The guys stepped aside as the ladies put on the firesuits for an all-out, girls-have-at-it battle to launch the inaugural
Better Half Dash at Charlotte Motor Speedway Bank of America 500 pre-race activities on Oct. 15.
The charity race, supporting Motor Racing Outreach and Speedway Children’s Charities, pitted the women of NASCAR against each other in Bandolero cars provided by U.S. Legend Cars International on the speedway’s frontstretch quarter-mile oval.
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Kelly Earnhardt Miller waves the Green Flag launching the debut of the Better Half Dash charity race.
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NASCAR's finest start their engines for the
Better Half Dash at Charlotte Motor Speedway
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Jacqueline Butler, David Ragan's girlfriend, wins
the Inaugural Better Half Dash at Charlotte Motor Speedway
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Shannon Koch, wife of Nationwide Series Driver Blake Koch, prepares for the race.
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Patricia Driscoll, girlfriend of NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver
Kurt Busch, prepares for the start of the Better Half Dash.
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Michelle Gilleland, wife of David Gilleland, gets advice from her family prior to the start of the Better half Dash.
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Kristen Yeley, Wife of NASCAR Driver J. J. Yeley,
and their daughter, Faith Anne
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NASCAR Driver Joey Logano gives his girlfriend, Sabrina Simpson, some last minute advice before the Better Half Dash
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Smackdown between Joey Logano's girlfriend,
Sabrina Simpson and Nan Zipadelli,
wife of Logano's Crew Chief, Greg Zipadelli
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The STAR of the show and future Better Half Dash Champion, Samantha Mears, the daughter of Tricia and Casey Mears!
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Kelley Earnhardt Miller, co-owner and President of JR Motorsports, waved the Green Flag to start the 25 lap competition. Remembering the broken shoulder blade that Katie Kenseth, wife of driver Matt Kenseth, suffered a few weeks earlier n a crash during practice, it didn’t take long for nerves to force a multi-car pile-up in Lap 1 Turn 1. Five yellow flag cautions ruled the first several laps until the drivers found their confidence and their rhythm.
Jacquelyn Butler has spent five years watching her boyfriend NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Ragan race, so it should come as no surprise that she was the class of the field Saturday afternoon at Charlotte Motor Speedway, claiming the historic title of inaugural Better Half Dash Champion.
“That was crazy,” Butler said from the frontstretch victory celebration, which was complete with a trophy presentation, interviews and a champagne shower. “That was fun. I’m ready to go out and do it again next week.”
“I couldn’t eat, I was so nervous! I had a bite of banana and a little bit of a shake! I have a lot more respect for the boys and everything they go through on race day, eating right, walking out to the car, fan interaction, questions from the media, and teammates. It’s a lot; and then having the ability to turn all that off to focus so intensely on the race is amazing.”
“Another thing I learned is that those Bandoleros Legends cars are no joke. David does the summer shoot out, so I’ve been around them a lot. I know 8 year olds drive them, so I should be able to, too. But they are no joke. They told us not to use the brake but we used the brake, I don’t know what they are thinking. “
“The best piece of advice I received – don’t follow the line of the car in front of you, focus on your own line.”
“She had a lot of pressure on her,” David Ragan said. “She’s been coming out to the Summer Shootout (Legend Car races at Charlotte Motor Speedway) for a long time. I guess all those days coming out and watching me race paid off today.”
So did the extensive Ragan stable of Legend Car experience and expertise. Consider the resources at her disposal:
• David Ragan, former Legend Car and Bandolero champion, current Sprint Cup driver
• Brett Ragan, cousin of David, former Legend Car and Bandolero champion
• Chris Dilbeck, friend of David and Brett Ragan, former Legend Car and Bandolero champion
• Ken Ragan, former 600 Racing director, former Legend Car of Georgia director, former Sprint Cup racer
In the end, it was Butler who had to absorb all of that knowledge and race the car. And she made her coaches proud.
“She did a good job,” David Ragan said. “They were real competitive, those first three or four cars. It was tough to come out here in front of a big audience. It was a lot of pressure; we’ve all been talking it up. But it’s good to see that No. 6 on top of the pylon.”
Trisha Mears, Wife of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Casey Mears, finished second in the #10 car.
“This is not fun finishing second. I am so competitive; I would rather finish 14th. It was a learning experience. It is definitely exciting. I appreciate what my husband does a lot more. I have a lot of respect for the guys out there. That was my first race. I want the big check though. I can’t handle it [finishing second]”
Driving the #31, Ashley Allgaier, wife of NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Justin Allgaier, came home 3rd.
“I got to lead a lot; I’m proud of myself. I had a blast. I led the most laps and finished third. My frustration was more with myself; I was almost there … but “almost” doesn’t get you the big check!”
The Better Half Dash purse was paid to the driver’s charity of choice, with $5,000 going to the winner’s charity, $3,000 for the second place finisher and $2,000 for third. Fans also have the opportunity to donate $10 to MRO and SCC through the completion of the Bank of America 500 by texting “MOTOR” to 20222.
Better Half Dash Finishing Order:
1. Jacquelyn Butler, Girlfriend of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver David Ragan, #6
2. Trisha Mears: Wife of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Casey Mears , #10
3. Ashley Allgaier, wife of NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Justin Allgaier, #31
4. Patricia Driscoll: Girlfriend of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Kurt Busch , #22
5. Wendy Venturrini: SPEED television personality , #25
6. Beth Baldwin: Wife of Team Owner Tommy Baldwin, #35
7. Sabrina Simpson: Girlfriend of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Joey Logano, #19 ¾
8. Jami McDowell: Wife of NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Michael McDowell, #66
9. Michelle Gilliland: Wife of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver David Gilliland, #34
10. Kristen Yeley, Wife of NASCAR Driver J. J. Yeley
11. Nan Zipadelli: Wife of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crew Chief Greg Zipadelli, #20
12. Angie Skinner: Wife of Camping World Truck Series Driver Mike Skinner, #5
13. Shannon Koch: Wife of NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Blake Koch, #81
14. Melanie Self: Women and Children’s Ministry Coordinator, Motor Racing Outreach , #43
