Why aren't there any female racers in NASCAR?

Question

The Indy Racing League now features three female racers - Danica Patrick, Milka Duno, Sarah Fisher – but NASCAR still does not have a single female driver. How long before we see a female driver compete in NASCAR?

Answer 1

NASCAR has had female drivers in the past, however none have had good results. The last attempt at a full time cup schedule was Shawna Robinson in the #49 BAM racing car. She attempted 7 races in 2002.

Currently, Ray Evernham has Erin Crocker in a Craftsman Truck Series ride, also racing some ARCA events.

Sarah Fisher was rumored to be working with Richard Childress a few years ago, but nothing has come of that yet.

There have been a few others that have ran in the Truck Series and Busch Series, but have had limited starts.

NASCAR has pushed the diversity program over the last few years, so hopefully a female driver will be found and put with the right combination of car and team. It probably is not going to happen in the next 2 years, but 3-5 years is very possible.

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Answer 2

First off I would like to say that a woman can race just as good if not better then a man. Also these three woman in Indy car racing are very good at what they do, I tip my hat to them all. Also, Danica did test in a Nascar I believe sometime last year and later decided she didn't want to take that step into that series, something I wish she would have done. On a local level here at our dirt track they have had many woman out race the men in late model and mods and what not, just because you don't see a woman in Nascar right now don't mean there isnt anyone good enough out there to drive one, take some of these Nascar guys and stick them in the Indy cars and see if they can beat the woman, that could be fun to watch

Answer 3

I know that there are no female drivers in the NEXTEL Cup right now, but there have been...and will be again. Here is all the ladies who have raced in NASCAR's top series: Sara Christian (1949-1950) 7 races
Louise Smith (1949-1950) 11 races
Ethel Mobley (1949) 2 races
Ann Bunselmeyer (1950) 1 race
Ann Chester (1950) 2 races
Marian Pagan (1954) 1 race
Fifi Scott (1955) 2 races
Goldie Parsons (1965) 1 race
Janet Guthrie (1976-1980) 33 races
Christine Beckers (1977) 1 race
Lella Lombardi (1977) 1 race
Robin McCall (1982) 2 races
Patty Moise (1987-89) 5 races
Shawna Robinson (2001-02 ) 7 races
There are other ladies that we'll see in NASCAR real soon. Such as Erin Crocker, who is a development driver for Ray Evernham's Dodge's.

Answer 4

Several women have tryed to get into the lower levels of Nascar.
All have failed for several different reasons!
#1- Nascar for some reason is not willing to force the Owners to use some female drivers.
#2- It is a more physically demanding sport than it looks like!
#3- But maybe the most important reason is that no women has been able to get the respect of the other drivers on the track.We are dealing with some super sized egos here!
Again Nascar could enforce rough driving rules that would help this some.
It's all up to Nascar and they must feel like it's not important enough to make it happen!
If there was money in having women on the track they would be there.
I think it will only happen if there is a change in attitude about it by Nascar! $$$$

Answer 5

NASCAR has had women driver's in the series. However, I have seen the men deliberately wreck them to prove that they don't belong. I also feel that women tend to check up more than they should when the going gets rough. Because Nascar does have a history of not approving women drivers (even Petty admitted they don't belong in the sport) that tends to make women a little more leery of competing. I think a Danica Patrick type is out there and will eventually make the CUP series. Possibly Erin Crocker when she has more seat time under her belt. There was one I really admired and was good but she was very limitted due to her MS.

Answer 6

There have been female drivers in NASCAR.
Erin Crocker, Shawna Robinson, Kelly Sutton, Tina Gordon, Allison Duncan.
That's not saying that they drive the cup races, but they are NASCAR. Whether it's Cup, Busch, Truck or Late Model, these ladies are still driving NASCAR sanctioned races.
In 2006 Ford Motor Company began the Ford Female Driver Development Program. Some of the women that were in that program were, Michelle Theriault, Lynsey Tilton and Alison MacLeod. In my opinion, give it some time and we'll see more women drivers.
About 40% of the viewers who watch the NASCAR races are women.
It will happen!

Answer 7

The only reason Nascar does not have any female drivers is because none out there have made it to this level, if any of the Indy league ladies wanted to switch to Nascar they would be welcomed with open arms I am sure, and I for one hope to someday see a lady driving a stock car for some team.

Answer 8

There just has not been one to come down the pike that could win a race or get a GOOD sponsorship deal. It'll happen eventually. Erin Crocker, Sarah Fisher, and Tina Gordon are the ones that come to mind as being the last females in the truck series. Shawna Robinson? I don't think she ever had what it took. Back in the 80s there was Patty Moise. If she had gotten a few breaks she might have done better.

Answer 9

Let's see.....NASCAR is southern born, southern bread and though there have been few attempts by women, it is still a man's sport. We are on our way though. To get into a NASCAR ride you need to be an accomplished driver in another series. More females are entering the sport at other levels and when they show their talents (like Danica Patrick), they will end up in a Cup car.

Answer 10

My best guess is that they are not wanted. Several have tried in the past but it seems they only last a few years and then drop out. For one, they probably can't get a good owner to support them (i.e. Hendrick, Roush, Childress, DEI). It's the whole mentality that this is a men's sport and women are there to watch it not race it. I would love to Danica change to NASCAR and show everyone that it really can work...