Female drivers began making history in NASCAR since the day - June 19, 1949 - the organization ran its first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in Charlotte, N.C.
Sara Christian and her 1947 Ford (Photo: Ga Racing Hall of Fame)
Sara Christian, driving a 1947 Ford, finished 14th in a field of 33 cars and went on to rank 13th in the standings of what was then known as Strictly Stocks.
One race later, on Daytona Beach, Fla.'s road/beach course, three female drivers - Christian,
Ethel Mobley and
Louise Smith - donned helmets.
Mobley, driving a 1948 Cadillac, finished 11th. She beat future champions Buck Baker and Herb Thomas as well as Fonty Flock, Marshall Teague and Curtis Turner.
Tammy Jo Kirk became the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series' first female competitor. Kirk remains the most successful female, finishing 20th in the 1997 NCWTS standings as a rookie with a best finish of 11th on the road course at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan.
Jennifer Jo Cobb is poised to erase Kirk's championship achievements from the series record book. Heading into Friday night's Built Ford Tough 225 presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers, the Kansas City, Kan., competitor ranks 16th in points. Only two female drivers, Kirk and Christian, have managed top-20 points finishes in a NASCAR national series.
Cobb finished 22nd at Chicagoland Speedway on Aug. 27. She's twice finished 14th, at Darlington Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway, in posting five top-20 finishes.
"I think there are a lot of talented female drivers out there," said Cobb. "Our team, we're just moving along, gaining experience and it's starting to pay off. We're not looking to be the best (NASCAR) team with a female driver; that's not our intention, but I think we're a young team that has really improved all season long. Hopefully, we can continue to do that and finish the season strong."
Moving into the final top 15 is Cobb's goal, especially as the team seeks sponsorship for 2011.
"We've made so many strides this season and I feel we can continue to improve next season as well, but it's not going to happen without support from a sponsor. We're hopeful something will come up."
