Jessica Dana is the blonde, blue-eyed Washington State racer who beat Jeff Gordon in a go-kart and decided that was just the beginning. Born into a family with zero racing pedigree, she carved her own path from ATVs to late models, proving that sometimes the best drivers are the ones nobody saw coming.

EARLY YEARS

Born December 22, 1994, in Olympia, Washington, Jessica didn’t grow up surrounded by checkered flags and burning rubber. Racing wasn’t part of her family’s DNA, and in her community, it was basically considered a boys-only club. But at four years old—much to her mother’s absolute horror—she climbed onto a quad and never looked back. By eight, she was racing ATVs competitively, which is basically the equivalent of your daughter announcing she wants to be a stunt double before she’s old enough for a training bra.

The transition from dirt bikes to pavement happened fast. In the spring of 2010, when Jessica was just 15, she sat in a go-kart for the first time. Two months later, she was recording wins. Not against other rookies—against people who actually knew what they were doing. She moved up to a Rotax Sr. kart that weighed 365 pounds and hit 80 mph, setting three track records and claiming two championships along the way. Her father, Troy Dana, wrote a book about her early racing journey called “And She Thinks We’re Just Racing,” which is both sweet and slightly ominous—because obviously, she wasn’t just racing. She was preparing to storm the gates of NASCAR.

OTHER INTERESTS

Jessica graduated from Tumwater High School in 2013 and planned to attend South Puget Sound Community College. Beyond racing, details about hobbies and outside interests are scarce—probably because when you’re spending every weekend at a speedway, there’s not a ton of time left for book clubs.

EARLY SUCCESS

Here’s where things get fun. In 2010, during a charity karting event called “Ultimate Speed,” 15-year-old Jessica went head-to-head with four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jeff Gordon. And she won. Then she beat extreme motorsports legend Travis Pastrana in another charity race. Just to be clear: she wasn’t racing against has-beens or washed-up weekend warriors. She was beating actual champions, and doing it with the kind of confidence that makes grown men reconsider their life choices.

That same year, less than 18 months after starting karting, Jessica became the youngest female to race in the prestigious Miller 200 at South Sound Speedway in Tenino, Washington. She was 15. Most kids that age are worried about passing their driver’s ed test; Jessica was piloting a late model stock car at speeds that would make most adults cry.

By 2012, at 17, NASCAR selected her to participate in the Drive for Diversity Combine—a talent search designed to bring new faces into the sport. She was one of only a handful of female drivers invited, competing against a field that included future stars. She gave a TEDx talk at 18, sharing her story about breaking into a male-dominated sport with grit, determination, and probably a healthy dose of side-eye from the guys she kept beating.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2010: Defeated four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon in the “Ultimate Speed” charity karting race[1].
• 2010: Defeated extreme motorsports star Travis Pastrana in a charity karting race[2].
• 2010: Became the youngest female to race in the Miller 200 at South Sound Speedway[3].
• 2010: Set three track records and won two championships in Rotax Sr. karting[4].
• 2012: Selected by NASCAR to participate in the Drive for Diversity Combine at age 17[5].
• 2013: Gave a TEDx talk at TEDxRainier about overcoming challenges as a young female racer[6].
• 2018: Picked up her first Limited Sportsman win at South Boston Speedway in Virginia, passing Trey Crews with one lap to go[7].

INSPIRATIONS

Jessica has been vocal about wanting to be a role model for young women who dream of racing but don’t see themselves represented. She’s made it her mission to prove that girls belong on the track—not as novelties, but as serious competitors. In her TEDx talk and writings for LeanIn.org, she emphasized that becoming a racing professional isn’t a one-time decision; it’s a choice she makes every single day. Her inspiration comes less from idolizing other drivers and more from sheer determination to carve out space where there wasn’t any before.

REPUTATION

Dana earned respect the hard way: by showing up, shutting up the doubters, and putting wins on the board. At South Sound Speedway, her white Chevy Impala with the black No. 12 became a familiar sight. She wasn’t just another female driver getting press for being female—she was a legitimate competitor who could wheel a car. Her reputation is built on being scrappy, focused, and unafraid to challenge anyone—including Patrick Dempsey, whom she publicly called out for a charity race at speeds up to 145 mph. (The stakes: if she won, he’d donate $10,000 to a local charity. If he won, she’d let Tully’s Coffee advertise on her car for a season. Bold move, Jessica.)

She raced in the 2018 CARS Tour and competed at tracks including South Boston Speedway, Myrtle Beach, Southern National, Caraway Speedway, and Ace Speedway. She also participated in the Bojangles’ Summer Shootout series at Charlotte Motor Speedway, proving she could adapt to different tracks and racing formats. People who’ve watched her race describe her as determined, talented, and gutsy—someone who doesn’t just want to participate, but to win.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As of the available information, Jessica’s future racing plans beyond 2018 aren’t clearly documented. However, her stated mission has always been clear: make it to NASCAR’s national series and prove that women can compete at the highest levels of American motorsports. Whether she’s still actively pursuing that goal or has shifted focus isn’t detailed in the research, but knowing her track record, it’s safe to say she’s not the type to just park the dream in the garage.

REFERENCES

The drive to race: Jessica Dana at TEDxRainier – YouTube
Driver Spotlight: Jessica Dana Racing – Girls Race 2
NASCAR selects 17 year old, Jessica Dana to participate in the Drive for Diversity Combine – PRLog
Jessica Dana – LeanIn.org
New Book Describes 17-year-old Jessica Dana’s start in Racing – PRLog
Great new book about racing & family now available
Dana, ‘Dirt Princess’ Enjoy Bojangles’ Summer Shootout Journey – Charlotte Motor Speedway
Jessica Dana Still Chasing Her Dream of Racing NASCAR – Thurston Talk
Jessica Dana – TEDxSeattle
Patrick Dempsey challenged to charity race by Jessica Dana – Torque News
Jessica Dana | Racing career profile – Driver Database
Jessica Dana Picks Up First SoBo Limited Sportsman Win – Raceweek Illustrated
Jessica Dana Sets Sights on Victories in 2018 | RACE22.com
Pulliam Paving the Way for Female Drivers | RACE22.com
Nascar Up-and-Comer Jessica Dana Hits the Gas – Seattle Met