Women of Nascar

Top 2. Apr 30, 2004 3:37 PM

» Tom - Re: Female Race Car Drivers

In response to message posted by racergirl:

Hi Racegirl,

There have been quite a few female NASCAR race drivers over the years beginning with Ethel flock back in the 1950's. Of late, the most prominent have been Shawna Robinson and Debbie Renshaw. Robinson had a major Cup ride a couple of years ago in the No. 49 BAM Racing's Dodge, but didn't make it. Believe it or not, there's a lot of chauvinism out there on a race track. Anytime there was a chance to do it, Shawna got slammed into the wall. All a driver has to do is to get underneath of someone and lose control, forcing the outside car into the wall. There have been some drivers that have intentionally drove into a corner too hard and got underneath another driver's car and used them as a pick to keep going as they bounced off of the outside car putting it into the wall. Then they are usually able to keep on going as the other car slows them down enough to make it through the corner, gaining positions. Shawna Robinson was the "pick" on more than one occasion mainly because she was a female in a man's world.

The latest female tragedy was Debbie Renshaw, an up and coming race driver that was soon to reach big time star status in Cup racing. NASCAR President Mike Helton even indorsed her moving into the big time after she was put down at the Nashville Fairgrounds track. It seems that she beat a bunch of good old boys and they challenged her with a formal complaint, which cost her more than she could handle. As it turned out, the one that challenged her lost, but the damage to her was done. Mike Helton still backed her and she moved into NASCAR. While testing a Busch Series car in preparation for a race at Charlotte, she didn't slow her car down during a caution and hit a disabled car on the track, instantly killing its driver, Eric Martin. The wreck also broke her right ankle in several places, putting her out of commission for months. There was a maddening controversy surrounding the wreck, and eventually, the owner that had contracted her to race his Busch Series car pulled the plug on her. He used the excuse of her debilitating injuries for dropping her, but most folks feel that he caved under the pressure of public opinion over her killing of Eric Martin. Read about the situation and the article from a link in This Discussion .

-- posted by Tom

Top 3. Aug 31, 2004 1:12 PM

» kartgirl83 - Re: Female Race Car Drivers

In response to message posted by racergirl:

I am a female driver looking forward to being in nascar. I currently finished my last championship in go karts, next year I will be driving an outlaw modified in the florida region and if my luck permits it in 3 or 4 years I will be driving in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. You are right there needs to be more female drivers in any and all forms of motorsports. However it is alot harder for women to get into the sport than men, this because sponsors see more future in sponsoring male drivers and because of the stereotype that females are not as good as males. This stereotype of course is wrong but females dont get rides in the best teams and men dont like getting beat by women so they do get taken out alot of the time. Hopefully if I get the oportunity I need to drive in the truck series I will represent females to the best of my ability by first of all finishing the races and second being constant in the top ten.

-- posted by kartgirl83

Top 4. Apr 8, 2005 2:35 PM

» kengreen95133 - Re: Re: Female Race Car Drivers

In response to Re: Female Race Car Drivers posted by kartgirl83:

Please send me your karting/racing resume, bio, and results.

-- posted by kengreen95133

Top 5. Apr 13, 2005 8:05 AM

» ProModPrincess - Re: Re: Female Race Car Drivers

In response to Re: Female Race Car Drivers posted by kartgirl83:

I come from the other side of the motorsports arena, I am a drag racer, and have experienced my share of the sexism through the ranks. I've found that it is difficult to be taken seriously, regardless of talent or experience. I've been racing since 1998, I've finished in the #2 position, and additionally, I work on the car myself, yet it still doesn't always warrant the same respect given to male drivers. I just moved up into the PRO ranks, and am already encountering the backlash, of people telling me that I will "kill" myself out there, or whatnot. I cannot let that stop me, I've worked too hard to get here, and will continue to work hard regardless of what is said.

-- posted by ProModPrincess

Top 6. Apr 20, 2005 1:20 PM

» Giants02122 - Re: Re: Re: Female Race Car Drivers

In response to Re: Re: Female Race Car Drivers posted by ProModPrincess:

I seriously think that Erin Crocker will be the best female driver out there. No question in my mind, because let me tell all of you something, not being in a stock car for very long, comes to the ARCA RE/MAX Series, then wins the pole, finishes 6th, is just amazing in her first ARCA start.

Don't get me wrong, Debraw Renshaw, Shawna Robinson, Patty Moise, and others have done great things, but Crocker seems to be something else.

I really think that NASCAR should address this problem as serious as they are trying to get NASCAR international.

And, women have been sucessful in racing, don't think for a second they aren't cause they could easily beat a guy named Jeff Fuller any day.

That's my take.

-- posted by Giants02122

Top 7. Jan 23, 2006 9:07 AM

» Bits52 - Re: Re: Female Race Car Drivers

Kartgirl -

I'm a producer in Connecticut and we're developing an episode of a series on the WE network. We're looking for female drivers to appear in a one-hour show. Would love to hear more about you; where you race; wins; cars; etc.

Thanks for your time.

Paul Verbitsky

PS - Can you cc my regular email as well
paul@bluechipfilms.com
Thanks.

-- posted by Bits52