5 of the Most Important Women in Auto Racing

 5 of the Most Important Women in Auto Racing

By Brian H Cotnoir

Since the first days of auto racing the sport has remained a mostly Male dominated sport.  Women have entered races in NASCAR, NHRA, IndyCar, USAC, World of Outlaws, and even Formula 1!   Some have even gone on to win races in their sport:  Danica Patrick was the only woman to win a race in IndyCar, Erin Crocker is the only woman to have won a race in the World of Outlaws, Erica Enders & Brittany Force have won championships in the NHRA, and most recently Hailee Deegan and Gracie Trottier have won races in the ARCA Menards West Series.  There are well known female pioneers in racing like Janet Guthrie and Ethel Mobley, and there are many more who have gone on to do great things on and off the track, so in Honor of Women's History Month I've decided to talk about 5 of the Most Important women in Auto Racing (in no particular order).

1.)  Kelley Earnhardt Miller

She's Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s eldest daughter, she's co-owner of NASCAR Grand National team, and the mother of a race car driver herself (USAC driver Karsyan Elledge).  Kelley Earnhardt Miller is the Co-owner of JR Motorsports, along with her brother, Dale Earnhardt Jr, cousin Tony Eury Jr., and Rick Hendrick, which has won 3 championships in the Grand National Series.  She also sits on the board of directors for Brandt Agriculture.   Long before she and her brother started their own race team, Kelley was a driver herself competing at local short tracks in Hickory and Myrtle Beach where brother Dale Jr, and half-brother Kerry also raced.   Kelley is largely credited with helping persuade driver Danica Patrick to make the jump from IndyCar to NASCAR.   As far women in the sport go, Kelley Earnhardt Miller is one of the--if not the--most dominant.

2.)  Lella Lombardi

Lella Lombardi is one of two women who has ever started a Formula 1 race.  In her second career started Lombardi finished 6th in a rain shortened running of the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix.  Because the race did not reach 75% completion only half-points were awarded for the race and Lombardi received a half-point for her efforts.   To date, Lombardi is the only woman to have scored a point in Formula 1 (at the time competed only the Top 6 finishers received points).  Lombardi was one-of-eight drivers to be racing that finish, she actually finished ahead of Emerson Fittipaldi, Mario Andretti, Niki Lauda, James Hunt, Mark Donahue, Alan Jones, and Jody Scheckter!   Lombardi's next best finish in Formula 1 was a 7th place that same season at the German Grand Prix.    In her final Formula 1 start she finished 12th at the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix.   The following season, Lombardi made her one and only start in NASCAR at the Firecracker 400.   Sadly, Lella Lombardi passed away in 1992 after a battle with Cancer, she was only 50 years old.   

3.)  Shawna Robinson

Before Danica Patrick came around, Shawna Robinson was the most well-known female driver in NASCAR.  Shawna Robinson was the first woman to start from the Pole in a NASCAR Grand National Series Race, but she unfortunately would be (intentionally) wrecked by Mike Wallace and not get to capitalize on her history making Pole Position.  From 1991-2000, Shawna Robinson really struggled to find sponsorship and quality rides in NASCAR.  In 1999, she nearly shocked the racing world by finishing 2nd to Bobby Gerhart at the season opening ARCA race at Daytona for owner James Finch.  This was also her first start in the ARCA Series.   The following season she'd race for Michael Kranefuss Racing and would finish 6th in the final point standings after finishing in the Top 10 in over half of the races that season, including a Season High 4th place finish at Pocono.  That would be her only full-time season in ARCA.   Shawna Robinson retired from NASCAR after the 2005 season, and now has a successful business and career as an interior designer.

4.)  Jennifer Jo Cobb

I already wrote an article about Jennifer Jo Cobb that I'll leave a link below for, but I'll basically give you a summary of why Jennifer Jo Cobb is important:  226 career starts in the NASCAR Truck Series as an Owner-Driver, and even though she only has one career top 10 finish in her career, it doesn't speak of her importance.   Jennifer Jo Cobb has the most starts by a female driver and female owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, and those are both records that'll probably be around for a long time.   Only one female has more career starts across NASCAR's Top 3 series and it's Danica Patrick (252 career starts; 191 Cup Starts, 61 Grand National starts).   

In Defense of Jennifer Jo Cobb

5.)  Lesa France Kennedy

Lesa France Kennedy is the Granddaughter of NASCAR founder, Bill France Sr.  Liker her father and brother she became a part of the family business.   She started working for her father Bill Jr's company International Speedway Corporation, which owns 13 racing venues on the NASCAR schedule, in 1983.  She has held various roles at ISC such as Secretary, Treasurer, and member of the Board of Directors.  In 2003, she was named Executive Vice President of ISC, and in 2009 became the CEO of ISC following the retirement of her father.  Lesa France Kennedy still serves this position as well as Executive Vice President of NASCAR.  Her son, Ben Kennedy, is a former competitor and winner in the NASCAR Truck Series, and now currently serves as Vice President of Racing Development.