Erin Evernham

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  Erin Crocker Evernham made history as the first woman to win a World of Outlaws sprint car race and the first to qualify for the prestigious Knoxville Nationals. This Massachusetts native broke through motorsports’ glass ceiling with a combination of raw talent, athletic versatility, and the kind of fearless determination that turns industry skeptics into believers.

  EARLY YEARS

  Born March 23, 1981, in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, Erin was the youngest of five children who discovered her calling behind the wheel at age seven. While most kids her age were perfecting their bicycle skills, she was tearing up Connecticut tracks in Quarter Midgets, setting the stage for a racing career that would redefine what was possible for women in motorsports. By her sophomore year of high school, she had already claimed her first victory at Whip City Speedway, becoming the youngest driver ever to win a feature there.

  OTHER INTERESTS

  Erin’s athletic prowess extended far beyond the racetrack during her high school years. She competed at the varsity level in soccer, tennis, lacrosse, and skiing, demonstrating the kind of multi-sport athleticism that would serve her well in the demanding world of sprint car racing. This diverse athletic background helped her develop the physical conditioning and competitive mindset essential for success in motorsports. After retiring from racing, she channeled her drive into volunteer work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

  EARLY SUCCESS

  Erin’s transition from Quarter Midgets to serious sprint car competition happened with remarkable speed. By 2001-2002, she was dominating the Empire Super Sprints series with five A-feature wins, 12 heat wins, and setting new track records in 360 sprint cars. Her rapid ascent caught the attention of Mike Woodring, a seven-time ESS champion who became her mentor and team owner. Under Woodring’s guidance, she entered the World of Outlaws series in 2002, immediately establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with in sprint car racing’s premier division.

  NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 1997: Youngest driver to win feature at Whip City Speedway; Rookie of the Year
  • 2001-2002: ESS Outstanding Newcomer Award and 360 Wild Card award
  • 2003: First woman to qualify for Knoxville Nationals; Nationals Rookie of the Year; National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Outstanding Newcomer Award
  • 2004: Victory at Tulsa Shootout; signed with Ford driver development program
  • 2005: Joined Evernham Motorsports driver development program
  • 2006: Full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver with No. 98 Dodge Ram

  INSPIRATIONS

  While specific racing heroes aren’t documented in her early interviews, Erin’s inspiration clearly came from the desire to prove that talent trumps gender in motorsports. Her mentor Mike Woodring played a crucial role in her development, providing both the technical expertise and competitive opportunities that allowed her to showcase her abilities on the sport’s biggest stages.

  REPUTATION

  Erin earned recognition as a genuine trailblazer who opened doors through performance rather than publicity. Her historic World of Outlaws victory and Knoxville Nationals qualification weren’t just “firsts for a woman”—they were impressive accomplishments by any standard. The motorsports community respected her for breaking barriers while maintaining the competitive integrity that defines elite racing. However, her career faced challenges when her relationship with team owner Ray Evernham became public, creating controversy that she later acknowledged negatively affected her racing opportunities.

  FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

  Having stepped away from competitive racing in the late 2000s, Erin now focuses on family life with husband Ray Evernham and their daughter, born in 2015. She continues to engage with the motorsports community through speaking engagements, including appearances at events like the 2025 PPB Motorsports Show, where she shares her experiences as a pioneering female racer and discusses the ongoing evolution of women in motorsports.

  References:

  Motorsports Tradeshow (2025)
  Women in Racing Archives
  Simple Wikipedia (2012)
  The Henry Ford Blog (2021)
  Evernham Motorsports Bio