NASCAR Women: At the Heart of Racing

Though too few fans realize it, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series wouldn't be possible without the participation of a remarkable range of women. In NASCAR Women: At the Heart of Racing, author Denise Wood profiles a cross-section of women—from driver's wives to top executives and team owners—who have been instrumental in making NASCAR America's biggest spectator sport.

Wood, who played her own part as a racing journalist and team PR executive, tells the stories of 13 of NASCAR's most notable women. Among them:

Stevie Waltrip, wife of three-time Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip, who fought to allow women into garages so they could support their husbands with timing, scoring, and fuel economy calculations.
Deb Williams, one of NASCAR's first and most widely read female reporters.
Lesa France Kennedy, president of International Speedway Corporation, which owns and operates Daytona International Speedway and 11 other NASCAR tracks.
Gail Davis, who, with her husband, Bill, established a successful trucking company before starting their own teams in NASCAR's Busch and Winston Cup Series.

While each woman's story is unique, they all share a common theme—the struggle to win a position in a highly competitive environment that until recently was overwhekmingly dominated by men.

NASCAR Women: At the Heart of Racing offers revealing insights and anecdotes about the sport and business of stock car racing, told through the voices of its unsung heroines.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Nancy Andretti
Debbie Benson
Gail Davis
Danielle Frye
Lesa France Kennedy
Katie Kenseth
Arlene Martin
Andrea Nemechek
Jackie Pegram
Pattie Petty
Buffy Waltrip
Stevie Waltrip
Deb Williams

About the Author

Denise Wood became involved with racing in 1989 as a journalist with The Richmond Times-Dispatch in Richmond, Virginia, and the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia. In 1995, she became a sponsor public relations representative for Sports Marketing Enterprises. Since then she has also done public relations work for RCA and Roush Racing.