Milka Duno has become the first Hispanic female driver in NASCAR history to race in the Nationwide series, and will be racing this weekend in at Homestead-Miami Speedway to continue her series of select races.
The former Indy Car and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series driver decided to take her talents to NASCAR after, saying it has always been on the forefront of her mind.
“I was always looking to the highest level in every championship that I was in before.” Duno said. “It was something that was always in my mind.”
Duno recently became the first Hispanic female driver to lead an ARCA race and is hoping that she can continue to break records this weekend.
“I want to have a great race. This is my second race in NASCAR. As a driver you always want to give it your best and have the best result that you can.” Duno said about her hopes for this weekend. “But of course, I’m still learning because it’s a different championship. Everything is different. It’s different with open wheel cars and a stock cars.”
Breaking records do not come easy, and sure enough, Milka faced adversity in her quest to become a respected driver throughout her career.
“There are a lot of challenges in motor sports. There are a lot of challenges as a woman. But I am a driver, and I like the challenge and I’m used to that.”
Homestead-Miami Speedway is familiar for Milka Duno.
In 2004, Duno teamed with co-driver Andy Wallace to win both Rolex Sportscar Series races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, becoming the first woman to win a major international race in the United States.
After that, Duno gained further experience at Homestead-Miami Speedway through her tenure in the IndyCar Series.
“In Indy Car we used the oval. I was learning so much because driving an oval is so nice, but it’s very difficult.” Duno recalled. “You have to be so precise and it was tough doing that, but I learned so much because we already used the oval [as part of the road course races].”
This Saturday, Duno will attempt to make history again as she is entered in the Ford EcoBoost 300, the season finale for the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
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