Shirley Muldowney Archives – Horsepower & Heels

Shirley mourns loss of son, John Muldowney

April 28, 2017 // by Horsepower & Heels

NHRA Top Fuel champion, Shirley Muldowney mourns the loss of her son, John Muldowney, who passed away at the age of 59 yesterday in Springfield, MO.

The only son of the drag racing trailblazer and her first husband Jack, John Muldowney grew up in the middle of the excitement surrounding Shirley and her legendary drag racing career. Beginning in elementary school, John always had a hand in helping his mom at the races. He packed parachutes, changed oil and spark plugs, and eventually went on to join the crew full-time after graduating from high school. A notable fabricator, he stayed working on her Top Fuel Dragsters as part of the crew throughout her career. He assisted his famous mother in her four Top Fuel championship runs (three in NHRA, one in AHRA).

After her retirement from Top Fuel and drag racing, John Muldowney continued in the sport, eventually working for a variety of other racing teams, machine shops and fabricators. Outside of the sport, he also worked as a fabricator for Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and even for NASA’s Space Shuttle program.

A statement from Muldowney’s camp listed the 59 year-old’s cause of death as a blood clot. Shirley Muldowney also added that in lieu of flowers, fans and friends are asked to consider making a donation to Shirley’s Kids, the 501(c)(3) charity created in Shirley Muldowney’s honor that helps kids in need at various stops on the NHRA tour.

Donations can easily be made at ShirleysKids.org.

Most Influential Woman of the Year 2016

January 4, 2017 // by Horsepower & Heels

The Most Influential Woman of the Year 2016 category received 28 nominations and 85 votes for the Horsepower & Heels Women of the Year Awards. These are women who not only excel in their fields, but also serve as ambassadors and help encourage and influence women in automotive and motorsports. This was one of the tightest races in the history of the awards, and at the end, it was a deadlocked decision.

Most Influential Woman of the Year 2016 – Shirley Muldowney/Erica Enders

A dead even finish resulted in the first two-way tie for the Most Influential Woman of the Year 2016 category winner. Horsepower & Heels is proud to announce the 2016 Women of the Year Most Influential category winners – Shirley Muldowney and Erica Enders!

Both of these NHRA Drag Racing ladies have made considerable contributions to the sport. Shirley Muldowney was one of the ground breaking women that helped to usher in female participation to the sport, winning countless races and championships in her time at the highest level of Top Fuel. Erica Enders is the modern day champion, a two-time NHRA Pro Stock World Champion, and one of the most prolific winning women in racing today.

Most Influential Woman of the Year 2016 Runner Up – Jessica Kennedy/Courtney Lambert

Where the women of drag racing dead-locked for the top spot, the women of the motorcycle world tied up the runner-up position. Shotgun Shock owner and go-to gal Jessica Kennedy, and Kory Souza Originals and Allstate Motorcycle spokesperson Courtney Lambert tied for the 2016 Horsepower & Heels Most Influential Woman of the Year 2016 Runner Up positions.

Most Influential Woman of the Year 2016 Nominees

Kayli Barker
Elaine Larsen
Janette Thornley
Cheryl Hryn
Terri Chandler
Sarah Burgess
Leah Pritchett
Courtney Force
Sarah Boyce
Alexis DeJoria
Kate Gundlach
Brittany Force
Shannon Giust
Aileen Collins-Love
Annamarie Strawhand
Sara Price
Marina Anderson
Megan Meyer
Ellen Eschenbacher
Karen Sullivan
Susan Roush
Ariel Biggs

Shirley Muldowney diagnosed with Lung Cancer

May 24, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Legendary NHRA three-time Top Fuel World Champion and Women in Racing pioneer, Shirley Muldowney has been diagnosed with Lung Cancer, reported today by NHRA.com. The 75 year-old has been diagnosed with Stage 2 lung cancer, and is scheduled to undergo surgery at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in downtown Charlotte, NC early tomorrow morning to remove the tumor from her right lung.

Renowned thoracic and cardiac surgeon Dr. Harold Howe will lead the team performing the five-hour-long procedure.

I urge everyone to keep up with their health and get chest X-rays as often as possible to make sure they are OK,” the 75-year-old Muldowney said. “I’m a fighter, always have been, and I’m going to fight this as best I can with everything I got. Dr. Howe is the No. 1 guy in the business, and he’s as ready as I am to get this thing out of me.”

Muldowney began her racing career in the 1950s, becoming the first woman to earn a professional NHRA license in 1965. She raced gas dragsters before graduating to Funny Car, winning her first major race in 1971 at the IHRA Southern Nationals. She moved onto Top Fuel in 1973, and was the first woman to win an NHRA Professional class race in 1976 at the Columbus, OH Springnationals.

In 1974, she earned the NHRA Top Fuel championship after becoming the first driver in the class to win three consecutive national events. It was the first time a female driver had won a major motorsports title anywhere in the world. Muldowney earned the Top Fuel crown again in 1980 and 1982, and she earned the AHRA Top Fuel championship in 1981, her fourth major championship in a six-year period.

“The fans have always been what’s kept me going, and I’m sure people will be concerned about me now,” said Muldowney, who had a movie, Heart Like a Wheel, made about her life. “Well don’t be; I’ll be fine. There’s still a lot of things left I want to do.”

In lieu of flowers or cards, Muldowney is asking her friends and fans to donate to her charity, Shirley’s Kids. Muldowney has championed the charity this season, and already has helped four children in need with large cash donations at races in Gainesville, Charlotte, Houston, and Atlanta. Because of corporate support, Shirley’s Kids gives 100 percent of all donations to the children it helps.

The most joy I’ve had in years has come this season working with our little team at Shirley’s Kids,” Muldowney said. “Stan and Sheila Mae Holt have covered all our costs so all the money we raise goes to the kids, and Rob Geiger, Nicci Gustavus, and Frank Bellini have worked tirelessly to make this thing a success. If people can find it in their hearts to make a donation, that would brighten my spirits immensely because I know where all the money in this charity goes — right to the kids that need it. And believe me, we have changed some people’s lives for the better. “

Due to her current medical condition and the doctor-recommended recovery and rehabilitation time, Muldowney’s agent, Geiger, announced that scheduled appearances at the NHRA national events in Englishtown and Bristol will be canceled. Her future schedule will be largely dependent on her health moving forward, and other appearance dates will be announced on ShirleysKids.org.

Thank you in advance for all the love and prayers. It all helps. My sister [Linda Roque] and niece [Betty Peek] along with Stan and Sheila are here with me, so I’m in great hands.”

Top 5 Greatest Women Drivers in Motorsports of All-Time

March 29, 2016 // by Matthew Young

Motorsport, just like many other sports, is male dominated. If you ask both men and women why it is like that, you will get a myriad of responses. Some will say that this is due to the sport requiring physical strength, hunger, and determination that is ostensibly a domain of men. Yet, if you go over the history of motorsport, you will notice that women have been there all along. However, the numbers indicate that female drivers are a rare breed. There are some great female drivers and below we take a look at the top five greatest women drivers in motorsport of all time.

5. Lyn St. James

Lyn’s love for cars began at a young age because of her father’s love for machines and her mother using a car because she was crippled. Although she studied music in high school and became a piano teacher, she soon found out that she also had a passion for car racing. She got into racing in 1964 after critiquing a loser of a race who told her to try and do better. Lyn went on to win the race. She was the Indie Rookie of the year in 1992 and the fastest Indy 500 woman of 1995. Those are the two notable victories she is remembered for in motorsport. Lyn St. James is the first female to win Indie Rookie of the year. St James contested 15 Indy races and scored one top 10 finish.

4. Lella Lombardi

Her interest in racing began while being driven to the hospital at breakneck speed after a hand injury sustained playing handball. Lella started saving money hard, passed her driving test and finally bought herself second hand Fiat. Her career was going nowhere until she met a racing driver and began to work as a gofer for him. She became his co-driver and soon won her first race after she was given the chance. Her name is written in Formula One history as the first woman to have scored points in a championship race. Her notable accolades are the Ford Mexico Series Championship in 1973 and the Spanish Grand Prix of 1975 where she finished sixth.

3. Pat Moss

It is hard to picture someone coming from driving Land Rovers to car racing. Yes, that is possible, and that is what set the successful foundation for her racing career that lasted 20 years. Though she got lessons from her famous brother Sterling, the love of driving Land Rovers on the farm had a significant influence on her rally career. She is recognized for her participation in the Liege rally of 1960 and the Tulip Rally of 1962. Her other notable accolades include winning the European Ladies’ Rally Championship five times, and the Mote Carlo Rally eight times.

2. Shirley Muldowney

There is no better way to describe Shirley Muldowney than to call her the first lady of drag racing. Her love for car racing comes from her husband Jack Muldowney, who she got married to aged 16. She is ranked fifth by NHRA in its list of top 50 all-time greatest drivers, proving just how good she really was. Shirley Muldowney is the first female driver to win an NHRA national event. Her other accomplishments in motorsport includes winning NHRA Top Fuel World Championship in 1977, 1980, and 1982. Because of her success in motorsports as a woman, she was inducted into International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2004.

1. Michele Mouton

Michele Mouton started as a rally co-driver to her friend. After being a co-driver for a few races, her father asked her to try it herself, and after she had agreed, her father bought her a rally car so that she could compete with men in one of the most difficult rallies in France. She is remembered for her participation in 1981 Sanremo rally, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb rally of 1985, and German Rally Championship of 1986. Once she stared racing on her own, it did not take long for her to get noticed. She is also the founder of Race of Champions.

More female drivers have had success in motorsports, but the above are the top five of all-time. Do you agree with our selection? If not, who else do you think should be included in the list?

Shirley’s Kids

March 10, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

One of the pioneers for women in motorsports, Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney, will return to NHRA drag racing in 2016 at select stops on the schedule in support of the newly created Shirley’s Kids charity, which aims to help children in need.

“Drag racing has given me a wonderful life, and Shirley’s Kids will allow me to give something back,” Muldowney said. “With the tremendous support of Stan and Sheila Holt of Lupe Tortilla Mexican Restaurants and several corporate sponsors — that list keeps growing — I’ll be able to attend a bunch of races and visit with all of my friends and the great fans that have been with me for four-plus decades.”

Shirley’s Kids (www.ShirleysKids.org) aims to meet the goal of helping children in need at each of the races Muldowney attends in the coming year. The hope is to find children who are connected to drag racing in the various communities that have helped the sport prosper through the years.

“I wanted to be back out there more than I have been the last several years, but I wanted a purpose,” Muldowney said. “When my agent, Rob Geiger of Geiger Media Global, approached me with the idea to create a non-profit to benefit children, I probably had the quickest reaction time of my career in saying yes.”

Shirley Muldowney is slated to attend the NHRA national events Gainesville, Charlotte (both spring and fall), Houston, Atlanta, Englishtown, Bristol, Denver, Indy, Dallas, Las Vegas 2, and Pomona 2, as well as the Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals in Tulsa, Okla. Other events may be added throughout the year.

“By starting our own 501(c)(3) charity, we will know exactly where all of the money goes, and that’s to the kids. Other charities become businesses and a lot of money ends up going to a lot of different areas, not the beneficiaries. We didn’t want that to happen, so we’ve taken all the legal steps to control everything. It’s the best way we know to make sure the kids are taken care of every time, and we will be fully transparent.”

A replica of Shirley Muldowney's 1977 dragster will be raffled for Shirley's Kids — Photo: Shirley Muldowney

Working in conjunction with NHRA, Muldowney will mingle with fans to spread the message about the Shirley’s Kids mission. The charity also has a race car in the works that will be raffled off to raise money – a replica of Muldowney’s 1977 championship-winning dragster. The car will be built to run in the Super Comp category and at bracket races. It will be on display in the Manufacturers Midway.

The three-time NHRA champ will present a big Shirley’s Kids check to a selected child benefactor at each race during driver introductions on Sunday morning.

“Many, many thanks to NHRA President Peter Clifford and his staff for their help in getting this started,” Muldowney said. “They have been so gracious and supportive and I thank them from my heart. I’m excited. You know, at 75 and with the injuries I sustained in my career really catching up with me, my driving days are over, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be a part of this wonderful world, and helping kids just makes it that much sweeter.”

Fans interested in learning more about Shirley’s Kids can visit www.ShirleysKids.org. Donations can be made on the website, with thank-you gifts up for grabs. There will also be a line of Muldowney apparel and gear available at the PiranaZ souvenir trailer.

Shirley Muldowney resigns from B.R.A.K.E.S.

December 2, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

NHRA legend Shirley Muldowney recently announced her resignation from the Board of Directors at B.R.A.K.E.S., a North Carolina-based charity that promotes safe driving among teenagers. The four-time world champion moved to the Charlotte area from her longtime home in Michigan to assist with the foundation, formed by fellow Top Fuel drag racer. Doug Herbert after the tragic loss of his two sons.

“An opportunity has come up with another entity that will be a really wonderful deal for me personally, so I have resigned from B.R.A.K.E.S. effective immediately,” Muldowney said.

Shirley, who also was linked to a proposed Streamliner Land Speed record attempt project with Doug Herbert, said that her new schedule and 2016 plans will not allow her the time to participate in the program going forward. Though she didn’t elaborate on her 2016 plans, she did announce that she will be present at more NHRA races throughout the season, and will even launch a new Shirley Muldowney apparel line with PiranaZ through her new public relations team at Geiger Media.

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. 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.”

John Force asks Shirley Muldowney for advice (Video)

November 6, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

What happens when you open the floor at the Women of NHRA Breakfast to questions? You get a rare moment on the mic when John Force asks Shirley Muldowney for advice on his daughter, Courtney Force’s love life.

John Force asks Shirley Muldowney for love life advice

Source: @TerryBlountNHRA | Twitter

Mother of drag racing

May 11, 2008 // by Horsepower & Heels

Its Mother’s Day, and I thought I’d pay tribute to a different kind of mother…. the Mother of Drag Racing.

Shirley Muldowney is undeniably the Mother of Drag Racing. She came to find drag racing in its infancy, back in the 60’s, when women were not expected or ALLOWED to be involved in such a sport. She fought for acceptance when most would not allow her in their midst, gaining her NHRA competition license in 1965 through much trouble and discouragement. No only would she show that a female could drive a car faster than stock, but she worked up the ladder all the way to the pinnacle class of the sport, Top Fuel, where she competed for over 30 years.

Shirley’s hard fought battles opened the doors for all of us women in drag racing and in all motorsports. She was the first woman to win a major autosport in 1976 at the NHRA Spring Nationals, and went on to win 3 World Championships in her Top Fuel career.

Though the gender barrier can still sometimes exist today, Shirley pioneered the sport for all women and made it easier to be accepted in a man’s world. Each of us women involved in racing today owes a lot to the woman who fought the fight for us early on, and made our dreams possible.

This mother’s day goes out to our own Mother of Drag Racing, Shirley Muldowney!