Shirley Muldowney

Shirley Muldowney stands as the undisputed pioneer for women in drag racing, breaking gender barriers to become the first woman to earn three NHRA Top Fuel world championships and paving the way for future generations of female racers.

EARLY YEARS

Born on June 19, 1940, in Burlington, Vermont to Belgium “Tex Rock” Benedict Roque and Mae Roque, Shirley moved to Schenectady, New York shortly after birth. Her adventurous spirit developed early, influenced by her former boxer father who taught her resilience and self-defense. At thirteen, she began skipping classes to hang around with drag racing enthusiasts, where she met Jack Muldowney, whom she married at sixteen in 1956. Jack built her first dragster and taught her to drive, nurturing a passion that would become her escape from domestic life after the birth of their son John in 1958.

EARLY SUCCESS

Shirley’s racing career began in earnest when she made her debut at Fonda Speedway dragstrip in 1958. After obtaining her NHRA pro license in 1965, she competed in the 1969 and 1970 U.S. Nationals with a twin-engined dragster in Top Gas. As that class lost popularity, she transitioned to Funny Car, purchasing her first car from Connie Kalitta. Her breakthrough came in 1971 with her first major victory at the IHRA Southern Nationals, and in 1973, she became the first woman licensed to drive a Top Fuel dragster. From 1972 to 1977, Muldowney teamed with Kalitta for match races as the “Bounty Hunter” and “Bounty Huntress,” setting the stage for her historic world championships.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 1971: Won her first major event, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Southern Nationals.
• 1973: Became the first woman to receive a Top Fuel license from the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
• 1975: Voted the first woman member of the 10-person Auto Racing All-American team by the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association.
• 1976: Dominated the Top Fuel competition at the National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio, and was named Drag News Top Fuel Driver of the Year.
• 1977: Won the NHRA Winston World Points Championship, becoming the first woman to claim drag racing’s most prestigious title.
• 1980: Won the NHRA Winston World Championship for the second time.
• 1981: Won the American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) World Championship.
• 1982: Won the NHRA Winston Points Championship, becoming the first person to claim the title three times.
• 1990: Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
• 2001: Ranked #5 in the 50th Anniversary list of Top 50 drivers by the NHRA.
• 2004: Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
• 2005: Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

REPUTATION

Known as the “First Lady of Drag Racing,” Muldowney’s career is defined by her groundbreaking achievements in a male-dominated sport. Her skill behind the wheel earned her 18 NHRA national event victories and three unprecedented NHRA Top Fuel world championships. Her resilience was perhaps most evident after a severe crash in 1984 that required extensive rehabilitation, yet she made a remarkable comeback to continue racing until her retirement in 2003. Described by Fred Farndon as “the best natural driver, no question,” her determination to overcome gender barriers has made her a revered figure who inspired generations of racers regardless of gender.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Though no longer competing professionally, Shirley remains connected to the racing world through appearances at major events. Her 2025 schedule includes appearances at NHRA events such as the Gatornationals, Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, and the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. As the first female racer enshrined in the Legends of Thunder Valley, her focus now lies in engaging with fans and preserving her legacy to continue inspiring future generations of women in motorsports.

References:

Encyclopedia.com – Shirley Muldowney Biography
FameHaven – Shirley Muldowney
ESPN – How Shirley Muldowney Changed Racing, Paved Way for Women
Wikipedia – Shirley Muldowney
Encyclopedia.com – Muldowney, Shirley Roque
Automotive Hall of Fame – Shirley Muldowney
NHRA – Muldowney, Zetterstrom: History of Female NHRA Top Fuel Drivers

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