Monday 7th March 1938
Born on this day, Janet Guthrie, the first woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 races. In 1976, she was the first woman to compete in a National Association of Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) Winston Cup superspeedway race. The following year, she broke the gender barrier again, becoming the first female driver in the Daytona 500, where she finished in 12th place and earned Top Rookie honors. Known today as the “Super Bowl of stock car racing,” the 200-lap, 500-race first was held in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1959. Also in 1977, Guthrie became the first female driver ever to qualify for and compete in the famed Indianapolis 500.