Louise Smith (July 31, 1916 – April 15, 2006) was tied for the second woman to race in NASCAR at the top level. She was known as "the first lady of racing."
Smith went as a spectator to her first NASCAR race at the Daytona Beach Road Course in 1949. She could not stand watching the races, so she entered her family's shiny new Ford coupe in the race and rolled it. Her hometown Greenville, South Carolina paper featured photos of the wreck, and the town knew about it before she got home.Motorsportshalloffame.com The race was the first race to feature three female drivers (Ethel Mobley and Sara Christian). The trio also competed later that season at the Langley Speedway.
Smith raced from 1949 to 1956. She won 38 races in her career in numerous formats: late models, modifieds (28 victories), midgets, and sportsman.
Car owner Smith returned in 1971 as a car owner for numerous drivers. She sponsored Ronnie Thomas' Rookie of the Year attempt in 1978.
Award Smith became the first woman inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999.
Motorsports career results NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Grand National Series NASCAR Grand National Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Pts 1949 Louise Smith 94 Ford CLT DAB HBO LAN HAM MAR HEI NWS 63rd 4 1950 DAB CLT LAN MAR CAN VER DAY MCF CLT HBO 109th - Nash DAY HAM DAR LAN NWS VER MAR WIN HBO 1952 Louise Smith Olds PBS DAB JSP NWS MAR CLB ATL CCS LAN DAR DAY CAN HAY FMS HBO CLT MSF NIF OSW MON MOR PPS MCF AWS DAR CCS LAN DAY WIL HBO MAR NWS ATL PBS 173rd -
Bibliography Fearless: The Story of Racing Legend Louise Smith (Dutton Books for Children) by Barb Rosenstock, 2010.
References
External links nascar.com Biography
Biography at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame Biography Laidback Racing site Obituary Louise Smith Biography