The “First Lady of Drag Racing†was and still is a pioneer in auto racing. After becoming the first woman to get a licence from the National Hot Rod Association to drive a Top Fuel dragster, Muldowney went on to win the NHRA Top Fuel championship in 1977, 1980 and 1982. In total she has won a total of 18 NHRA national titles. And she did against a background of hostility to her sex and her talents. A high-school drop out, Muldowney married at 16 to mechanic Jack Muldowney, who … More
No one commands such attention simply by walking into a room. It’s not just the hat, with those ostrich feathers emanating from a bauble centered above the brim. It’s not just the sunglasses, which tend to reflect the bustle around him. It’s not just his height, that 6-foot-2 frame which stands out notably in an era where drivers tend to be much shorter. It’s not just the power of 200 race victories and seven premier-division championships, as much a part of the man as his chambray blue shirts.
It’s the total package, from the tip of his Stetson to the toe of his cowboy boots, usually with sleeves rolled up and a smile on his face and one hand wielding a … More