Shirley Muldowney is a legendary American drag racing champion who broke gender barriers in motorsports. Known as “Cha Cha” and the “First Lady of Drag Racing,” she became the first woman licensed to drive a Top Fuel dragster by the NHRA. The racing icon won three NHRA World Championships and 18 national events during her groundbreaking career that spanned over four decades.
Shirley Muldowney Biography
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Shirley Ann Roque Muldowney |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | June 19, 1940 |
| Age | 85 years old (as of February 2026) |
| Place of birth | Burlington, Vermont, USA |
| Current residence | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Zodiac sign | Gemini |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) |
| Weight | 156 lbs (71 kg) |
| Hair colour | Blonde |
| Eye colour | Hazel |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Rahn Tobler (m. 1988) |
| Children | 1 (John Muldowney, deceased 2017) |
| Profession | Professional drag racer (retired) |
| Net worth | $10 million (estimated) |
Who is Shirley Muldowney?
Shirley Muldowney is a retired professional drag racer who made history as the first woman to compete successfully in Top Fuel drag racing.
Born Shirley Ann Roque on June 19, 1940, in Burlington, Vermont, she grew up in Schenectady, New York. Her racing career began in the late 1950s and continued until her retirement in 2003.
Muldowney shattered stereotypes in the male-dominated world of motorsports. She received her NHRA professional license in 1965 and became the first woman licensed to drive a Top Fuel dragster in 1973.
Her achievements opened doors for future generations of female racers and earned her recognition as one of the greatest drivers in NHRA history.
The racing pioneer was ranked number five on the NHRA’s 50th Anniversary list of its Top 50 Drivers from 1951-2000.
She has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1990, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2004, and the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2005.
What is Shirley Muldowney’s net worth?
As of 2026, Shirley Muldowney’s net worth is estimated at $10 million. She built this fortune through her successful drag racing career, which included winning three NHRA World Championships and 18 national events. Her earnings came from race winnings, sponsorships, appearance fees, and endorsements.
The 1983 biographical film “Heart Like a Wheel” about her life also contributed to her wealth and fame. The movie starred Bonnie Bedelia as Muldowney and brought mainstream attention to her achievements.
She published her autobiography “Shirley Muldowney’s Tales from the Track” in 2005, which added to her income.
Muldowney continues to earn money through personal appearances at racing events, autograph signings, and memorabilia sales.
In 2024, a FOX documentary titled “Shirley” detailed her life and career, introducing her story to new generations of racing fans.
How old is Shirley Muldowney? Age and birthday
Shirley Muldowney is 85 years old as of February 2026. She was born on June 19, 1940, in Burlington, Vermont. Her zodiac sign is Gemini.
The drag racing legend celebrated her 85th birthday in June 2025 and remains active in the motorsports community through appearances at racing events and her charitable work.
Shirley Muldowney’s height, weight, and body measurements
Shirley Muldowney stands 5 feet 7 inches tall (1.70 meters) and weighs approximately 156 pounds (71 kilograms).
She has blonde hair and hazel eyes. During her racing career, her physical stature proved that size and strength were not barriers to success in Top Fuel drag racing, where precision, reflexes, and mental toughness matter most.
Career
Early racing beginnings
Shirley Muldowney’s passion for racing began in the 1950s when she was a teenager in Schenectady, New York.
She married Jack Muldowney at age 16 in 1956, and he built her first dragster. Jack taught her how to drive and served as her mechanic. The couple had a son, John, in 1958.
Muldowney made her official racing debut in 1958 at age 18 at the Fonda Speedway dragstrip. She competed in local street races and quickly developed her skills behind the wheel. In 1965, she obtained her NHRA professional license, becoming one of the first women to do so.
The “Cha Cha” nickname
Muldowney earned her famous “Cha Cha” nickname in the late 1950s. A tech worker at a dragstrip in Sanford, Maine, wrote the name in shoe polish on the side of her pink race car in 1958. The nickname stuck and became synonymous with her racing persona throughout her career.
Transition to Top Fuel
After competing in Top Gas with a twin-engine dragster at the 1969 and 1970 U.S. Nationals, Muldowney switched to Funny Car racing in the early 1970s.
She purchased her first Funny Car from legendary racer Connie Kalitta. After her divorce from Jack Muldowney in 1972, she partnered with Kalitta both professionally and personally.
In 1973, Muldowney made history by becoming the first woman to receive a Top Fuel dragster license from the NHRA. She needed three signatures from established racers to qualify. Don Garlits, Tommy Ivo, and Connie Kalitta signed her application.
From 1973 to 1977, she teamed with Kalitta in match races, competing as the “Bounty Hunter” and “Bounty Huntress” in a pair of Ford Mustangs.
Championship years
Muldowney won her first major event, the IHRA Southern Nationals, in 1971. In 1976 at Columbus, Ohio, she dominated Top Fuel competition by qualifying first, setting low elapsed time and top speed records, and winning the class.
Her breakthrough came in 1977 when she won the NHRA Winston World Points Championship, becoming the first woman to claim drag racing’s most prestigious title.
She won three NHRA national events back-to-back that season. The United States House of Representatives honored her with an Outstanding Achievement Award on October 14, 1977.
Muldowney won her second NHRA Top Fuel championship in 1980. In 1981, she captured the IHRA World Championship.
Her third NHRA championship came in 1982, making her the first person in history to win three Top Fuel titles. That year, she defeated rival Connie Kalitta in the final round of the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis.
The 1984 crash and comeback
On June 29, 1984, at Sanair Speedway in Montreal, Canada, Muldowney suffered a horrific crash that nearly ended her life.
A front tire threw its inner tube at 247 mph, causing her dragster to spin out of control for 600 feet before violently crashing into a 10-foot muddy gully. The accident crushed her hands, pelvis, and legs. She broke bones in all 10 fingers, suffered a broken pelvis, three fractures in her right leg, and severe left knee damage.
Rescue crews performed over six hours of cleaning away dirt, oil, and debris before operations could begin. Doctors performed half a dozen surgeries.
Muldowney spent more than five months in the hospital and endured 18 months of intense physical therapy. The pain was constant for six months after the crash.
Her crew chief and fiancé, Rahn Tobler, nursed her back to health. She married Tobler on February 14, 1988. With help from Don Garlits serving as her adviser, Muldowney returned to racing in the late 1980s. She reached the finals in several events in 1989 and won the NHRA Fall Nationals in Phoenix.
Later career and retirement
Muldowney continued racing throughout the 1990s, competing mostly in IHRA events and match races. She returned to NHRA competition towards the end of her career, running select events.
The racing legend retired at the end of the 2003 season after losing in the second round of the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway. Her last run was completed in 4.70 seconds at 317.12 mph.
During her career, Muldowney achieved 18 NHRA national event victories and reached the final round 27 times. She led Top Fuel qualifying 13 times over her 18-year Top Fuel career.
Is Shirley Muldowney married? Husband, children, and relationships
Marriage to Jack Muldowney
Shirley married her first husband, Jack Muldowney, in 1956 when she was 16 years old and he was 19. Jack was a mechanic and amateur racer who built her first dragster and taught her how to drive. The couple had one son, John Muldowney, born in 1958.
As Shirley’s racing ambitions grew, the couple drifted apart. Jack did not want to pursue nitro racing at the professional level. They divorced in 1972 but remained friends until Jack’s death in 2007 at age 70.
Relationship with Connie Kalitta
After her divorce, Muldowney’s professional racing partnership with Connie Kalitta developed into a personal relationship. They raced together as the “Bounty Hunter” and “Bounty Huntress” team from 1973 to 1977. Their romantic relationship lasted through much of the 1970s and early 1980s.
Marriage to Rahn Tobler
Shirley married her second husband, Rahn Tobler, on February 14, 1988. Tobler served as her crew chief and helped her recover from the devastating 1984 crash. He played a crucial role in her comeback to racing in the late 1980s.
The couple divorced in late 2006 after Muldowney discovered Tobler’s infidelity. Tobler left her racing team in 2007. As of 2026, Muldowney is believed to still be married to Tobler, though their relationship has had challenges.
Son John Muldowney
John Muldowney was Shirley’s only child from her first marriage. He grew up in drag racing and worked as a fabricator and crew member on his mother’s dragsters throughout her career. He assisted her during all four of her championship runs.
Tragically, John Muldowney died suddenly on April 27, 2017, at age 59 in Springfield, Missouri. He passed away from a blood clot. His death was a devastating loss for Shirley, who described him as her pride and joy.
Shirley Muldowney’s awards and achievements
Shirley Muldowney’s career accomplishments include:
- First woman to receive an NHRA professional license (1965)
- First woman licensed to drive a Top Fuel dragster (1973)
- Three-time NHRA Top Fuel World Champion (1977, 1980, 1982)
- IHRA World Champion (1981)
- 18 NHRA national event victories
- Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inductee (1990)
- Ranked #5 on NHRA’s Top 50 Drivers of 1951-2000 list (2001)
- International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee (2004)
- Automotive Hall of Fame inductee (2005)
- ESPN ranked #21 on Top 25 Drivers of All Time (2008)
- Five-time Auto Racing All-American Team member
- Three consecutive NHRA national event wins in 1977
- First person to win two and three Top Fuel championships
Shirley Muldowney’s movie and documentary
The 1983 biographical film “Heart Like a Wheel” told the story of Muldowney’s life and career. Actress Bonnie Bedelia portrayed her, and Beau Bridges played Connie Kalitta.
The movie was directed by Jonathan Kaplan and received positive reviews. Bedelia earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her performance.
Muldowney had mixed feelings about the film. She would have preferred Jamie Lee Curtis to play her and criticized Bedelia’s attitude toward racing.
She called Bedelia “a snot” and was upset that the actress told interviewers she did not even like racing. Despite her personal feelings, Muldowney acknowledged the movie was good for the sport.
In March 2024, FOX Sports premiered a documentary simply titled “Shirley.” The film delves into her storied life and career, featuring interviews with racing legends and archival footage.
The documentary became available for streaming on various platforms and introduced her pioneering achievements to new audiences.
Charitable work and recent activities
Muldowney operates a charitable organization called Shirley’s Kids, which helps children in need in cities where drag racing is part of the community.
She remains active in the motorsports world through appearances at NHRA events, car shows, and racing reunions.
In March 2016, she served as the official starter for the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals despite a cancer scare. Doctors initially diagnosed her with lung cancer, but further tests revealed histoplasmosis, a curable fungal infection.
As of 2026, she continues to attend racing events and is set to appear at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals alongside other racing legends including Don Garlits, Don Prudhomme, and Kenny Bernstein.
Fast facts about Shirley Muldowney
- Her parents were Belgium Benedict and Mae Roque. The family moved from Burlington, Vermont, to Schenectady, New York, during her childhood.
- School held no appeal for Muldowney. She dropped out at age 16 to marry Jack Muldowney and focus on racing.
- Her 1973 Funny Car caught fire at Dragway 42 in Ohio, one of several fire incidents she survived during her career.
- She appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson on February 21, 1986, walking with a cane as she recovered from her 1984 crash.
- Don Garlits, one of drag racing’s greatest legends, said Muldowney was the driver he respected most because she faced opposition from everyone who felt women had no place in Top Fuel racing.
- Her name appears in the lyrics of Le Tigre’s song “Hot Topic” and Patti Scialfa’s song “Run, Run, Run.” The L7 song “Shirley” from the album “Hungry for Stink” features samples from the movie about her life.
- In 2008, ESPN ranked her 21st on its list of the Top 25 Drivers of All Time across all motorsports.
- An NHRA Coin Shirley Muldowney Edition NFT became available on the OpenSea NFT Marketplace in October 2022.
- She published her memoirs “Shirley Muldowney’s Tales from the Track” in 2005, which Bill Stephens transcribed.
- A custom 1969 Chevrolet Nova tribute car called the “Cha Cha Nova” was built in her honor, featuring her signature color palette of Switchblade Silver and Royal Amethyst, powered by a 632-cubic-inch engine producing 1,004 horsepower.
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Wrapping up
Shirley Muldowney remains an icon in motorsports history as the first woman to achieve championship success in Top Fuel drag racing.
Her three NHRA World Championships, 18 national event victories, and pioneering spirit broke barriers for women in racing.
At 85 years old, she continues to inspire new generations through her charitable work and public appearances.
Her estimated $10 million net worth reflects a legendary career that changed drag racing forever.
References
- Wikipedia. “Shirley Muldowney”.
- Automotive Hall of Fame. “Shirley Muldowney”.
- NHRA. “Huge list of legends set to appear at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals”.
- Autoweek. “John Muldowney, son of NHRA drag racing’s Shirley Muldowney, dies at 59”.
- Motorsports Hall of Fame. “Shirley Muldowney”.
- Shirley Muldowney Racing. “History”.
- Dodge Garage. “NHRA Drag Racing Royalty: Shirley Muldowney – Part I”.
- Hemmings. “My Son, John”.
- FOX Sports. “Shirley”.
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