Guthrie was the first woman to lead laps in a NASCAR Cup Series race.
On November 20, 1977, in the Los Angeles Times 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway, Janet Guthrie made history again by becoming the first woman to lead laps in a NASCAR Cup Series race. Her achievement underscored her racing skill and tenacity, breaking through yet another barrier in racing history. Leading a race reinforced her status as a competitive and capable driver, expanding opportunities for female racers and boosting public and industry perceptions about women’s roles in motorsport.