Erin Crocker Evernham became the first woman to win a World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series feature race and broke barriers across multiple forms of motorsport before transitioning into broadcasting and business ownership.

EARLY YEARS

Born March 23, 1981, in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, Erin Mary Crocker was the youngest of five siblings in a household where racing wasn’t just a hobby—it was religion[1]. Her father William made sure of that, encouraging all his children to share his passion for speed. Growing up with two older brothers meant Erin wasn’t about to sit on the sidelines and watch. She did everything they did, including playing ice hockey, and started racing Quarter Midgets in Connecticut at just seven years old[2].

By 1997, at sixteen, she’d moved up to Mini Sprints at Whip City Speedway in Westfield, Massachusetts. She promptly became both the youngest driver and the first female to win a race there[3]. That same competitive fire extended beyond the track—Crocker was a varsity athlete in high school, playing lacrosse, tennis, and soccer[4]. When her father died in 1998, part of her love for racing died with him[5]. She enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, in the fall of 1999, seemingly ready to trade the track for textbooks.

OTHER INTERESTS

Racing might have been her first love, but Erin proved she had the brains to match the bravado. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, she wasn’t just another student—she was a standout athlete on the women’s lacrosse team, posting impressive scoring records[6]. She balanced coursework in Industrial and Management Engineering with her athletic commitments, earning her bachelor’s degree in 2003[7]. The combination of technical know-how and competitive drive would serve her well when she returned to racing full-throttle. She also became involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, volunteering her time and racing experience[8].

EARLY SUCCESS

Mike Woodring saw something in Erin that brought her back from her engineering studies to the dirt tracks. In 2001, the seven-time Empire Super Sprints champion offered her a ride, and she didn’t waste it[9]. By 2002, she was wheeling a 360 winged sprint car for Woodring Racing and absolutely killing it—five feature wins, twelve heat event victories, and enough speed to earn the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Outstanding Newcomer Award[10]. She was ranked 14th in the mid-season 360 Sprint Car Driver Poll that year[11].

In 2003, she became the first woman to qualify for the 410 winged sprint class at the Knoxville Nationals in Iowa and was named Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year[12]. The girl who’d stepped away from racing after her father’s death was back, and she was making history. In 2004, driving for Woodring Racing at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California, Evernham became the first female World of Outlaws driver to win a feature race[13]. Twenty years later, that car—restored to mint condition—still represents one of the most significant moments in sprint car racing history.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 1997: Became the youngest driver and first female to win a race at Whip City Speedway[14].
• 2002: Won five feature races and twelve heat events driving a 360 winged sprint car for Woodring Racing; earned National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Outstanding Newcomer Award[15].
• 2002: Won the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame “Wild Card” award[16].
• 2003: Became the first woman to qualify for the 410 winged sprint class at the Knoxville Nationals; named Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year[17].
• 2004: Became the first female driver in World of Outlaws history to win a feature race at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California[18].
• 2005: Won the pole and finished second in the ARCA Re/Max Series event at Kentucky Speedway with a qualifying lap of 173.723 mph[19].
• 2006: Competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Evernham Motorsports[20].

INSPIRATIONS

Her father William was the foundation of everything. He was the one who got her into racing, who encouraged her to keep up with her brothers, who made her believe she belonged in a cockpit. His death in 1998 nearly ended her racing career before it really began[21]. That she came back and achieved what she did stands as a testament to the foundation he built. Later, Mike Woodring gave her the opportunity that reignited her career, believing in her talent enough to put her in competitive equipment when it mattered most[22].

REPUTATION

Erin Crocker Evernham’s legacy is complicated, as it often is for women who break into male-dominated sports. In sprint cars, she earned respect the hard way—by winning. That 2004 World of Outlaws victory wasn’t a fluke or a feel-good story; it was a legitimate win against the best drivers in the world[23]. Her transition to stock cars proved more challenging. Her 2006 NASCAR Truck Series season with Evernham Motorsports didn’t produce the results anyone hoped for, and critics were quick to question whether she belonged[24]. But here’s the thing: she tried. She took the shot. And whether or not the stock car experiment worked, it doesn’t diminish what she accomplished in sprint cars.

Today, she’s a broadcaster with Motor Racing Network’s Winged Nation, bringing her experience and insight to a new generation of fans[25]. She married NASCAR legend Ray Evernham, and the couple welcomed a daughter in 2015[26]. She’s been involved in racing ownership and promotion, including East Lincoln Speedway outside Charlotte, North Carolina[27]. The Biography Channel featured her in their 2006 series “NASCAR: Driven to Win,” recognizing her unique journey[28].

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

In January 2025, Erin made a special appearance at the PPB Motorsports Show in Oaks, Pennsylvania, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her historic World of Outlaws victory. The winning sprint car was on display, a physical reminder of what she accomplished[29]. She participated in a panel discussion with other female racers, including Mares Stellfox and Mallory Kutz, continuing to champion women in racing[30]. As a broadcaster with Motor Racing Network’s Winged Nation, she remains deeply connected to the sprint car world, sharing the sport with fans and providing analysis that only someone who’s been there can deliver[31].

REFERENCES

[1] Erin Crocker: Outlaw Pioneer – The Henry Ford Blog
[2] Erin Crocker Evernham to Celebrate 20th Anniversary
[3] Erin Crocker – Stock Car Racing Wiki
[4] Erin Crocker Biography PDF
[5] Crocker Marked by Determination – KSL
[6] RPI Women’s Lacrosse All-Time Records
[7] Crocker Has Good Coaching – Toledo Blade
[8] Erin Crocker: Outlaw Pioneer
[9] Erin Crocker – WomenInRacing.org
[10] Erin Crocker: Outlaw Pioneer – Henry Ford Blog
[11] Erin Crocker Career Overview
[12] Erin Crocker Knoxville Achievements
[13] Erin Evernham Reminiscences – Racing News
[14] Erin Crocker Facts for Kids
[15] Erin Crocker – Wikipedia
[16] WIX Filters Sponsors Erin Crocker
[17] Erin Crocker Career Highlights PDF
[18] 20th Anniversary Celebration Announcement
[19] Crocker Takes Second – Sun Journal
[20] Truck Statistics: Erin Crocker at Memphis
[21] Crocker’s Determination – KSL
[22] Mike Woodring and Erin Crocker Partnership
[23] Erin Evernham Racing Career
[24] Crocker’s NASCAR Performance Discussion
[25] Erin Crocker Evernham – Wikipedia
[26] Daughter Arrives for Ray and Erin Evernham
[27] Erin Crocker Business Ventures
[28] Biography Channel NASCAR: Driven to Win
[29] PPB Motorsports 2025 Show Appearance
[30] NASCAR Legends Headline 2025 PPB Show
[31] Erin Crocker Evernham – The Loudpedal Podcast