It seemed as if her future was destined from the start. Her middle name, in greek spelled
"Maia" in greek mythology is the mother of the god of speed. She always had a lead foot,
during her first year of having my drivers license she almost lost it do to (you guessed it) "an
excessive number of speeding tickets." But she was hook line and sinker when, while studying
for her degree in biology, a friend took her to an amateur car club race and she ended up racing
and winning her first race that day. But being a starving college student, she had no money to
race cars. When she graduated and landed a job as actress Catherine Zeta-Jones' double, she
started doing precision driving and trading in her paychecks for laps at the racetrack. The rest,
as they say, is history...You can read much more about Leilani on her Web Site.
"Maia" in greek mythology is the mother of the god of speed. She always had a lead foot,
during her first year of having my drivers license she almost lost it do to (you guessed it) "an
excessive number of speeding tickets." But she was hook line and sinker when, while studying
for her degree in biology, a friend took her to an amateur car club race and she ended up racing
and winning her first race that day. But being a starving college student, she had no money to
race cars. When she graduated and landed a job as actress Catherine Zeta-Jones' double, she
started doing precision driving and trading in her paychecks for laps at the racetrack. The rest,
as they say, is history...You can read much more about Leilani on her Web Site.
RACE RECORDS
Leilani set the record for the highest finishing position for a female driver in the history of the
1.5 mile Texas Motor Speedway when she finished 4th in the Konica Minolta 100 on June 10,
2006.
1.5 mile Texas Motor Speedway when she finished 4th in the Konica Minolta 100 on June 10,
2006.
Leilani became the first woman to qualify in the 45 year history of the Bettenhausen Classic at
Illiana Speedway in Indiana on September 16, 2006.
Illiana Speedway in Indiana on September 16, 2006.
Leilani set the record for the highest qualifying effort for a female stock car driver in the history
of the 1.5 mile Texas Motor Speedway when she qualified 4th for the First Convenience Bank
100 on June 12, 2004.
of the 1.5 mile Texas Motor Speedway when she qualified 4th for the First Convenience Bank
100 on June 12, 2004.
RACE STATISTICS
STARTS WINS POLES TOP FIVES TOP TENS RUNNING
42 0 0 9 19 88%
42 0 0 9 19 88%
2007 - Signed with Championship Indy Pro team Sam Schmidt Motorsports to run Kentucky Speedway and Chicagoland
Speedway in the SMART Papers Dallara after an impressive performance during her rookie test for the Indy Pro Series in
May. Leilani became the fourth woman in history to compete in the Indy Pro Series in 2007. She qualified 5th for her debut
at Kentucky Speedway on Aug 11, 2007. She had trouble on a restart and dropped back to 13th but surprised and
impressed many by racing her way back up to the front of the field. She was about to pass for 4th place when she was
collected in a multi-car accident. Four time Indy 500 champion Rick Mears, IndyCar driver Jaques Lazier, and many others
in the IndyCar community spoke very highly of Münter after her debut. Re-signed for a second year with Hostess to appear
on boxes of Hostess Twinkies, Cupcakes, and Donettes as a "Hostess Race Diva" alongside IRL's Danica Patrick and
NHRA's Melanie Troxel. Media highlights include: featured in tv documentary ESPN Ultimate NASCAR: The Explosion,
USA Today, and the cover of InTune Magazine.
Speedway in the SMART Papers Dallara after an impressive performance during her rookie test for the Indy Pro Series in
May. Leilani became the fourth woman in history to compete in the Indy Pro Series in 2007. She qualified 5th for her debut
at Kentucky Speedway on Aug 11, 2007. She had trouble on a restart and dropped back to 13th but surprised and
impressed many by racing her way back up to the front of the field. She was about to pass for 4th place when she was
collected in a multi-car accident. Four time Indy 500 champion Rick Mears, IndyCar driver Jaques Lazier, and many others
in the IndyCar community spoke very highly of Münter after her debut. Re-signed for a second year with Hostess to appear
on boxes of Hostess Twinkies, Cupcakes, and Donettes as a "Hostess Race Diva" alongside IRL's Danica Patrick and
NHRA's Melanie Troxel. Media highlights include: featured in tv documentary ESPN Ultimate NASCAR: The Explosion,
USA Today, and the cover of InTune Magazine.
2006 - Set the record for the highest finishing position for a female driver in the history of the 1.5 mile Texas Motor
Speedway when she finished 4th. Also became the first woman to qualify in the 45 year history of the Bettenhausen Classic.
Raced against NASCAR Nextel Cup Champions Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth posting a time that was only 3/10 of a
second off of Stewart’s quickest time. Signed Konica Minolta Printing Solutions as her primary sponsor. Signed to appear
on boxes of Hostess Twinkies, Cupcakes and Donettes as one of three "Hostess Race Divas" alongside Danica Patrick
(IRL) and Melanie Troxel (NHRA). Media highlights include: ESPN NASCAR documentary, front page of FOXSports.
com, and cover of Speedworld Magazine.
Speedway when she finished 4th. Also became the first woman to qualify in the 45 year history of the Bettenhausen Classic.
Raced against NASCAR Nextel Cup Champions Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth posting a time that was only 3/10 of a
second off of Stewart’s quickest time. Signed Konica Minolta Printing Solutions as her primary sponsor. Signed to appear
on boxes of Hostess Twinkies, Cupcakes and Donettes as one of three "Hostess Race Divas" alongside Danica Patrick
(IRL) and Melanie Troxel (NHRA). Media highlights include: ESPN NASCAR documentary, front page of FOXSports.
com, and cover of Speedworld Magazine.
2005 - Began working as an instructor for Andy Hillenburg's Fast Track High Performance Driving School, giving rides and
instructing at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Nashville SuperSpeedway, Kentucky Speedway, and Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Media highlights include: television feature on NASCAR Nation, cover of Rochester Magazine, and being one of 50 women
profiled in the photography book "A Day in the Life of the American Woman."
instructing at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Nashville SuperSpeedway, Kentucky Speedway, and Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Media highlights include: television feature on NASCAR Nation, cover of Rochester Magazine, and being one of 50 women
profiled in the photography book "A Day in the Life of the American Woman."
2004 - Debuted in the ROMCO Super Late Model Series with an impressive run. In her first super late model race and her
first race at Texas Motor Speedway, Leilani was 6th fastest of 26 race cars in practice. Leilani set the record for the highest
qualifying effort for a female driver in the history of the 1.5 mile Texas Motor Speedway when she qualified 4th for the First
Convenience Bank 100 on June 12, 2004. She started 4th and finished 7th on the lead lap and closing. Leilani was
sponsored by FHM Magazine. She also signed Trimspa as a sponsor for a NASCAR Elite division race at the 1.5 mile
Kentucky Speedway. Signed as special correspondent with NASCAR.com. Media highlights include: cover of Corvette
Quarterly Magazine and host on Spike TV.
first race at Texas Motor Speedway, Leilani was 6th fastest of 26 race cars in practice. Leilani set the record for the highest
qualifying effort for a female driver in the history of the 1.5 mile Texas Motor Speedway when she qualified 4th for the First
Convenience Bank 100 on June 12, 2004. She started 4th and finished 7th on the lead lap and closing. Leilani was
sponsored by FHM Magazine. She also signed Trimspa as a sponsor for a NASCAR Elite division race at the 1.5 mile
Kentucky Speedway. Signed as special correspondent with NASCAR.com. Media highlights include: cover of Corvette
Quarterly Magazine and host on Spike TV.
2003 - Signed a multi-year driver development contract with Team Bristol Motorsports, home of the 54 Busch Series race
team. After an impressive test where Leilani turned lap times just 2/10 of a second off the pole position, Leilani debuted in
the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series with a 9th place finish in the Coor's Light 150 at South Boston Speedway. In the final
laps of this 150 lap race, Leilani was turning the same lap times as the leader. Two weeks later, Team Bristol Motorsports
encountered financial difficulties that forced the team to retire from competition. Media highlights include: named "The
Hottest Woman in NASCAR" by FHM Magazine.
team. After an impressive test where Leilani turned lap times just 2/10 of a second off the pole position, Leilani debuted in
the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series with a 9th place finish in the Coor's Light 150 at South Boston Speedway. In the final
laps of this 150 lap race, Leilani was turning the same lap times as the leader. Two weeks later, Team Bristol Motorsports
encountered financial difficulties that forced the team to retire from competition. Media highlights include: named "The
Hottest Woman in NASCAR" by FHM Magazine.
2002 - Relocated to North Carolina, worked at a racing school, tested late models. Studied race car set up, geometry, and
aerodynamics with Larry McReynolds (former Winston Cup crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Sr.). Media highlights include:
featured as "A Woman We Love" by Esquire Magazine, named "America's Sexiest Race Car Driver" by Men's Journal
Magazine, cover girl for Charlotte Magazine, and an ESPN Magazine feature.
aerodynamics with Larry McReynolds (former Winston Cup crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Sr.). Media highlights include:
featured as "A Woman We Love" by Esquire Magazine, named "America's Sexiest Race Car Driver" by Men's Journal
Magazine, cover girl for Charlotte Magazine, and an ESPN Magazine feature.
2001 - Started racing stock cars in the Allison Legacy Series where she fought for the lead for several laps in her first heat
race. She spun attempting to make a pass for the lead and finished fourth. Qualified and finished seventh in main event. Prior
to her first race, Leilani attended various racing schools while earning her degree in biology from the University of California.
Media highlights include: television features on FOX Sports and NBC Sports.
race. She spun attempting to make a pass for the lead and finished fourth. Qualified and finished seventh in main event. Prior
to her first race, Leilani attended various racing schools while earning her degree in biology from the University of California.
Media highlights include: television features on FOX Sports and NBC Sports.
Photo Credits: Laura Reitz, Craig "Kiwi" Davidson
Photo Credits: Laura Reitz, Craig "Kiwi" Davidson
Photo Credits: Craig Davidson, Seth Laubinger
Photo Credits: Doug Hornickel of Fast Lap Photo, Craig "Kiwi" Davidson
| Leilani Munter |
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2008 - Leilani tested Daytona International Speedway in NASCAR legend James Hylton's ARCA car in preparation for her
debut in the ARCA Series at Daytona in Februay 2009.
Leilani plans to race in 2009 in the ARCA Re/Max Series and Firestone Indy Lights with her "Eco Dream Team" which
would use her race car as a vehicle to call
to action the 100 million race fans in America, educating them about the environment and asking them to make positive
changes to their lives. Leilani made three trips to Capitol Hill to speak with members of Congress on behalf of environmental
legislation and became a contributer to the green section of the Huffington Post, rated the most influential blog in the world.
Media highlights include Italian Vogue, the Washington Post, her second cover for Rochester Magazine, a feature in the
historical Indy 500 program, and as one of the "Lucky Few" in Lucky Brand Jeans fall ad campaign, Leilani appeared in
Vanity Fair, Vogue, In Style, and W Magazine in addition to billboards and Lucky Brand stores across the country. She also
became an Ambassador for the National Wildlife Federation.
debut in the ARCA Series at Daytona in Februay 2009.
Leilani plans to race in 2009 in the ARCA Re/Max Series and Firestone Indy Lights with her "Eco Dream Team" which
would use her race car as a vehicle to call
to action the 100 million race fans in America, educating them about the environment and asking them to make positive
changes to their lives. Leilani made three trips to Capitol Hill to speak with members of Congress on behalf of environmental
legislation and became a contributer to the green section of the Huffington Post, rated the most influential blog in the world.
Media highlights include Italian Vogue, the Washington Post, her second cover for Rochester Magazine, a feature in the
historical Indy 500 program, and as one of the "Lucky Few" in Lucky Brand Jeans fall ad campaign, Leilani appeared in
Vanity Fair, Vogue, In Style, and W Magazine in addition to billboards and Lucky Brand stores across the country. She also
became an Ambassador for the National Wildlife Federation.
2009 - Leilani tested the #59 NextEra Energy Resources Dodge owned by Mark Gibson Racing at Daytona International
Speedway in the ARCA Series open test. More than 80 drivers participated in the ARCA open test and Leilani was 7th
quick in the final practice with a speed of 181.77 mph. She spent several laps drafting with the #88 of Danica Patrick and
later reflected on the historic nature of having two women drafting together at Daytona, something that likely had not
happened before. Leilani also drove a hydrogen fuel cell Ford Focus across Norway in the Viking Rally, a zero emissions
rally for hydrogen and electric cars. She finished 2nd in the hillclimb, beaten by only World Rally driver Hennig Solberg.
Leilani was named one of the "Best of America" by Reader's Digest and was named one of the most beautiful people in
NASCAR by Sporting News Magazine. Leilani was also featured as one of Glamour Magazine's "Eco Heroes" and a
"fitness inspiration" in Shape Magazine. Leilani appeared on four more magazine covers in 2009 and Discovery's Planet
Green filmed Leilani for a new tv series coming in 2010.
Speedway in the ARCA Series open test. More than 80 drivers participated in the ARCA open test and Leilani was 7th
quick in the final practice with a speed of 181.77 mph. She spent several laps drafting with the #88 of Danica Patrick and
later reflected on the historic nature of having two women drafting together at Daytona, something that likely had not
happened before. Leilani also drove a hydrogen fuel cell Ford Focus across Norway in the Viking Rally, a zero emissions
rally for hydrogen and electric cars. She finished 2nd in the hillclimb, beaten by only World Rally driver Hennig Solberg.
Leilani was named one of the "Best of America" by Reader's Digest and was named one of the most beautiful people in
NASCAR by Sporting News Magazine. Leilani was also featured as one of Glamour Magazine's "Eco Heroes" and a
"fitness inspiration" in Shape Magazine. Leilani appeared on four more magazine covers in 2009 and Discovery's Planet
Green filmed Leilani for a new tv series coming in 2010.