Gracie Trotter
NASCAR racing // Denver, North Carolina
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Gracie Trotter rewrote motorsports history in 2020 at just 19 years old, becoming the first female winner in ARCA sanctioned racing with a gutsy three-wide pass at Vegas.
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My spotter said, ‘go, go, go.’ I went for the hole and made it work coming out. … We were going three wide and I just held my line and went for it.
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Gracie Trotter made history in 2020 when she became the first female winner in ARCA sanctioned racing history at just 19 years old. This third-generation racer from Denver, North Carolina turned a sketchy three-wide pass into motorsports immortality at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
EARLY YEARS
Born around 2001 in Denver, North Carolina, Gracie grew up surrounded by the roar of engines and the smell of burning rubber. Her father was a former race team owner in the early 2000s with ties to Hickory Motor Speedway, making racing less of a hobby and more of a family inheritance. Denver’s proximity to regional tracks meant weekend trips to the speedway weren’t just entertainment—they were education. By 18, she was already cutting her teeth in late model stock cars with Rev Racing, piloting the No. 2 Toyota and learning the craft that would soon make her famous.
OTHER INTERESTS
Like many young racers laser-focused on their craft, Gracie’s world outside the cockpit remains largely private. Her public persona centers entirely around her racing career, suggesting a single-minded dedication to mastering the art of going fast and turning left.
EARLY SUCCESS
Trotter’s breakthrough came swiftly once she caught the attention of Bill McAnally Racing. After joining the team for the 2020 ARCA Menards Series West season, she quickly proved she belonged on track with multiple top-four finishes. Her first late model victory at Hickory Motor Speedway—the same track where her father once owned a team—felt like destiny. But it was her eighth ARCA West start that would etch her name in the record books forever. On September 26, 2020, at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, she executed a three-wide pass that would make seasoned veterans jealous, leading 95 of 150 laps to claim the General Tire 150 victory.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2020: Won first late model stock car race at Hickory Motor Speedway
- 2020: Became first female winner in ARCA sanctioned history with victory at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the General Tire 150
- 2020: Led 95 of 150 laps in historic ARCA Menards Series West victory
- 2021: Signed with Venturini Motorsports for ten-race ARCA Menards Series schedule including superspeedways
INSPIRATIONS
Gracie’s inspiration comes from those closest to her racing journey. Her father’s legacy as a former team owner provided the foundation, while longtime late model crew chief Bond Suss has been instrumental in her development. Team owner Bill McAnally took a chance on her talent, giving her the platform to make history. As she put it after her record-breaking win, “Having my dad and my longtime Late Model crew chief, Bond Suss, there with me… Seeing how proud they were in Victory Lane was a memorable moment… we’ve worked really hard for this, so it was very special to have them there!”
REPUTATION
In an industry where respect is earned one lap at a time, Trotter has quickly established herself as a legitimate talent rather than just a feel-good story. Her racecraft speaks for itself—that three-wide pass for the lead in Vegas wasn’t luck, it was skill. As she described the moment: “The two front cars were battling side by side. I took it three-wide, a little sketchy at first, but I made it stick.” Media coverage consistently emphasizes her abilities behind the wheel rather than just her historic achievement, and her peers have taken notice. Industry insiders see her as both a trailblazer for women in racing and a genuine competitor who happens to be breaking barriers while she breaks records.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
With her limited ARCA Menards Series schedule with Venturini Motorsports providing exposure to superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, Gracie appears focused on the traditional path of NASCAR development. Her backing from Toyota Racing Development, ENEOS, and Mobil 1 suggests major manufacturers see long-term potential in her career trajectory.
References:
ENEOS Blog Interview & Career Overview
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Official Media Release
Working on My Redneck Blog Race Recount
Toby Christie Racing News Release
Motorsports Tribune Report
Rev Racing Team Spotlight
Toyota Racing Official Bio
Have Gracie updates or corrections? Please let us know – We’d love to keep this profile current.
