Gracie Trotter

Gracie Elizabeth Trotter (born August 27, 2001)[1] is an American stock car racing driver. She competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the Nos. 15 and 25 Toyota Camrys for Venturini Motorsports. Trotter also competes for Rev Racing in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series as part of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program. She is best known for becoming the first female driver to win an ARCA-sanctioned race, doing so in the ARCA Menards Series West for Bill McAnally Racing in 2020.

Gracie Trotter
Trotter during driver introductions at New Smyrna Speedway in 2020
Nationality American
Born (2001-08-27) August 27, 2001
Denver, North Carolina
ARCA Menards Series career
Debut season2020
Current teamVenturini Motorsports
Years active2020–present
Car number15, 25
EngineToyota
Former teamsBill McAnally Racing
Starts3
Championships0
Wins0
Poles0
Best finish37th in 2020
ARCA Menards Series West career
Debut season2020
Years active2020
Car number99
EngineToyota
Crew chiefRoger Bracken
Former teamsBill McAnally Racing
Starts11
Championships0
Wins1
Poles0
Best finish3rd in 2020
Last updated on: January 13, 2020.

Racing career

Trotter began racing go-karts at eight years old.[1] Before racing stock cars, she competed in legends cars, becoming the first female driver to win in the Young Lions division at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2017.[1] Trotter also made her late model debut in 2017, driving for Bond Suss.[2] She continued racing in the CARS Tour in 2018.[3]

In October 2018, Trotter was selected as one of twelve drivers invited to NASCAR's Drive for Diversity combine.[4] She was announced as a member of the program's 2019 class on December 6,[3] earning her a late model contract with Rev Racing to compete in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.[5] Trotter was selected to the program again in 2020.[6]

Trotter racing at New Smyrna Speedway in 2020

On January 14, 2020, Trotter was announced as a driver for Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) in the ARCA Menards Series West, as well as for select ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East races.[7] Trotter finished 16th in her debut ARCA East race at New Smyrna Speedway, while engine issues left her 22nd in her ARCA Menards Series debut at Phoenix Raceway.[8] In ARCA West, Trotter finished fourth in her debut race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) Bullring,[9] before the COVID-19 pandemic put the season on hold. She returned from the hiatus with a pair of seventh-place finishes,[8] followed by a career-best third at Irwindale Speedway.[10] At Douglas County Speedway, Trotter again earned a new career-best finish, placing second to race winner Blaine Perkins.[11]

In September, Trotter won a late model race at Hickory Motor Speedway, becoming the fourth woman to do so.[12] She then won her first ARCA West race on September 26 at the LVMS Bullring, making her the second female driver to win a West Series race and the first to win an event sanctioned by ARCA.[13][14] Trotter passed Blaine Perkins and her BMR teammate Jesse Love by taking them three-wide on lap 54, going on to lead 95 of the race's 150 laps.[15] Trotter's season ended with a ninth-place finish at Phoenix.[16] She finished third in the final points standings and was the only West Series driver to finish in the top-ten in all eleven races throughout the season.[17][18] Trotter was awarded the Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award on December 3.[18]

On January 13, 2021, Venturini Motorsports announced that Trotter would compete part-time for the team in the 2021 ARCA Menards Series, driving the team's No. 15 and No. 25 Toyotas in a total of ten races.[19]

Motorsports career results

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 AMSC Pts Ref
2020 Bill McAnally Racing 99 Toyota DAY PHO
22		 TAL POC IRP KEN IOW
9		 KAN TOL TOL MCH DAY GTW
12		 L44 TOL BRI WIN MEM ISF KAN 37th 89 [20]

ARCA Menards Series East
ARCA Menards Series East results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 AMSEC Pts Ref
2020 Bill McAnally Racing 99 Toyota NSM
16		 TOL DOV TOL BRI FIF 45th 28 [21]

ARCA Menards Series West
ARCA Menards Series West results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 AMSW Pts Ref
2020 Bill McAnally Racing 99 Toyota LVS
4		 UMC
7		 UMC
7		 IRW
3		 EVG
5		 DCS
2		 CNS
4		 LVS
1*		 AAS
10		 KCR
5		 PHO
9		 3rd 582 [22]

References
  1. "Gracie Trotter – #99 ENEOS Toyota Camry". Bill McAnally Racing. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  2. "Gracie Trotter – 2017 CARS Super Late Model Tour Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  3. McFadin, Daniel (December 6, 2018). "NASCAR Drive for Diversity program announces 2019 class". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  4. Beaver, Dan (October 15, 2018). "NASCAR announces 12 invitees to Drive for Diversity combine". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  5. Williams, Deb (December 6, 2018). "Brooke Storer, Gracie Trotter earn spots in NASCAR's 2019 Drive for Diversity class". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  6. McFadin, Daniel (November 20, 2019). "NASCAR, Rev Racing announce 2020 Drive for Diversity team". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  7. Bonkowski, Jerry (January 14, 2020). "Bill McAnally Racing names 2020 ARCA Menards West driver lineup". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  8. Christley, Jason (July 16, 2020). "Gracie Trotter Hopes To Extend Impressive Start To Iowa". ARCARacing.com. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  9. "2020 Star Nursery 150". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  10. "Trotter Scores Career Best Third Place at Irwindale NASCAR Race". ENEOS. July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  11. "Trotter Grabs Career Mark With 2nd At Roseburg" (Press release). Bill McAnally Racing. August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  12. Staff report (September 17, 2020). "Berry keeps winning, Trotter scores big at HMS". Hickory Daily Record. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  13. Staff reports (September 26, 2020). "Gracie Trotter Makes History With Las Vegas Victory". ARCARacing.com. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  14. Long, Dustin (September 26, 2020). "Gracie Trotter becomes first female to win ARCA-sanctioned race". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  15. Crandall, Kelly (September 28, 2020). "Trotter's Las Vegas win makes ARCA racing history". Racer. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  16. "2020 Arizona Lottery 100". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 7, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  17. "ARCA Menards West Series standings for 2020". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  18. Cooper, Cara (December 3, 2020). "Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award Winner Gracie Trotter Enjoys Success After Taking the Next Step in 2020". NASCAR Home Tracks. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  19. "Gracie Trotter Continues Climb, TRD Driver Signs with Venturini Motorsports for Partial 2021 ARCA Menards Series Season" (Press release). Venturini Motorsports. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  20. "Gracie Trotter – 2020 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  21. "Gracie Trotter – 2020 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  22. "Gracie Trotter – 2020 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
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