Sara Christian

Sara Christian made history as NASCAR’s first female driver, competing in the inaugural Strictly Stock race in 1949 and proving she could run wheel-to-wheel with the men in an era when most women weren’t even allowed in the garage.

EARLY YEARS

Born Sara Williams on August 25, 1918, in Dahlonega, Georgia, she grew up in Paulding County without any obvious signs that she’d one day strap into a race car and make motorsports history. She married Frank Christian, a businessman with a side hustle that would raise eyebrows today—he was a bootlegger. The couple settled into what looked like a conventional life, raising two children, Patricia and Tommy, while Frank’s business interests expanded into racing.

Her entry into motorsports didn’t follow the typical path. There were no karting championships or junior racing series for Sara. Instead, she caught the bug much later, and when she did, she went all in.

OTHER INTERESTS

Outside the cockpit, Sara juggled the demanding roles that came with being a wife and mother in the 1940s and ’50s. She helped run The Cherokee Motel, which Frank owned, and the couple also operated a farm in northwest Atlanta. Racing may have been her passion, but it was never her only responsibility. She balanced the chaos of competition with the grind of running multiple businesses and raising a family—a feat that deserves its own trophy.

EARLY SUCCESS

Sara’s first brush with racing came in 1941 when she competed in barrel racing at the beaches of Jacksonville, Florida. It was a different kind of racing—more spectacle than speed—but it planted the seed. Fast forward to 1948, when Bob Flock created a “Powder Puff” division at the newly opened Atlanta Speedway on the city’s west side. Sara entered, and her talent was immediately obvious. She wasn’t just competent—she was fast, fearless, and ready for more.

That “more” came on June 19, 1949, at Charlotte Speedway. NASCAR’s first-ever Strictly Stock race featured 33 drivers, and Sara Christian was one of them. She qualified 13th in the #71 Ford owned by Frank, making them the first and only husband-and-wife racing team in NASCAR history. She finished the race—no small feat given the rough-and-tumble nature of early stock car racing—and opened the door for every woman who would follow.

Her best finish came just weeks later at Pittsburgh’s Heidelberg Raceway, where she placed fifth. To this day, she remains the only female driver to finish in the top five in NASCAR’s top series during the 1940s. At Langhorne Speedway in Pennsylvania on September 11, 1949, she wheeled her ’49 Oldsmobile to a sixth-place finish in a field of 45 cars. Race winner Curtis Turner was so impressed he invited her to join him on the podium—a gesture of respect that spoke volumes in a sport not exactly known for rolling out the welcome mat for women.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 1941: Competed in barrel racing at the beaches of Jacksonville, Florida[1].
• 1948: Raced in the “Powder Puff” event at the new Atlanta Speedway, where her talent was quickly recognized[2].
• 1949: Became the first woman to compete in a NASCAR race on June 19 at Charlotte Speedway, qualifying 13th in the #71 Ford[3].
• 1949: Finished fifth at Pittsburgh’s Heidelberg Raceway, the only female driver to achieve a top-five finish in NASCAR’s top series during the 1940s[4].
• 1949: Placed sixth at Langhorne Speedway in Pennsylvania on September 11, becoming the first woman to earn a top-10 finish in NASCAR’s top series[5].
• 1949: Finished 13th in the NASCAR Strictly Stock series standings, competing in six of the eight races that season[6].
• 1950: Entered one race at Hamburg Speedway, finishing 14th with Bob Flock driving relief[7].
• 2004: Inducted into the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame[8].

INSPIRATIONS

Sara’s racing career was deeply intertwined with her husband Frank’s passion for the sport. He became heavily involved in racing, building cars and supporting her efforts behind the wheel. While the sources don’t detail specific inspirations or mentors, it’s clear that the racing community around her—particularly figures like Bob Flock and Curtis Turner—recognized her skill and encouraged her participation in an era when most women were relegated to the sidelines.

REPUTATION

Christian’s reputation was built on guts and results. She wasn’t a novelty act or a one-race wonder. She competed in seven NASCAR Strictly Stock races between 1949 and 1950, earning two top-10 finishes and proving she belonged on the track. Her fire suit is now displayed in Heritage Speedway on the top floor of the NASCAR Hall of Fame—a permanent reminder of her trailblazing role in the sport.

Unfortunately, her racing career was cut short by a back injury. She stepped away from competition before the 1950 season finale, leaving fans to wonder what she might have accomplished with more time behind the wheel. She died on March 7, 1980, at the age of 61, eleven years after losing her husband Frank. Her legacy endures as the woman who showed up, raced hard, and refused to back down.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Sara Christian passed away in 1980. This section does not apply.

REFERENCES

[1] Sara Christian – Georgia Racing HOF
[2] Sara Christian – Georgia Racing HOF
[3] Sara Christian – Wikipedia
[4] Pioneering Women Who Raced in NASCAR – NASCAR Hall of Fame
[5] Sara Christian – Stock Car Racing Wiki
[6] How Racer Sara Christian Made NASCAR Take Notice in 1949 – Autoweek
[7] Sara Christian – Motorsport Memorial
[8] Woman Spotlight Wednesday: Sara Christian – Dive-Bomb