Woman nearing NHRA milestone

Tuesday, June 19, 2001

By Chris Dolack, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Shirley Muldowney was already an experienced drag racer in 1973 when she became the first woman to earn a license to compete in the NHRA Top Fuel division.

Muldowney then shattered the gender barrier when she won the Top Fuel championship in 1977.

During the past 23 years the number of women competing in the NHRA has increased, but only one woman has been able to excel on a consistent basis -- Pro Stock Motorcycle driver Angelle Savoie.

The reigning NHRA champion in her division, Savoie outlasted a competitive field Sunday in the Pontiac Excitement Nationals at National Trail Raceway in Kirkersville, Ohio, for her second victory of the season. In the final round, she blazed down the quarter-mile drag strip on her Suzuki in 7.242 seconds at 181.91 mph to beat points-leader Antron Brown. It was the third time in her career she has faced Brown in a final elimination and the first time she won.

The victory was the 17th of her career and moved her to within one of tying Muldowney as the winningest female driver in NHRA history. And although Savoie trails Brown in points, 544-539, she is more concerned with Muldowney's record than the championship.

"It seems like we've got the advantage now, and as long as I can continue to drive right, then we'll get the points lead back real soon," said Savoie, 31, a New Orleans native who also is a registered nurse. "I really don't care about the points lead right now. I've decided that my new goal is to beat Shirley Muldowney with the most wins. I used to not even care about that. I thought it was stupid, but it's gotten my mind off of getting the points lead. If I can just think about winning another race, then the points will come in the long run."

That might seem an odd way of thinking, but Savoie has good reason to want a distraction from the championship race. In 1999, she had a 14-point lead going into the final event and lost it all. She finished second, eight points behind Matt Hines.

"Thinking about points puts too much pressure on you," she said. "We have eight races to go, so it doesn't matter if I was fifth right now or if I was five places ahead. Eight races is a lot of points, it's a lot of rounds. If you let yourself think about points it's so easy to lose it. I know from experience. In 1999, I lost the whole thing, so I know it doesn't matter.

"Being the winningest female is something that really doesn't matter, it's just fun to think about, so that's what I'm going to focus on from now on."

Savoie said she doesn't believe Muldowney, who is expected to compete at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in August, will be too upset about losing the distinction of being the No. 1 female racer in the NHRA.

"I've only met her once, it was several years ago," Savoie said. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind. She's been the best for a really long time. It's always time for someone else."

For Savoie, that time should come before the Indianapolis event. Maybe then, she and Muldowney will have another chance to compare notes.