Carol Cox

Carol Cox was a pioneering American woman drag racer. She was the first woman to win at a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) national event.

History Cox was based in Whittier, California. "Women had been competing at local tracks for years -– often in a “Powder Puff" class", but never in a national event. ). Lloyd drove the Ventura, instead.

Cox responded by contacting the Los Angeles Herald Examiner (where her mother and father had once worked) and the Los Angeles Times, and her congressman. In 1962, under additional pressure from Peggy Hart (wife of track owner "Pappy" Hart) and Thompson, as well as fellow racers Shahan and Leighton, Cox was the first woman allowed to race at an NHRA national event. Some racers believe a class win is more difficult to achieve than a handicap (eliminator) win.

The win attracted a lot of local media attention. Several months later, the family loaded the Ventura, and a Hayden Proffitt-built A/FX Pontiac Tempest (owned by Thompson), on their hauler and drove again to Indianapolis. Cox won S/SA again, at the Nationals, NHRA's most prestigious event. Lloyd also won, in A/FX. In subsequent competition, Cox was frequently accused of cheating.

Personal life

Cox was married to Lloyd, and has a daughter, Karen, who did race for a while, a son, Steve, who has also been a successful racer, driving a '68 Camaro bracket racer capable of 10-second passes. Her granddaughter, Crista, also once raced in Jr. Dragster. In 2018, at age 90, Cox was suffering dementia. In August, 2022, at age 95, Carol Cox passed in Minnesota