Tammy Jo Kirk
Encyclopedia
Tammy Jo Kirk is a racecar and motorcycle
racer. She was the first woman to race in the NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series
and later returned to NASCAR to run the Busch Series
. She has not driven in NASCAR since 2003.
. She became the first woman in history to reach a Grand National Championship final when she earned a spot in the 1983 Knoxville Half Mile event. In 1986, she made history by winning a Class C flat track race in Knoxville, Tennessee
. After she retired from motorcycle racing, she moved on to late model racing. In 1994, she was named the Most Popular Driver in NASCAR's Slim Jim All Pro Series, and would finish sixth in that series' points two years later. Kirk became the second woman to win a NASCAR touring series event (Shawna Robinson
in 1988) when she won the 1994 Snowball Derby
, then in the All Pro Series.
Craftsman Truck Series
. She signed with Geoff Bodine Racing
with Loveable as the sponsor of her #7 Ford F-150. She made her debut in 1997 at the Walt Disney World Speedway
, qualifying 9th and finishing 24th. Two races later at Portland Speedway
, she qualified 3rd. Her best finish that year was an 11th at Heartland Park Topeka
. After the Federated Auto Parts 250, she was released, but was able to run one race apiece with MacDonald Motorsports
and Circle Bar Racing
. When the season was over, she had run 19 races and had finished sixth in the Rookie of the Year
chase.
For 1998, she started her own team. Unfortunately, she only made thirteen starts because of a lack of sponsors for her #51 Ford. The season was marked with 6 DNF's. Her best finish that year was 13th at Bristol
. She finished 29th in points that year. Unfortunately, she still did not acquire any sponsors, and she shut down her team in 1999. She would not race in the Truck Series again.
In 2003, she returned to NASCAR, driving the #49 Advil
Ford Taurus
for Jay Robinson Racing
in the Busch Series. In 15 races, her best finish was 21st at the Trim Spa Dream Body 250. After the season was over, she was released.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
racer. She was the first woman to race in the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
and later returned to NASCAR to run the Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
. She has not driven in NASCAR since 2003.
Early life
Kirk began her racing career in motorcycles in the A.M.A. Grand National ChampionshipA.M.A. Grand National Championship
The AMA Grand National Championship is an American motorcycle racing series. The race series, founded and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association in 1954, originally encompassed five distinct forms of competitions including; mile dirt track races, half-mile, short-track, TT...
. She became the first woman in history to reach a Grand National Championship final when she earned a spot in the 1983 Knoxville Half Mile event. In 1986, she made history by winning a Class C flat track race in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. After she retired from motorcycle racing, she moved on to late model racing. In 1994, she was named the Most Popular Driver in NASCAR's Slim Jim All Pro Series, and would finish sixth in that series' points two years later. Kirk became the second woman to win a NASCAR touring series event (Shawna Robinson
Shawna Robinson
Shawna Robinson is a former NASCAR driver.Robinson began her racing career in 1984 in the GATR Truck Series, winning rookie of the year honors in 1984 as well as a race at Flemington Speedway in 1987. She began racing NASCAR in 1988, when she was named Rookie of the Year in the now-defunct Dash...
in 1988) when she won the 1994 Snowball Derby
Snowball Derby
The Snowball Derby is a 300-lap super late model stock car automobile race held annually at the half-mile Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. The race has been contested every year since 1968 and is always run on the first weekend in December...
, then in the All Pro Series.
Craftsman Trucks & Busch Series
In 1997, Kirk made the next big step as she moved to the NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
. She signed with Geoff Bodine Racing
Geoff Bodine Racing
Geoff Bodine Racing is a former NASCAR Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck Series team. It was owned and operated by former NASCAR driver Geoffrey Bodine following his purchase of the estate of Alan Kulwicki. He remained owner of the team until the 1998 season, when he sold the operation to Jim Mattei...
with Loveable as the sponsor of her #7 Ford F-150. She made her debut in 1997 at the Walt Disney World Speedway
Walt Disney World Speedway
Walt Disney World Speedway is a racing facility located on the grounds of the Walt Disney World resort near Orlando, Florida.It was built in 1995 by IMS Events, Inc., a subsidiary of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation, and was designed primarily as a venue for the Indy 200 at Walt Disney...
, qualifying 9th and finishing 24th. Two races later at Portland Speedway
Portland Speedway
Portland Speedway was a half-mile race track for auto racing in Portland, Oregon, U.S. It was in existence from 1924 until mid-2000.The track began as a five-eighths-mile clay oval in 1924 on the site of a field in north Portland...
, she qualified 3rd. Her best finish that year was an 11th at Heartland Park Topeka
Heartland Park Topeka
Heartland Park Topeka is a multi-purpose motorsports facility located south of Topeka, Kansas.When it opened in 1989, it was the first brand-new auto racing facility to be built in the United States for 20 years. Its facilities include a road-race course with 4 possible configurations , a ⅜ mile...
. After the Federated Auto Parts 250, she was released, but was able to run one race apiece with MacDonald Motorsports
MacDonald Motorsports
MacDonald Motorsports is a NASCAR team owned by former driver Randy MacDonald and his wife Pat. They field the #81 Eagle Convenience Stores/Heartland Harley Davidson Dodge Challenger for Donnie Neuenberger, Scott Wimmer and rookie Blake Koch in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
and Circle Bar Racing
Circle Bar Racing
Circle Bar Racing is an auto racing team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The team is owned by Tom Mitchell, and they hold the distinction of having one of the longest lasting teams in the Truck Series. They field the #14 Ford F-150...
. When the season was over, she had run 19 races and had finished sixth in the Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
chase.
For 1998, she started her own team. Unfortunately, she only made thirteen starts because of a lack of sponsors for her #51 Ford. The season was marked with 6 DNF's. Her best finish that year was 13th at Bristol
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
. She finished 29th in points that year. Unfortunately, she still did not acquire any sponsors, and she shut down her team in 1999. She would not race in the Truck Series again.
In 2003, she returned to NASCAR, driving the #49 Advil
Advil
Advil is a brand of ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug . Advil is manufactured by Pfizer and has been on the market since 1984.-History:...
Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
for Jay Robinson Racing
Jay Robinson Racing
Jay Robinson Racing is a racing team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Currently, they field the #28 MAXelence Chevrolet Impala for Derrike Cope. Formed in 1995, they moved to the Nationwide Series in 2000, where they have attempted both full-time and part-time schedules.- Car #28...
in the Busch Series. In 15 races, her best finish was 21st at the Trim Spa Dream Body 250. After the season was over, she was released.