MIESHAEL HENRY Makes History as First Black Woman Drag Racer in California

April 24, 2025

• MIESHAEL HENRY made history in 2023 as California’s first Black woman drag racer, piloting “Illicit,” a 1968 Pontiac Firebird with family team D&M Racing LLC. She joins an incredibly exclusive club – only three Black women currently compete in drag racing nationally, in a sport where women make up less than 10% of participants and Black women face even steeper representation challenges.
• Her racing journey connects to trailblazers like CHERYL LINN GLASS, the first Black woman sprint car racer who earned “Rookie of the Year” before buying her first car at 18, and “Nitro” NELLIE GOINS, who broke funny car barriers in the late 1960s. MIESHAEL’s path began two years ago when she finally got behind the wheel after growing up around her father Michael’s racing career, though her mother initially opposed it for six years due to safety concerns.
• The Henry family’s D&M Racing team, founded in 2002, has proven their competitive edge with victories at Sonoma Raceway, Governor’s Cup Finals, and the 2023 NHRA Nationals Open. While securing sponsorships remains challenging compared to her father’s experience, MIESHAEL has found organizations more willing to support her groundbreaking presence, and she’s leveraging that platform through school visits and her book “I Want To Go Fast” to inspire young Black girls.

california motorsports, d&m racing, denso nhra sonoma nationals, drag racing