Current female NASCAR drivers are Danica Patrick, Natalie Decker, Hailie Deegan, Kayli Barker, Mackena Bell, Toni Breidinger, and Amber Cope.
One of the most popular motorsports in the United States has been dominated by male drivers. However, many female drivers are making their impression in racing in recent years.
At least 125 women, including 16 in the NASCAR Cup Series have qualified for and started race in one of the NASCAR's touring series. Sara Christian was the first female race car driver in NASCAR history.
Natalie Decker, who has been racing since she was 9 years old, and Toni Breidinger, the first Arab-American female NASCAR racer are showing the way for the next generation of female drivers.
However, in today's context, the increase in female NASCAR drivers highlights how racing is becoming more diverse and how women are getting the chance to compete at the highest levels.
Danica Patrick - 41 Years Old
Danica Patrick started in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010 driving stock cars. She won the title of the highest-finishing female in NASCAR history in Las Vegas.
Danica is one of the top female drivers in NASCAR who has achieved a number of accomplishments throughout her career. She is also the first woman to ever win an IndyCar race.
She made her IndyCar Series debut with Rahal Letterman Racing in 2005, winning three pole positions to tie Tomas Scheckter's record for most in a rookie season.
Patrick received the Rookie of the Year award for the 2005 IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. Patrick began competing in the Sprint Cup Series in 2012.
Danica completed the quickest qualifying lap for the 2013 Daytona 500 and finished seventh to become the first female to win a Cup Series pole position.
Patrick beat Sara Christian's 62-year record to finish fourth in the Sam's Town 300 race, becoming the highest-finishing female in national NASCAR history at Las Vegas.
Natalie Decker - 26 Years Old
Natalie Decker competes as a part-time racer in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series. Natalie has raced in the NASCAR Truck Series and the Trans-Am Series.
She participated in the 2015 Drive for Diversity competition and the 2016 Alan Kulwicki Driver Development competition. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021, Natalie made her NASCAR debut while driving RSS Racing/Reaume Brothers Racing's No. 23.
Talking about her early career, when Deceker was 12 years old, she started racing in 4-cylinder modified stock vehicles. She progressed to the Super Stock division in 2011 and took home the class title at Marshfield Motor Speedway in 2012.
Natalie started competing in the ARCA Midwest Tour and won the 2013 Rookie of the Year award after coming in third in the final standings.
Decker has signed a contract with Emerling-Gase Motorsports to race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series on a part-time basis in 2023.
