Driver Spotlight: Shannon Mudro

Shannon Mudro

Before she got her start in racing she was just your avid race fan. By the time she was 15 she had been to numerous NASCAR, NHRA, and IndyCar races, but surprisingly she had never been to her local dirt track. In 2009 towards the end of her sophomore year in high school,  her mom brought her down to the local dirt track to watch a few friends. Between being caught up in the fast paced atmosphere, Shannon’s mother jokingly said, "Hey Shannon, we should get you one of those 4cyl cars." That's when it all started. After one month of begging and pleading, there was an early 80's Mustang in the shop and another month later she was racing her first race at LaSalle Speedway.

Her first race wasn’t until nearly half of the race season was already over. Shannon finished out the 2009 season in her UMP Sport Compact and proceeded to race that for two more years. She then moved up to a UMP Modified in 2012. She ran a very limited schedule this passed race season with numerous unfortunate events on the home front.

There are many aspects of racing that she loves. "The adrenaline rush is probably my most favorite. When I'm waiting on pit road I become suffocated with anxiety and butterflies. When I pull on the track the adrenaline kicks into high gear and that's when I realize how much I truly love this sport.”

She is still waiting for her first feature win, however she feels her last full season in the UMP Sport Compact in 2011 was her biggest accomplishment. She had a very consistent season with 15 consecutive Top 10's and placing 31st in the Northern National UMP Points after only running 17 races. Those results mean that she ultimately only placed outside of the Top 10 twice that entire year.

Her current racing goal is to become a competitive threat in the UMP Modified class in that she and her team will travel to multiple big shows across the Midwest. "When looking at the bigger picture, I would like to be competitively running in a traveling series like USMTS, or  Lucas Oil and/or the World of Outlaws Late Model Series."

Aside from racing she plays collegiate tennis at the University of St. Francis where she is a full time nursing student. Somehow with her busy schedule she always finds her way on the Dean’s List. She is also a huge Supercross fan. Her Sundays during race season are usually spent riding around on one of her family's stand up jet skis.

Shannon's advice for other females in racing, "Don’t be afraid of two things. Don't be afraid to ask questions and don't be afraid to be told no."

Shannon is a registered driver with Race4Girls (http://www.race4girls.com/drivers/shannon-mudro/) and she is also an avid blogger for Female Racing News (www.femaleracingnews.com)
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