NHRA: Angelle Savoie Becomes Winningest Female In NHRA History

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

July 23, 2001

DENVER - Pro Stock Motorcycle driver Angelle Savoie tallied her 19th career victory at Sunday's Mopar Parts Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, eclipsing the legendary Shirley Muldowney's win total to become the winningest female racer in National Hot Rod Association history.

Savoie defeated Antron Brown in the finale with a track-record pass of 7.595 seconds at 171.01 mph on her Team Winston Suzuki, scoring her division-leading fourth victory of the season and extending her Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead to 72 points over Brown.

"When I started my Pro Stock Motorcycle career five years ago, I never in my wildest dreams expected to have this kind of success," Savoie said. "This is such an amazing accomplishment, to move past Shirley (Muldowney) as the winningest female driver in history. Shirley paved the way for women in motorsports and I have all the respect in the world for what she means to our sport."

Last season, Savoie collected her first NHRA Winston Drag Racing championship, joining Muldowney as the only female professional champions in NHRA history. Savoie is one of just six women to win a NHRA national event in the sanctioning body's 50-year history.

The others are Lori Johns (four wins), Shelley Anderson (four), Lucille Lee (one) and Cristen Powell (one). "I've got to give the credit for my career to Star Racing and my owners, George and Jackie Bryce," Savoie said. "They do all the hard work and took the risk to give me a shot in 1996. Without them, none of this would have been possible. I never thought this record would mean as much to me as it does, but this is one of the biggest thrills of my life."

Professional female competitors have posted victories at 47 of the 496 NHRA national events ever contested, recording a win every 10.6 events. Savoie has averaged one victory per 3.7 starts over her 71-race career.

Text provided by Marie Mason

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