Contents
Shirley Muldowney
Becoming the first woman to win an NHRA Top Fuel championship.
First NHRA win · Three championships
- Born
- 19 June 1940
- Birthplace
- Burlington, United States
More people
Shirley Muldowney
American drag racer who won three NHRA Top Fuel titles despite intense resistance to women in the sport. She returned to racing after a severe 1984 crash.
Early life
Upstate New York
Grew up around hot rods and began street racing as a teenager.
A first dragster
Her husband Jack taught her to drive and built her first dragster.
Career
- 1958
Dragstrip debut
Began competing at Fonda Speedway.
- 1973
Top Fuel licence
Became the first woman licensed by NHRA to race a Top Fuel dragster.
- 1984–1986
Recovery and return
Underwent extensive rehabilitation after a serious crash before returning to competition.
- 2003
Final season
Retired after a career spanning several drag-racing classes.
Achievements
First NHRA win
Won Top Fuel at the Springnationals in Ohio.
Three championships
Won NHRA Top Fuel titles in 1977, 1980 and 1982.
18 national victories
Won 18 NHRA national events.
Beyond sport
On film
Her life inspired the 1983 biographical film Heart Like a Wheel.
Helping children
Founded Shirley’s Kids to support children in communities connected with drag racing.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Sport authority — career and achievements ↗Photo: Penny Richards. CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
