Legendary Shirley Muldowney to serve as Honorary Starter at Gatornationals

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 4) — NHRA legend Shirley Muldowney will serve as the Honorary Starter for the 47th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 18-20 at Gainesville Raceway.

“I’m honored that Amalie thought of me and I’m really excited to get back out to the races and see all the fans and my buddies in the pits,” Muldowney said. “Who doesn’t want to visit Florida for spring break? It’ll be fun.”

Muldowney’s grit and determination helped pave the way for the current generation of female superstars, like two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders, one of Muldowney’s favorite drivers. Muldowney herself was a true pioneer, as she was the first woman to earn a Top Fuel license, to win a national event, and to win a championship in any form of professional motorsports.

“Amalie is so happy that Shirley Muldowney has agreed to be the Honorary Starter for the 47th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals,” said Amalie Sr. Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing Dennis J. Madden. “Shirley represents all that is good about NHRA racing. To be sure, she was one of the people to help drag racing become the sport it is today and she is still a huge presence in the sport. We are happy that Amalie and Shirley have had such a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

Muldowney is a three-time Top Fuel champion, teaming with Amalie Motor Oil for her 1977 and 1980 titles and for numerous national event victories. She’s also a two-time winner of the Gatornationals, winning at Gainesville Raceway in 1981 and 1982.

“I had a great partnership with Amalie,” Muldowney said. “I really loved my time with them, and our relationship was better than it had to be, just like their slogan says. Amalie really worked in our race cars. I swore by it.”

In addition to her duties as Honorary Starter, Muldowney will make several appearances during the weekend, including numerous autograph sessions at the PiranaZ merchandise trailer.

Muldowney became the first woman to earn an NHRA Top Fuel license in 1965, and a year later she became the first woman to win an NHRA national event when she won in Stock at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.

She became the first woman to win in Top Fuel when she reached the winner’s circle in Columbus, Ohio, in 1976. She won Top Fuel championships in 1977, 1980, and 1982.

Muldowney and Lucille Lee were the first two women to meet in a Top Fuel final in 1982, a mark recently matched by Leah Pritchett and Brittany Force in Phoenix.

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Shirley Muldowney removes herself from Land Speed Record Opportunity

HUNTERSVILLE, NC - December 2, 2015: Drag racing legend Shirley Muldowney has announced she will not participate in any land speed record attempt in Doug Herbert's proposed Streamliner car.

An attempt at Muldowney capturing the all-time record for female drivers was announced two years ago when the idea to build the car was first formulated. "I won't be driving that car," Muldowney

"I've recently joined a group that has a lot of plans for me in 2016 and beyond, and I won't have the time to learn how to drive a speed record car or to make all of the necessary passes. My schedule simply won't allow for it. I'm no longer associated with this land speed project in any way."

Muldowney, 75, a drag racing pioneer with four world titles who broke numerous barriers for female participants beginning in the 1960s, plans to be at numerous NHRA events next season. Known as "the First Lady of Drag Racing," Muldowney's life reaching the top of the sport was made into the iconic movie "Heart Like a Wheel."

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Drag racing icon Shirley Muldowney resigns from B.R.A.K.E.S. board

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Nov. 25) -- Drag racing legend Shirley Muldowney has resigned from the Board of Directors at B.R.A.K.E.S., a North Carolina-based charity that promotes safe driving among teenagers.

"An opportunity has come up with another entity that will be a really wonderful deal for me

"I'm thrilled about the future, which has many possibilities that I will be at more NHRA races throughout the year. I've always enjoyed spending time with my wonderful fans, and the chance to see more of them has me very excited. Stay tuned for more good news coming very soon."

Muldowney, who moved to the Charlotte area from her longtime home in Michigan to assist with B.R.A.K.E.S., is a four-time world champion and the first female to win a major auto racing championship. Her life in drag racing was portrayed in the movie Heart Like A Wheel.
personally, so I have resigned from B.R.A.K.E.S. effective immediately," Muldowney said. "I appreciate and cherish the time I had with board members Wanda Miller, Dave Dobson, and Mickey Aberman and I believe in the mission of B.R.A.K.E.S.

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