Shirley Muldowney

Shirley Muldowney

Professional Drag Racer (1958 – 2003)

Shirley Muldowney was born in Burlington, Vermont and began street racing in the 1950’s in Schenectady, New York. She obtained her National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) pro license in 1965 and competed in the 1969 and 1970 U.S. Nationals. She won her first major event, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Southern Nationals in 1971, before moving up to the Top Fuel classification in 1973, making her the first woman to get her license. She then won an unprecedented three NHRA Top Fuel Dragster world championships in 1977, 1980, and 1982. She continued her racing career over the next 20 years before retiring at the end of 2003. Shirley Muldowney was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1990, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2004, the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.