On September 6th last I included Ashley's first win in Funny Car to my personal picks of NHRA greatest moments. Well, this win has been picked by the fans to be the 8th greatest moment in NHRA history. It had been more than 30 years since Shirley Muldowney (oh that pink pioneer rail) recorded the first win by a woman in Top Fuel dragster, a woman had yet to win in NHRA's Funny Car class.
On April 27, 2008, NHRA reached another milestone when Ashley Force Hood became the first woman to win in a Funny Car. The gorgeous daughter of Funny Car legend John Force had knocked on the door three times before banging it down a-la-force. And this landmark victory came, ironically enough, against her father, who was seeking to achieve a milestone of his own.
 |
| Shirley Muldowney |
Thanks to people like Shirley and Lynn St. James (Indy Car driver) that nowadays we have female competitors in motorsports. I remember Pro Bike sensation Angele Savoy, who later became Sampey. She dominated and won the Pro Bike class three times (2000, 2001, 2002) and is the win-ingest female pro with 41 wins. And Melanie Troxel can be seen steering her In-N-Out Burger sponsored Funny Car down the track at the last races for 2011. She's a proven winner in the jaw-dropping Pro Mod class as well. Also from this category is Leah Pruet-Leduc who has just moved up to Funny Car. In the Pro Stock class Erica Enders will soon collect her first Wally. Crew chief Dave Connolly consistently gives her a car that has the potential to win in the final round. She's got the competition "sweating bullets". Greg Andersen in his own words, "I don't want to go down in history as the first to lose to Erica." Greg, it is just a matter of time!
Getting back to Shirley, in September she was honored as the 2011 recipient of the Mildred Marcum Pioneer Award. Other notable women in drag racing are Karen Stoffer (pro bike), Shelly Anderson (top fuel), Peggy Llewellyn (pro bike) and Hillary Will (top Fuel).
One of these days I have to write one about local women in drag racing. I think I will start with Berginie "Busa girl" Naar and work my way backward.
Thanks for reading
