You've Come a Long Way Baby
3/8/06
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hile covering the Winternationals, our first big NHRA race of the new season, I noted that some reporters were still surprised that a woman could be competitive in motorsports. Besides Danica Patrick, Katherine Legge, Erin Crocker and the others in IRL, Champ Car and NASCAR it seems women in motorsports might be a novelty to the “good old boy” media, but at least to the initiated in drag racing it should be no surprise. There are Shirley Muldowney, Lori Johns, Paula Murphy, Judy Lilly, Shirley Shahan and all the other women who kicked the door open for the current surge of women in drag racing and motorsports long before it was the rage.
When questions were fired at Winternationals Top Fuel winner Melanie Troxel about being one of a select few female drivers, of her being such an important part of drag racing history, she was ready with the answer.
"Really? Do you think there’s so few? Because I think there are a lot, compared to other motorsports," Troxel said. "We've got a ton of them. I don't think it's really an issue anymore. I'm thrilled that there were women in the sport that paved the way, but I think that everyone involved in the sport (of drag racing) knows that it's not a big deal here anymore. On the outside, I know it's a media draw, but here, we're all just racers."
Given equal racing equipment, team support and well-funded ownership or sponsors, Melanie is right on target. Look at her situation: 2005 World Finals runner-up, 2006 Winternationals winner and Phoenix runner-up in a final round match that could have gone either way against “Hot Rod” Fuller.
With about the same equipment as fellow teammate and Top Fuel World Champion Tony Schumacher -- a strong crew chief like Richard Hogan, who probably has total access to Alan Johnson’s genius nitro mind and Alan Johnson-inspired parts installed on a similar chassis -– why would anyone be astounded that Troxel could have these results in three consecutive races.
The commotion caused early last season by Erica Enders’ young female influence in that male dominated Pro Stock category turned out to be supportable. With her team’s strong work and attention to detail, Steve Johns squeezing that extra horsepower from the dyno
and a bright, marketing-oriented owner like Victor Cagnazzi, Erica has all the tools she needs to win. She’s had great qualifying efforts and strong finishes, and is as good as any other top-five Pro Stock driver. It doesn’t matter that she’s female.
I mentioned Hillary Will in a column last year as one of those drivers to watch. Now, with her Kalitta-crewed, Ken Black-funded and Oberhofer-tuned vehicle, here’s another team that’ll be a top-ten player in the first season. Again, it’s the package and if Rod Fuller or J.R. Todd were in that seat or Kenny Bernstein as had originally been planned - it would be a player team. With a likeable, marketable, pretty woman now in the seat, this would be a sponsorship dream for mainstream advertisers to consider. Potential is one thing, winning will be the ultimate equalizer.
There are many more who have made it because they achieved and not because they are ladies. Crew chief Kim LaHaie, Arlene Johnson, Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Angelle Sampey and event winner Karen Stoffer, driver Mendy Fry in nostalgia top fuel who’ll drive NHRA Top Fuel someday, Ashley Force moving into a nitro funny car, sport compact driver Lisa Kubo heading toward nitro funny cars and dozens and dozens of women in Comp, Super Comp, Super Gas, Stock, Super Stock and Jr. Dragsters. It’s wide open to all ages!