Since organized drag racing began in the late 1940s, the sport has been about creating the most powerful machines and the bravest drivers. To say it is a male dominated sport is an understatement, but it is one of the few sporting events where gender does not matter. In 1964, Barbara Hamilton became the first woman to earn a National Hot Rod Association racing license. Hamilton not only raced in events but also built and tuned her own vehicles.
There are few sports where you could compile a list of the top five competitors of all time and include both men and women, but drag racing is one such sport. Arguably the greatest female drag racer of all time, Shirley Muldowney won numerous national events and three NHRA titles during her 40-year racing career. Muldowney’s accomplishments were more than enough to secure her a place in any drag racing hall of fame as well as a spot in the top five drag racers of all time.
It takes a special woman to get into a drag racer in the first place, but in a male dominated sport it takes exceptional courage. From the very early days of women in the sport, the attitudes of male drivers made it a constant uphill struggle, but the ladies have more than proven their worth.