Shirley Muldowney is a retired American drag racer whose success helped change the position of women in professional motorsports. Known as the “First Lady of Drag Racing,” she became the first woman licensed to compete in NHRA Top Fuel and later the first woman to win an NHRA professional event and world championship.
Muldowney won three NHRA Top Fuel championships—in 1977, 1980, and 1982—and recorded 18 NHRA national-event victories. Her career also included a recovery from a serious 1984 crash and a return to competition before her retirement in 2003.
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Profile Summary
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Shirley Ann Muldowney |
| Birth name | Shirley Ann Roque |
| Known as | Shirley Muldowney |
| Nicknames | “Cha Cha,” “First Lady of Drag Racing” |
| Date of birth | June 19, 1940 |
| Age | 86 years old as of July 2026 |
| Birthplace | Burlington, Vermont, United States |
| Raised in | Schenectady, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Retired drag racer |
| Racing categories | Top Gas, Funny Car, Top Fuel |
| Career period | 1958–2003 |
| NHRA Top Fuel titles | 1977, 1980, 1982 |
| NHRA national-event wins | 18 |
| Parents | Belgium Benedict Roque and Mae Roque |
| First husband | Jack Muldowney, married 1956–1972 |
| Second husband | Rahn Tobler, married 1988–2006 |
| Child | John Muldowney |
Early Life and Background
Shirley Ann Roque was born on June 19, 1940, in Burlington, Vermont. Her parents were Belgium Benedict Roque and Mae Roque. She grew up in Schenectady, New York, where she developed an interest in cars and racing during the 1950s.
At 16, she married Jack Muldowney, who taught her to drive and built her first dragster. Although the marriage ended in 1972, Jack played an important role in the early development of her racing career. The couple had one son, John Muldowney, who later worked as part of his mother’s racing operation.
Muldowney made her formal drag-racing debut at Fonda Speedway in New York in 1958. She initially competed with stock-bodied cars before progressing to specialized dragsters.
Career and Professional Journey
Early Competition and NHRA Licensing
Muldowney received her NHRA professional dragster license in 1965. At a time when few women were given opportunities in professional automobile racing, the license represented an important step in her progression through the sport.
She competed at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in 1969 and 1970 with a twin-engine Top Gas dragster. As the Top Gas category declined, she moved into Funny Car competition and purchased a car from racer and team owner Connie Kalitta.
Muldowney won the International Hot Rod Association Southern Nationals in 1971, one of the first major victories of her career. Her time in Funny Car was affected by several fires, contributing to her decision to pursue Top Fuel racing.
Move to Top Fuel
In 1973, Muldowney became the first woman to earn an NHRA Top Fuel license. Don Garlits, Tommy Ivo, and Connie Kalitta were among the established racers who approved her licensing runs.
She began competing in Top Fuel during the 1974 season. In 1975, she became the first woman to reach the final round of an NHRA Top Fuel event, finishing as runner-up at both the Springnationals and U.S. Nationals.
Her major breakthrough came at the 1976 NHRA Springnationals in Columbus, Ohio. Muldowney defeated Bob Edwards in the final to become the first woman to win an NHRA professional-class national event. She also became the first woman to qualify in the No. 1 position in an NHRA professional category.
Three NHRA Top Fuel Championships
Muldowney won her first NHRA Top Fuel world championship in 1977. The result made her the first woman to win an NHRA professional racing championship.
She secured a second Top Fuel title in 1980. In the modern NHRA points era, she was the first driver to win the championship twice.
Muldowney added an American Hot Rod Association world championship in 1981. The following year, she earned her third NHRA Top Fuel title, becoming the first Top Fuel racer to win three world championships.
Across her NHRA career, she won 18 national events. Her results established her as a leading competitor rather than simply a participant breaking a gender barrier.
The 1984 Crash and Return to Racing
In 1984, Muldowney was seriously injured in a crash at Sanair Speedway near Montreal, Canada. The accident caused extensive injuries to her hands, pelvis, and legs and required several operations followed by a lengthy rehabilitation.
The crash interrupted her career but did not end it. After approximately 18 months of recovery, she returned to a race car and received recognition for her comeback.
During the 1990s, Muldowney continued racing in International Hot Rod Association events and independent match races. She also returned to selected NHRA events toward the end of her career.
Muldowney retired from competitive motorsports in 2003, ending a career that had lasted approximately 45 years.
Family and Racing Partnerships
Muldowney’s first marriage to Jack Muldowney lasted from 1956 until 1972. Their son, John, became involved in her racing team and worked alongside her during portions of her career.
In 1988, she married Rahn Tobler, an accomplished drag-racing crew chief. Tobler had worked on her team and contributed to her championship campaigns, including her 1980 and 1982 NHRA titles. Their marriage ended in 2006.
Major Achievements and Recognition
Muldowney’s most important competitive achievements were her three NHRA Top Fuel championships and 18 national-event victories. She also recorded several notable firsts:
- First woman to earn an NHRA Top Fuel license
- First woman to reach an NHRA Top Fuel final
- First female winner in an NHRA professional category
- First woman to win an NHRA professional world championship
- First Top Fuel racer to win three world championships
In 1975, she became the first woman selected for the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association’s Auto Racing All-America Team. She was selected for the team five times during her career.
Muldowney entered the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1990. In 2001, the NHRA ranked her fifth on its list of the 50 greatest drivers from the organization’s first 50 years.
She was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2005.
Her career was portrayed in the 1983 film Heart Like a Wheel, with Bonnie Bedelia playing Muldowney. Although the film presented a dramatized version of events, it brought wider public attention to her racing career.
Muldowney’s influence extends beyond her records. Her ability to win races and championships challenged established assumptions about women competing at the highest levels of drag racing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Shirley Muldowney?
Shirley Muldowney was born on June 19, 1940. She is 86 years old as of July 2026.
Why is Shirley Muldowney famous?
Muldowney is famous for her pioneering NHRA career. She was the first woman licensed for NHRA Top Fuel competition, the first female winner of an NHRA professional event, and the first woman to win an NHRA professional world championship.
How many NHRA championships did Shirley Muldowney win?
She won three NHRA Top Fuel championships. Her title-winning seasons were 1977, 1980, and 1982. She also won an American Hot Rod Association world championship in 1981.
What happened to Shirley Muldowney in 1984?
Muldowney sustained serious injuries in a crash at Sanair Speedway near Montreal. She underwent multiple operations and extensive rehabilitation before returning to racing.
Who were Shirley Muldowney’s husbands?
She was married to Jack Muldowney from 1956 to 1972 and to crew chief Rahn Tobler from 1988 to 2006. She and Jack had one son, John Muldowney.
Conclusion
Shirley Muldowney established one of the most significant careers in drag-racing history. She won 18 NHRA national events and three Top Fuel championships while achieving several firsts for women in professional motorsports.
Her career included early success in Top Gas and Funny Car, a historic rise through Top Fuel, and a return to competition after a severe accident. Her championship record, long competitive career, and Hall of Fame recognition confirm her lasting importance to the NHRA and American auto racing.
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