NASCAR has a new girl and her name is Michelle Theriault. The 19-year-old is following her
dream, determined to make her mark on the world of stock car racing. Her goal is simple - to
become a NASCAR champion.
As a young girl, Theriault and her father, David, watched friends race Quarter Midgets at local
race tracks in Connecticut. When she was five, she saw a race car for sale and asked to sit in it.
The moment she hopped in, the race car driver from within emerged.
She turned to her Dad and said, "I want this."
Theriault proved to be a natural. Seven years competing in Quarter Midgets delivered her
more than 200 wins in 13 states. Five times she was a runner up in the Quarter Midgets of
America National Championship.
In 2005, Theriault made her NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series debut at Douglas
County Speedway in Roseburg, Ore. She also qualified for the USAR Hooters ProCup Series
National Championship for the second consecutive season.
In 2004, Theriault competed in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series in 2004 and became the first
female competitor to qualify for the season ending National Championship. She was also the
only female competitor in the series, but that didn’t bother her one bit.
During the 2004 season, she accepted an invitation from Ford Racing to participate in its
Driver Development program in 2004. The comprehensive program evaluated and nurtured
driver skills both on and off track.
Theriault added another dimension to her career when she was approached by a Hollywood
production company about a reality-based TV series. After the meeting, she was immediately
added to the cast. The Drive, which aired on Country Music Television (CMT) in 2004, was a
series focusing on seven race car drivers, their daily lives and the rigors of stock car racing.
Theriault accepted Ford Racing’s invitation to participate in its Driver Development program
in 2004. The comprehensive program evaluates and nurtures driver skills both on and off track.
In May 2004, Theriault graduated from Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia with a 4.0
GPA. She’s a member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club and the National Art
Honor Society. Today, she attends the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
In 2003, Theriault completed a full season in Late Model competition. She finished 20 of 20
events, sixth in the series point championship and runner up in the Rookie of the Year battle.
She also competed in two NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Super Late Model Division races
(Lanier National Speedway and Music City Motorplex).
In 1999, her family relocated to Georgia to further nurture her budding career. She graduated
from Quarter Midgets to Legends Cars and once again proved her abilities. She won Atlanta
Motor Speedway’s Thunder Racing Legends Championship and earned the distinction of
becoming the first female Legends Car Champion. She backed up her success with two more
championships and more than 20 wins.
After three years of Legends Car success, Theriault moved up to the NASCAR Dodge Weekly
Series, Pro-Late Model Division at Lanier National Speedway. Before she made the jump, she
attended Finish Line Racing School, one of America's best short track racing schools, to get a
professional opinion on her skill and talent.
She received an outstanding review.
“My theory is,” explains Theriault, “When the helmet goes on we’re all equal. It doesn't matter
whether you're a boy or a girl, 13 years old or 30. I’m a race car driver and that's it."
You can read more about Michelle on her Web Site
dream, determined to make her mark on the world of stock car racing. Her goal is simple - to
become a NASCAR champion.
As a young girl, Theriault and her father, David, watched friends race Quarter Midgets at local
race tracks in Connecticut. When she was five, she saw a race car for sale and asked to sit in it.
The moment she hopped in, the race car driver from within emerged.
She turned to her Dad and said, "I want this."
Theriault proved to be a natural. Seven years competing in Quarter Midgets delivered her
more than 200 wins in 13 states. Five times she was a runner up in the Quarter Midgets of
America National Championship.
In 2005, Theriault made her NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series debut at Douglas
County Speedway in Roseburg, Ore. She also qualified for the USAR Hooters ProCup Series
National Championship for the second consecutive season.
In 2004, Theriault competed in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series in 2004 and became the first
female competitor to qualify for the season ending National Championship. She was also the
only female competitor in the series, but that didn’t bother her one bit.
During the 2004 season, she accepted an invitation from Ford Racing to participate in its
Driver Development program in 2004. The comprehensive program evaluated and nurtured
driver skills both on and off track.
Theriault added another dimension to her career when she was approached by a Hollywood
production company about a reality-based TV series. After the meeting, she was immediately
added to the cast. The Drive, which aired on Country Music Television (CMT) in 2004, was a
series focusing on seven race car drivers, their daily lives and the rigors of stock car racing.
Theriault accepted Ford Racing’s invitation to participate in its Driver Development program
in 2004. The comprehensive program evaluates and nurtures driver skills both on and off track.
In May 2004, Theriault graduated from Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia with a 4.0
GPA. She’s a member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club and the National Art
Honor Society. Today, she attends the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
In 2003, Theriault completed a full season in Late Model competition. She finished 20 of 20
events, sixth in the series point championship and runner up in the Rookie of the Year battle.
She also competed in two NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Super Late Model Division races
(Lanier National Speedway and Music City Motorplex).
In 1999, her family relocated to Georgia to further nurture her budding career. She graduated
from Quarter Midgets to Legends Cars and once again proved her abilities. She won Atlanta
Motor Speedway’s Thunder Racing Legends Championship and earned the distinction of
becoming the first female Legends Car Champion. She backed up her success with two more
championships and more than 20 wins.
After three years of Legends Car success, Theriault moved up to the NASCAR Dodge Weekly
Series, Pro-Late Model Division at Lanier National Speedway. Before she made the jump, she
attended Finish Line Racing School, one of America's best short track racing schools, to get a
professional opinion on her skill and talent.
She received an outstanding review.
“My theory is,” explains Theriault, “When the helmet goes on we’re all equal. It doesn't matter
whether you're a boy or a girl, 13 years old or 30. I’m a race car driver and that's it."
You can read more about Michelle on her Web Site
