Tuesday, 31 May 2016


Steven Cole Smith / Main image by NHRA





When your phone's caller ID says "Shirley Muldowney," you answer. And yes, a year or so ago it was Shirley, the First Lady of drag racing, but she wasn't calling to talk about herself. She was calling on behalf of her friend, former IHRA Top Fuel champ Doug Herbert, who was about to conduct a driving safety school for teens called B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe).
"Can you help get the word out?" she asked.

• Muldowney diagnosed with lung cancer

Typical Shirley. She has this reputation as sometimes being acerbic and contrary, but when a friend needs help, she's there.
Shirley could probably use a little help now; she's recovering from having a lung removed. The lung had a tumor that might have been cancer. At last report, she and her family were still waiting on word, but she is recovering nicely and is in good spirits in a hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina.
If you want to drop her a card, it can be sent to: Shirley Muldowney, c/o Geiger Media Global, 526 Kingwood Drive, Suite 96, Kingwood, TX 77339.
Or you can send her a message through the Shirley's Kids website, which is her charity.
Shirley's history with the IHRA goes back as far as the IHRA itself. Muldowney would post her first national event win at the sanction's Southern Nationals in Rockingham, North Carolina, in 1971, and a runner-up finish at the same race a year later.
A devastating crash in 1983 took her a year to recover from, but she made it back to the track, and ran with the IHRA periodically. One of her more memorable events was in 1997, when she scored a big victory at Norwalk Raceway Park on May 24 when she clocked the quickest and fastest run in IHRA history during a special match race with Doug Herbert.
Muldowney was paired with defending IHRA World Champion Herbert during the track's Budweiser/Coca Cola Fox Hunt, where she clocked the 4.854-second run at 301.30mph to win the first round of competition. She followed that effort with a 4.944-second, 299.10mph pass to win the second and final round of the match race.
Unfortunately, it didn't count in the record books since it was a match race, but in March of 1997 Muldowney, runner-up to Herbert in 1996's IHRA Snap-on Series, set what was then the official IHRA Top Fuel miles per hour performance world record of 294.98 mph.
If anyone can snap back, it's Shirley Muldowney. "I'm a fighter," she says, "always have been, and I'm going to fight this as best I can with everything I've got."

 

NHRA: Muldowney's diagnosis reversed after surgery

Wednesday, 01 June 2016 RACER Staff / Image by NHRA Three-time NHRA Top Fuel legend Shirley Muldowney is home from the hospital after getting some very good news.
Diagnosed with what was believed to be Stage 2 lung cancer and told she would need her right lung remove, her agent, Rob Geiger, announced Friday that the tumor was not cancerous.
While Muldowney did have a tumor, it was benign, albeit severely infected, ESPN reported. But instead of having the entire lung removed, doctors only needed to remove part of it. She is recovering at home.