Groundbreaking Drag Racer Opens Her Heart To A Sonoma Landmark

No one could blame Shirley Muldowney if she complained of writer's cramp after more than two hours of signing autographs Friday at Sonoma's Infineon Raceway.

The line of drag racing fans that wound from the winner's circle around the main grandstand astounded the legendary driver.

"I can't think of anyone I'd stand in line for hours just to get an autograph," Muldowney said earlier in the week. "Well, maybe (Funny Car driver) Matt Hagan. I'd stand on broken glass for him."

Nevertheless, Muldowney remains one of the most popular and captivating personalities in racing. She shattered the gender barrier in the 1970s when she became the first woman to win an NHRA Top Fuel race and then cemented her place in history with the first of her three world championships. She won a record 18 national events during her career.

Muldowney is a lot of things: determined, funny, charming … but she would never be described as "soft." She says bygones are bygones, but she still gets worked up as she recalls the battles when she went toe-to-toe with Don Garlits and Don "The Snake" Prudhomme.

Prudhomme will join Infineon Raceway's Wall of Fame in a ceremony Sunday as part of the FRAM/Autolite NHRA Nationals.

This is Muldowney's first trip to Infineon Raceway in 20 years. A lot of things have changed, but there's still one constant.

"I met Georgia Seipel more than 20 years ago. She's a wonderful person," Muldowney said of Infineon Raceway's dragstrip manager. "She always loved the sport as much as I did. Her son is racing now, I understand. It was just great to see Georgia again."

Muldowney's career was captured in the 1982 movie Heart Like A Wheel, which will be shown at the Sebastiani Theatre on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Muldowney and her former rival Garlits will be on hand to help raise funds for the historic movie house. Tickets are $10 for the movie, or $50 for a VIP package, which includes a meet-and-greet with Muldowney and Garlits.

Muldowney recalled the casting call for the movie. Bonnie Bedelia captured the starring role, but Muldowney thought another young actress could have done a better job of portraying her.

"Bonnie was soft, soft as a marshmallow. Beau Bridges was great as Connie Kalitta, but Bonnie was too soft," Muldowney said. "During auditions there was another actress who blew me away, and that was Jamie Lee Curtis."

Muldowney is a key part of NHRA's history, but she looks toward Pro Stock driver Erica Enders as the sport's future. Enders is seventh in the standings entering Sunday's final eliminations.

"Erica is a favorite of mine," said Muldowney, who helps promote female drivers through the Women in the Winner's Circle program. "She's an amazing driver and she's having such a great year."