Women in Motorsports Blog Carnival - July 4

ESPN announced today that Motorola driver Danica Patrick has been nominated for a pair of ESPYS.

Patrick has been nominated in the category of best female athlete and also in the category of best moment for her historic IndyCar Series victory earlier this season in the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi.

Patrick, who is in her second season with Andretti Green Racing, scored four top five finishes in 2007 and then became the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race by claiming the checkers at Twin Ring Motegi on April 20, 2008. She currently stands fifth in IndyCar Series point standings heading into this weekend's event at Watkins Glen International.

Patrick will also serve as an award presenter at the 16th annual ESPY Awards, which can be seen July 20 on ESPN.

Lyn St. James and the Women in the Winners Circle foundation will co-host their annual lunch on July 24th in Indianapolis, IN.
Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Contact Info: Phone (317) 244-9790
Event Type: In support of Women in Motorsports
Organized By: Lyn St James

Please join us for The Sixth Annual Women in the Winner’s Circle Celebration Luncheon Honoring Women in Motorsports Indianapolis at the Motor Speedway Plaza Village Pavilion Thursday, July 24, 2008 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Luncheon 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Champion Driver Pane.

Danica Patrick will be one of the guests at the annual event.



Tuner chicks pimp their rides.

"No man helped me with this — I'm not a car ho," says Samantha Sunderman. She's kneeling on the hot asphalt and squirting a six-dollar bottle of Greased Lightning Orange Blast on a rag so she can wipe the minuscule traces of dirt off the car's custom pink and white 20-inch rims. "Guys don't usually take me seriously. But it's all mine. My concept, my work, my money."

Women racers are losing a good friend.

Ford Racing Technology boss Dan Davis, who has headed the company's competition arm for 11 years, will retire Aug. 11 after 32 years at Ford.

Davis started the Clorox/Ford Women's Driver Development Program in USAC, the first partnership of a consumer sponsor and auto manufacturer to try to develop women for professional racing.

A trio of women, Ashley Force (Funny Car), Melanie Troxel (Funny Car) and Hillary Will (Top Fuel) have posted victories, all in the first half of the NHRA season. Their wins have put the NHRA at the forefront of diversity in motorsports.

Suddenly, they are among the only series actually doing it right – promoting and encouraging women to race and win.

Miamisburg sprint car driver Shannon McIntosh will be a guest speaker at the Dabbelt Report Aqua Falls Shootout at the Kingdom Sports Center in Franklin on Sunday, June 29.

McIntosh spoke on how to become a successful female athlete to the crowd.

 

by Linda Przygodski
Contributing Editor
AskPatty.com

 

by Linda Przygodski
Contributing Editor
AskPatty.com