Erin Crocker began racing at just 7 years old and was winning Mini Sports competitions by the time she hit her first teen years. When Crocker transitioned into professional racing, her first race was the World of Outlaws. She was quickly noticed and after winning five races she earned a National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Outstanding Newcomer Award.
In 2006, she began racing full-time for NASCAR. Crocker has an impressive record which includes over 39 races in both stock car and truck races. Crocker is currently married to former auto racing crew chief Ray Evernham, who was her former boss and team owner. Needless to say, he had a major impact on her and her racing career. She has since retired from racing and became a broadcaster for SPEED in 2008.
Tia Norfleet
Shauntia Latrice "Tia" Norfleet is one of America's most prominent female race car drivers. As the daughter of former NASCAR driver Bobby Norfleet, she had already shown an interest in the racing profession from the age of seven.
Tia says that she began competing in kart racing events at age 14, and by 24 she was already competing in entry-level Bandolero racing competitions. After that, Norfleet became the world's first African-American driver to purchase a NASCAR racing license, but this is where things get a little freaky.
Paige Decker
Paige Decker, Claire’s sister, also joined NASCAR at about the same time. Decker was named a NASCAR Drive for Diversity driver in 2014. Prior to that, she became the first woman and rookie to win the TUNDRA Super Late Model Tour at the Golden Sands Speedway event. Although she fared a bit better than her sister at the whole NASCAR experience, her time in the sport was also short-lived and ended in the same year as well.
The two sisters were joined by their cousin, Natalie Decker, who also managed to get into the NASCAR races through their Drive for Diversity program. Natalie was the most successful one of the three family members and continues racing to this day.
Sara Christian
Imagine being a professional NASCAR driver at a time when women were expected to stay at home and take care of the children. For Sara Christian, this was not an option. She spent years working hard to become the world’s first female NASCAR driver. By 1949, she drove her Ford at the Charlotte Speedway and finished in 13th place. She raced for a total of two years, starting in 1949 and finishing her racing career in 1950.
In 1949, the first female NASCAR driver competed in six out of eight events during her first and only full year. She came out in 13th place in the finals for that year. Also in 1949, Christian received the United States Drivers Association Woman Driver of the Year award. Later in 2004, Sara Christian was inducted into the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame. Our next driver actually began her career as a model, and became a NASCAR driver when she discovered her passion for racing…
Claire Decker
Clair Decker actually comes from a family of snowmobile racers. However, the athlete managed to get herself into the prestigious NASCAR sport through its Drive for Diversity program. The program's purpose is to attract females and other minorities to participate as drivers, owners, sponsors, and crew members in NASCAR, which is largely dominated today by men.
Decker has participated in two major NASCAR events throughout her career. These include the Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. In 2016 she finished in the 105th position during her only year in the sport and eventually stopped attending after her achievements were not where she wished they could be.