Athletes

Janet Guthrie was inducted as a charter member of the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. In February and May of 1977, respectively, she became the first woman to compete in the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. Overall, that year saw Guthrie finish as Top Rookie in the Daytona 500 and in four other NASCAR Cup races. At the 1978 Indianapolis 500, she finished ninth with a team she formed, owned and managed herself. Her best Indy-car finish (fifth) and best qualifying position (fourth) were not bettered by a woman for more than 20 years, by Sarah Fisher. In a career total of 33 NASCAR Cup races, her sixth-place finish at Bristol remains the best by a woman in the superspeedway era. Previously, she finished first in class in the Sebring 12-Hour in 1967 and 1970. Guthrie’s helmet and driver’s suit are in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution. Sports Illustrated called her 2005 autobiography, "Janet Guthrie: A Life at Full Throttle," "one of the most distinctive [books] ever written on racing, and one of the best." In 2006, she was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Away from the track, Guthrie often serves as a platform and keynote speaker. Her television credits include "James Michener’s Sports in America" and more than a dozen appearances on "Good Morning America." (9/08)