Shirley Muldowney Reaches Finals in Return to Drag Racing at Phoenix
Shirley Muldowney, making a comeback after a near-fatal crash 19 months ago, qualified for today’s finals in the Super Bowl of Drag Racing here at Firebird International Raceway.
Muldowney, 45, posted the seventh-best time during Saturday’s trials at 5.977 seconds with a trap speed of 236.220 m.p.h.
“I wasn’t nervous. I felt very comfortable,” said Muldowney, a three-time world champion from Northridge, Calif. “I was a little worried about my reaction time, but my instincts took over. I was fine, and the new car tested out great.”
Muldowney suffered life-threatening injuries in a June 29, 1984, crash during a qualifying run near Montreal. She underwent six operations to repair her legs, ankles, hands and pelvis but climbed back into her distinctive pink dragster for the first time here Friday.
Gary Beck, of Hemet, Calif., posted the fastest qualifying time in the Top Fuel division at 5.499 seconds with a speed of 252.100 m.p.h.
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