Muldowney At The Finish Line
Written by Josh Katinger · November 11, 2003
I don’t usually get all choked up about people retiering or getting out of motorsports after storied careers, but I’ve got to be honest ESPN really got me this past weekend with their coverage of Shirley Muldowney’s “Last Pass” in the final NHRA event of 2003. I thank them for reminding me of just how much she accomplished in her career. If you look at other situations of women making inroads into Indy racing or NASCAR and nothing compares…
(Photo courtesy Muldowney.com)
CBSSportsLine: Female motorsports pioneer Muldowney retires at 63
ABC News: Slowing Down
RPM.ESPN: Muldowney wraps NHRA career
SignOnSanDiego.com: Veteran to retire after today’s race
-First woman to win the National Hot Rod Association championship in 1977 and repeated that feat in 1980 and ‘82
-Survived a near-fatal crash in 1984 during a qualifying run near Montreal that left her legs and feet severely injured. She returned to the track after 18 months of rehabilitation
-Will be inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in April 2004
-Last NHRA final-round victory came in 1989 in Phoenix where she beat Darrell Gwynn in one of the most dramatic races in history
-Early career was depicted in the 1983 film Heart Like a Wheel. Actress Bonnie Bedelia played Muldowney
Here’s the real injustice…
“Muldowney never made the really big money, at least not as much as some of her male competitors. So to fund her retirement she’s selling the machine that made it all possible — the pink racer — for $350,000, trailer included. Her husband will continue to crew chief on other racing teams. ”
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