Rebekah Mercadel Heating up Junior Dragsters

Rebekah Mercadel, or Beka to her friends, is a New Orleans native who now hangs her hat in Texas thanks to Hurricane Katrina.

She is also a junior drag racer and pilots a Top Alcohol Jr. Dragster for Mercadel Motorsports. She is one of about 8,500 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) junior drag racers and one of a very few licensed minority top alcohol junior drivers in the country.

With her dad and crew chief -- Michael, mom, Kelly, and brother and sister, Gabrielle and Joshua – Beka has a solid base to explore her drag racing dreams. The family team has been lighting up the asphalt from Florida to Texas racing at 30-40 events a season.

While the tragedy of Katrina slowed her racing efforts as her family was forced to temporarily split up for nine months, sending her dad who is employed by American Airlines to Dallas/Fort Worth, while the rest of the family stayed in Springfield, Illinois with family.

“My wife and I were more worried about our children’s mental state than our home in New Orleans,” said Michael. “Gabrielle (12), and Joshua (9), seemed to have taken things a little better than Beka. Even though racing was not high on the priority list, we knew a few weeks after the hurricane that this is exactly what Beka needed. That cockpit was the only normal thing to her, and we had to get her back into her race car.”

For Beka nothing was more therapeutic than getting back in her race car.

Life's a drive for Kelly Williams

For race car driver Kelly Williams, “nothing can replace the exhilaration of driving a race car.”

Kelly first noticed cars when she was six-years-old and had a neighbor that worked on cars.  She drove her neighbor crazy, having him explain the ins-and-outs of race cars as she learned how to work on them.

"I grew up at the track," she says. "My parents have taken me since I was six."

Knowing that a career in motorsports for a woman is a rarity, Kelly attended York University and the University of Toronto. After graduating with a BA in history and geography, Williams decided to get her education degree. She hadn't given any thought to making racing a full-time career, though, thinking at the time that she wanted to be a teacher. "But," she says, "my heart simply wasn't in it."

In both 1989 and 1990, she won Most Improved Driver honors in the Challenger division at Flamboro Speedway. Williams switched from Flamboro to the faster Mosport International Speedway in 1992. In 1993, Williams make her breakthrough as one of Ontario’s top drivers. She was a winner no fewer than eight times, and finished fourth in the Goodyear Challenge Cup Series and seventh in the Mosport track championship. She was also voted Most Popular Driver in the Challenge Cup Series.

Catching up with Sarah Fisher

When Sarah Fisher became the youngest woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500 at the age of 19 in 2000, it seemed like nothing could stop the Ohio native.

In combination with being just the third woman to compete in the Indy 500, she also became the first lady to stand on the podium at an IRL event; finishing third at Kentucky Speedway in 2001 and second at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

In 2002, she made another mark in the auto racing annals, by becoming the first woman in North American motorsports history to win the pole position for a major-league open-wheel race. Things for Fisher in the IRL began to sour after that season.

Team and sponsor issues in 2003 and 2004 saw Fisher move to NASCAR in 2004.

Hillary Will proves "yes she can" at O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals

Hillary Will proved "yes she can"  at the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals two weeks ago, the ninth event of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, in Topeka, Kans. Will won with a final round victory over Larry Dixon.

"There's so many emotions because there were times where I thought, 'I can't do this. Maybe I shouldn't be racing. Maybe I don't belong in this fuel car,"' said Will, driver of the KB Racing dragster. "But this is what I love to do and through everything you can just never, never, never, never give up."

It was Will's first win in a NHRA national event.

“Words can’t describe how I feel right now,” said Will. “I have dreamed of this day for so long, and it’s finally here. My KB racing, LLC team is awesome. They’ve given me such a great race car all year long, and I can’t thank them and my team owners Ken Black and Kenny Black enough for everything that they have done for me and this wonderful opportunity.

Shannon McIntosh is no ordinary girl

Don’t mistake Shannon McIntosh for just another girl.

While some girls were busy shopping for shoes and worrying about the color of their lipgloss – Shannon was worried about where she was going to race on Wednesday nights.

"I took her to a race when she was about 4 years old, and she loved it," said her father, Tim McIntosh. "So I bought her a quarter-midget when she was 5, and we haven't stopped."

Quarter-midgets grew to micro-sprint cars, and now she wheels a 360 Sprint car.

"My friends really don't understand what I do or what it means to me," Shannon said. "I want to be a full-time race-car driver. I want to go to NASCAR, but right now I just need to get experience."

Ladies have rough day at Indy 500

For just the second time in its 92 year history, three women started the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday Coming off Danica Patrick’s groundbreaking win at the Twin Ring Motegi in Japan last month, never have more eyes been on women racing at motorsports top levels. 

Some thirty years after top fuel dragster diva Shirley Muldowney broke into the “old boys club” in the NHRA, women are still unfamiliar faces in most of auto racing’s premium divisions. While the NHRA is perhaps the best at promoting diversity, Ashley Force and Melanie Troxel both recently scored wins in NHRA Funny Car events.

NASCAR remains the only top auto racing series that has failed to put a women in a race car full time in their premium series -- the Sprint Cup.

Shawna Robinson is the last female driver in NASCAR to give running the Cup series a try.  She attempted four Cup races in 2001 in the No. 84 car; however, Robinson made just the race at Michigan, where she finished 36th. Her sponsor, Tropicana pulled out, and Robinson signed to drive 24 races for BAM Racing in 2002. Her best finish was 24th at Daytona -- she was released.  In 2003, she ran three races in the #49 Aaron's Chevrolet Silverado with an all-female pit crew. Her best finish was 18th at Texas Motor Speedway.

Meet Andrea Hans - AskPatty.com Women in Motorsports Interview

Andrea Hans, Team Full Throttle’s NASCAR Driver Development racer, is trying to get the most she can out of her first season in a Legends car.

At a race in Indiana a few weeks ago, she was fast as she’s been all season before a broken rear end sidelined her following practice.

“It’s a setback,” Hans said. “We were encouraged because in practice I was keeping up with the faster cars and doing pretty well. Toward the end (of practice), I started to feel a vibration but wasn’t sure what it was. When I pulled into the pits there was a problem and it ended up being the rear end.”

It was a let down for Hans, but she and her team will continue to focus on gaining experience before traveling to the Charlotte, N.C. area in late July to compete in Legends car races at Concord Motorsport Park.

Megan Reitenour moving up in racing ranks

Megan Reitenour is a sixteen-year-old, third generation racer.

Racing first grabbed her interest at the age of two when she used to “race” in her pink Barbie Corvette.  Her Dad placed pillows behind and underneath Megan, so she could reach the pedals of the car. At age four, she advanced to a Quad Runner, and eventually to a Quarter Midget at age five.

She stayed in the Quarter Midget Series for seven years, and was able to obtain three consecutive track championships and over 150 top-three feature finishes. She spent two years in the Bandolero Series, where she won the 2004/2005 Bandolero State Championship, the Great Lakes Nationals in Flint, Michigan, and the Buckeye Nationals in Xenia , Ohio .

In 2006, she graduated to the Legend Series, where Megan finished in the top-ten in 24 out of the 26 races that she raced. In addition, she won the 2006 Young Lions State of Ohio Championship, ranking in the top 20% in the nation of the Semi-Pro Division.

Megan stepped into the Super Cup Stock Car Series and the ARCA Lincoln Welder Truck Series in 2007. 2008 will mark the first year that she will participate as a development driver for Nesbitt Racing Enterprises, Inc. Also in 2008,  Megan will participate in the ARCA Lincoln Welder Truck Series.

Lisa Lynch brings together love of wine and racing

Bennett Lane Winery owners, Randy and Lisa Lynch, have a passion for wine and auto racing.

They are the first winery to own and sponsor a NASCAR racing team. The Bennett Lane race team, operated by Lynch racing, won the 2007 Grand National NASCAR division, and is the primary sponsor of the Bennett Lane 200 race weekend at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma , CA on June 20th-22nd.

Bennett Lane has two cars entered in the Grand National race on June 21st -- the #24 ask, askpatty, askpatty.com, car advice for women, automotive advice for women, Female Friendly Dealer, new car buying, used car buying, expert advice, auto, car selling, car buying, advice for woman, car, car safety, auto advice,  NASCAR, Lisa Lynch, Bennett Lane Winery, NASCAR, Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, California, randy lynch, Maximus, bennett lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, White Maximus, Bennett Lane Race Team, NASCAR West team, 2007 NASCAR Grand National Division West Series Championship Ford, and the #2 Maximus car (name for Bennett Lane’s signature feasting wine), which is owned by Lisa Lynch. 

We spoke with Lisa about her passion for wine and racing.

How did you get into auto racing?
My husband Randy has been passionate about racing for years. A NASCAR devotee since his teenage years, Randy once raced cars himself. His passion for things is contagious. I’ve become an ardent racing fan, and support our all-volunteer crew by preparing hearty, healthy meals for them the day of the race. Last year, I entered my own car in the Grand National division race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma , California . Called the Maximus car after Bennett Lane ’s signature wine, I started a rivalry with my husband, who had entered the #2 Bennett Lane Winery Ford in the same race. I had so much fun, I’m doing it again this year. Besides, we're a competitive family and enjoy a good rivalry!

Kristen Bumbera looking good after NASCAR Grand National debut

Kristen Bumbera piloting the No. 40 TXI Chevrolet garnered a successful 11th place finish in her NASCAR Grand National Division debut in the Allstate Texas Thunder 150 last week.

Bumbera was the only female driver in the race.

Against the field of men, Bumbera qualified 13th out of 24 cars; including current point leader Mike David.   

“Our plan was to keep it simple - qualify and finish the race, which I thought we did very successfully, said crew chief David Riggs. “She showed lots of poise and talent and received many compliments.  The NASCAR officials were very impressed with her driving on a tough bullring like this and the fact that she avoided so many wrecks and finished on the lead lap with the caliber of these drivers is a great accomplishment.”

Cobb to make NCTS debut on April 26

Jennifer Jo Cobb’s racing resume is getting a big bullet point on April 26th.

Cobb will make her NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Kansas Speedway, piloting the No. 74 Dodge Ram of former Daytona 500 winner, Derrike Cope, and his newly-founded NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team.

“I couldn’t be more excited. I love racing at Kansas Speedway, and am looking forward to climbing behind the wheel in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and kicking off Derrike’s new race team,” said Cobb. “We’re thankful for the continuing support of sponsors like Providence Medical Center and Saint John Hospital , who have been on board for more than four years, but we really need to turn some heads with this new program, and secure additional sponsorships that will allow us to race at more tracks this season.”

Chrissy Wallace wants to be NASCAR's "Danica"

Chrissy Wallace’s NASCAR debut a few weeks ago at Martinsville Speedway went quite smashingly.

The 19-year-old daughter of driver Mike Wallace climbed behind the wheel in the Kroger 250, and looked like she’d been driving in the Craftsman Truck Series for seasons. She avoided the pitfalls many drivers face in their NASCAR debuts, and earned an 18th-place finish for Germain Racing. Wallace raced all 253 laps, only going a lap down once; she was able to get back on the lead lap after getting a “lucky dog.”

"Martinsville is known for wrecks," she said. "I said I wanted to finish on the lead lap, in the top 20 and bring the truck home in one piece.

"It got easier, the more laps I was making, the better I felt in the truck. There was no part really intimidating to me at all."

Barbara Terry's got the Baja 500 on her mind

America’s favorite auto expert is adding a new challenge to her ‘to-do’ list – Barbara Terry is running the Baja 500.

This is the Baja 500’s 40th anniversary -- the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 is a 500-mile off-road race starting and ending in Ensenada, Mexico.  Barbara will be in Ensenada a week before the race to do a pre-run of the course and take part in media interviews, she is also partnered with SPEEDtv.com to showcase and feature her Baja 500 race on their web site.

Barbara is presently in negotiations for her own reality show, BT Garage.

What made you want to do the Baja 500? 
I chose to get totally enthralled in the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 mainly for the simple reason of my love for racing and everything to do with cars! 
I am also excited that my racing is aligned and an obvious extension of my other car related projects.

Karen Salvaggio and Factory Five Racing

Thunder Valley Racing’s Karen Salvaggio joined up with the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) for the season-opener at Thunderhill Raceway in Northern California, held on March 9-10. Salvaggio is driving for Factory Five Racing, and competed again 40 other racers. She drove in Race Group B, which was one of the larger groups of the weekend, and the division for Camaro-Mustang Challenge Cars, American Iron and American Iron Extreme cars.

Salvaggio was able to pretty much pick up where she left off last season, she posted a quick time, and in fact she set a new track record in the qualifying session, securing the pole position.  In the race, she led flag-to-flag to take the checkers.

Turning fifty won't keep Gail Hill out of her race car

Gail Hill isn’t going to let a little thing like turning fifty keep her out of a race car.

She believes in herself and her abilities, and thinks that women bring a unique bent to auto racing; because their driving abilities are so different from men.

“You just have to believe in yourself and remember it's never too late,” says Hill. “I have been racing for 7 years but now I'm nearly 50 and still think I can give the younger chaps a run for their money!”

Anna Walewska is Making a Name in Racing

Anna Walewska may not be a name racing fans in the U.S. are familiar with, but the 20-year-old standout is hoping to change that.

In 2007, Walewska raced in the Britcar championship driving for BMW. She finished third in that series. This season she will once again race in the Britcar series, driving for Geoff Steel Racing in a BMW M3 3.2ltr 360bhp.

Walewska’s racing skills started in the typical fashion. She began racing in go-karts at an early age, and moved into the saloon car series, T-Cars, at 14.  From T-Cars, she moved up to Britcar, where she claimed numerous podium finishes.

In 2006, Walewska entered the prestigious 24-hour race at Silverstone, where she earned the pole. For her car racing achievements in 2005, she was awarded the 2005 Driver of the Year Trophy.
Anna competed in the NKRA (National Kart Racing Association) Championship along side her Britcar racing. She had two fastest laps, four wins, driver of the day and numerous podium finishes and was nominated for 2006 Lady Driver of the Year.

Peggy Llewellyn: Racing goes on

No matter what happens from here, Peggy Llewellyn has no regrets.

After a break-out 2007 season, where she earned her first NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycles victory and finished fourth in the final POWERade standings, after a six year hiatus from the sport, Llewellyn was released from her ride.

Former team owner Karl Klement gave Llewellyn no reason. She says she doesn’t really need one. Just a few weeks after accepting her award as a fourth place finisher at the NHRA Awards, Klement’s put out a statement letting the racing world know that Llewellyn would not return to the G2 Motorsports team in 2008.

While disappointing, and baffling, for Llewellyn, life and racing go on.

Alli Owens ready to take on the racing world

Alli Owens has everything you need to be a successful race car driver.

She has spunk, determination, and a raw ability to race cars and motorcycles. Despite the lack of opportunity for women in NASCAR, Owens’ dreams of becoming the first female Cup series champion.

How did you get into racing?

I lived in Indianapolis s for three years, and they held an annual Big Wheel Race. I was six-years-old and entered the event. After I won three different qualifying races, and won the main event -- I soon realized I had a very competitive personality. So, we moved to Florida, to a neighborhood of boys, which did all the crazy daredevil stuff that I loved.

They all were starting to get into BMX (Bicycle Moto Cross), I quickly followed them and found myself factory sponsored, and on the fast track to becoming an all star BMX rider. All that changed when my dad introduced me and my brother to a quarter-midget.

The rest is history.

From Dreaming to Driving

So, all your life you've dreamed of being a racecar driver, and now you think it's time to get behind the wheel. But where do you start? Well, unless your name is Earnhardt, Unser, or Andretti, you're going to need to roll up your sleeves, do your homework as well as some serious planning before you'll be ready to take on Daytona, Indy, or the World Rally Championship. If you're really serious about driving racecars though (as a hobby or even if you have dreams of driving professionally), here are a few tips to get your career moving:

1. Define what type of racing you wish to pursue.....Do you want to drive dirt track, sports cars, stockcars, drag racing, karts, ralley, off-road, or ? Not sure of the answer? Then it might be time to do a bit more thinking….

Goodyear's Diversity Program

During the Speedweeks, Goodyear introduced its new Racing and Diversity program in conjunction with NASCAR.

“Goodyear is proud to offer deserving high school students a unique opportunity to experience first-hand the wide variety of career opportunities available through the sport of NASCAR,” said Kris Kienzl, NASCAR Marketing Manager at Goodyear.  “Thanks to our longstanding, uninterrupted involvement with NASCAR, we are able to provide an inside look at career paths from engineering and design to marketing and promotions, with mentors from all over the sport, whether from NASCAR, individual race teams, tracks or Goodyear.”

In its first year, the Goodyear Racing and Diversity program has already provided more than 60 high school students from across the country the chance to experience NASCAR first-hand and receive a behind-the-scenes look at a NASCAR race.  Students participating in these events had to maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and be in good standing in their school and local community to become eligible to apply for race-weekend internships.  Once selected, students are paired with one or more ‘mentors’ in career areas of interest to them for two, six-hour days of work.  Those students who complete their race-weekend internships are then eligible to apply for one of six scholarships, including five $2,000 awards and one $30,000 scholarship to be used towards their continuing education.

“NASCAR is proud to partner with Goodyear in creating this new program and looks forward to helping them provide meaningful career experiences for promising high school students across the country,”,” said Marcus Jadotte, Managing Director, Public Affairs for NASCAR.

Go to a NASCAR race, meet your soulmate

Is NASCAR the new singles meeting place?

Having worked in NASCAR for many years as a beat reporter, I am apt to say no -- it’s more like a playground for singles to hook-up, girls to trade booty for hot passes to get into the garage, and a place for unhappily married men to have a reprieve from life at home in the arms of equally shady chicks.

However, my opinion aside, if you’re looking for love at the race track -- this is the place for you: www.meetmeattheraces.com, the first dating website dedicated to racing and romance has launched just in time for the beginning of the racing season.

The site describes itself as being for “racing enthusiasts who want to meet like-minded singles may be surprised to learn that throughout the nation, on weekend days and nights, stadiums are packed with eligible fans – many of them single – cheering on their favorite auto racing heroes. 

Theriault ready to claim place in racing world

Michelle Theriault grew up with her and her father, David, watching family friends race Quarter Midgets at local race tracks in Connecticut. When Michelle was five, she saw a race car for sale and asked to sit in it. The moment she hoped in, the race car driver from within emerged. 

She turned to her Dad and said, "I want this."

Theriault competed in Quarter Midge, and earned 200 wins. She is the five time runner- up in the Quarter Midgets of America National Championship.

In 1999, her family relocated to Georgia, where she graduated from Quarter Midgets to Legends Cars. She won Atlanta Motor Speedway's Thunder Racing Legends Championship, and earned the distinction of becoming the first female Legends Car Champion. She backed up her success with two more championships and more than 20 wins.

Allstate Girls to keep chasing NASCAR's Kasey Kahne

Have you been ‘jonesing’ for the next installment of the three Allstate girls stalking Kasey Kahne over the motorsports down time this winter? Well, have no fear  during the Daytona 500 telecast on FOX on February 17 Allstate will debut the third season of its very popular "Allstate Girls" ad campaign with Kasey Kahne.

For the first time, Allstate spokesperson Dennis Haysbert will join Kasey and the girls on camera.

“These new commercials build on the success of our previous spots while creating a unique safe driving message that resonates with NASCAR fans,” said Lisa Cochrane, Allstate’s vice president of marketing.  “The spots deliver our brand message, integrate our assets and bring Dennis and Kasey together on camera for the first time – we’re thrilled with the final product.” 

The new ads take the “Allstate Girls” obsession with Kasey to new heights.  And you thought Kasey polishing a few toenails was the craziest thing they could come up with!

Not a chance.

Don’t miss Kasey dancing, that’s right dancing to The Scorpions “Rock You Like A Hurricane.”

"Kasey's personality has suited the campaign perfectly," said Pam Hollander, Director of Integrated Marketing for Allstate. "Along with being one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR, he's easy going and fun.  His participation has been instrumental in consistently making these commercials the most recognizable in NASCAR.  He's developed great rapport with the 'Allstate Girls.'

"While fun and humorous, this campaign has been a great platform for us to deliver auto insurance product messaging directly to NASCAR fans.  These particular spots that we're getting ready to unveil promote our new Safe Driving Bonus Check and Accident Forgiveness that we provide our customers.

"We've really enjoyed working with Kasey on these commercials and we look forward to creating more opportunities to integrate him into our consumer marketing platforms."

The new Queen of Diamonds: Jill Canuso

Al Hanna, President of Hanna Motorsports, launched in 2007 the search for a new driver for the very popular BIC Lighter “Queen of Diamonds” 300 MPH Jet Dragster for 2008. Hanna read through thousands of resumes before choosing veteran driver Jill Canuso as his new queen.

“Over the past two months, we were inundated with more then 80 applications from across the nation representing a tremendous cross-section of the terrific young women in the sport of drag racing, all wanting to work with Hanna Motorsports.  All had great credentials, had great family support, much experience, and a goal to succeed in our sport.”  Stated Hanna.  “The fact that so many had a similar background,, and similar credentials, actually made it much more difficult then we had anticipated.”

“Upon the receipt of Jill Canuso’s application, her credentials were quite different than the rest.” Rich Hanna said.  “First, she has raced professionally for many years, and in many categories. That meant she was familiar with the travel, the issues of being a pro on the road, the media, the risks, the financial pressures, and so forth. Also, she is based within our region, which allows us to work closely through training, with our difficult travel schedule, and on sponsorship programs as well. It’s a win-win for all of us.”

Jill’s gained her love of auto racing while watching her father compete at North East drag strips. She started riding motorcycles at five years old, and collecting her own trophies won from many Track, District, State, Regional and National Championships.

DeCarlo revved up for Daytona ARCA opener

Gabi DeCarlo started racing karts at age 11, and entered her first race at the age of 12. After winning multiple kart championships, DeCarlo ran the Superkarts USA Pro Moto Tour with the KGB North America factory team for four years. During that time she was the only female in SKUSA Pro Moto history to finish a national season in the top twelve. 

DeCarlo moved up to open wheel race cars, and competed in both the Formula Jim Russell Championship and the Barber Dodge Championship.  In the winter of 2002 Gabi was invited to the Jim Russell Graduate Run-Off’s, and made it into the top-twenty Semi-Finals out of over one hundred drivers. 

In 2004 Gabi progressed to the Star Mazda Red Line Oil Championship driving a Formula Mazda. She finished fifth in the series and is the "2004 Rookie of the Year".  In 2005, she moved to the Star Mazda North American Pro Championships in 2005.

Women in Motorsports - Jennifer Jo Cobb is ready to race

Jennifer Jo Cobb began racing in 1991, and despite some up-and-downs in her career she has proven to be a tough competitor in the world of auto racing. She has numerous victories, and finished in the top ten championship standings for every season she competed full-time in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series.

In June 2002, Jennifer debuted in the ARCA RE/MAX Series at the Kansas Speedway, finishing 16th position. In just her second national race, she finished ninth on the lead lap.

She continued to do well in ARCA and other series, but in 2006 decided to divest her interests and start a clothing line specifically for female race fans called Driver Boutique. 

Jennifer continues to hone her driving skills by testing at many tracks and working at the Richard Petty Driving Experience where she logs over 1,000 laps per weekend at many NASCAR-sanctioned racetracks, such as Daytona Int'l Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, California Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway and many others.

Women in Motorsports Interview - Meet Milka Duno

Milka Duno’s racing career has not been without controversy.

The 35-year-old Venezuelan racer is best known for holding the record of the highest finish for a female driver in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Last season, however, Duno was placed on probation by the Indy Racing League after the Michigan event. She did, however, rally to compete at the season finale at Chicagoland Speedway, and despite some unflattering commentary from Dario Franchitti’s spouse  Ashley Judd; Duno soldiers on.

Duno is a former model, who began her racing career at the age of 24. Duno holds Master's Degrees in Organizational Development, Naval Architecture, Maritime Business, and Marine Biology, and spent some time working as a naval engineer.

Overcoming All Odds the "Iranian Schumacher"

Lalah Saddigh is the toughest thing on wheels in the Islamic world. She trains in the western Teheran in efforts to become the best rally driver in the world.

Saddigh is proud of her nickname the "Iranian Schumacher", and after five years of driving on the rally circuit she has earned it. A year ago, she was granted permission to compete against men. It came with great success: Saddigh has beat out her male competitors several times.

The 28-year old hasn’t, however, broken down all gender barriers in Iran. When she bounds from her car and undoes her helmet, you will still find the traditional Islamic headscarf women are required to wear.
At every race, a man dedicated to the Islamic religion, watches the women to make sure they adhere to strict guidelines: "Of course the women must observe the Islamic customs," he explained. "As long as they're dressed, everything's fine."

Women in Motorsports Christmas Stories

AskPatty.com catches up with some of our fun, fearless women in motorsports to see what’s on their holiday agendas this week.

Jill George tells us:  I'm very excited about the Holidays!  I'm taking 5 days off from work and I'm going to do nothing but hang out with my family!  My husband, Rick and son, Jackson will spend Christmas Eve with my sister-in-law and her family and Christmas Day in Newton, Iowa with the rest of my family!

Jill’s New Year’s racing plans: We plan on racing as much as we can in 2008!  We are going to race the dirt late model at Farley, IA on Friday nights and Dubuque, IA on Sunday nights and follow the World Dirt Racing League as much as we can.  We are going to find a way to get as much asphalt experience as possible, too!  We are very excited for what 2008 has in store for us and our race team!

Leilani Munter Wants to Save the World

Leilani Munter has a split personality.

On one side she is a formidable opponent on the race track; on the other she is a fierce advocate of environmental issues.

“I realize that being a race car driver, I am not in an environmentally friendly sport,” says Munter. “However, I am finding ways to reduce my carbon footprint by finding ways to become carbon neutral such as using compact fluorescent bulbs, recycling, donating to green power when I pay my electric bill, and most of all using my voice to educate others.”