What is the nickname of Shirley Muldowney?

Shirley Muldowney’s nickname is the “First Lady of Drag Racing.”

The title reflects both her pioneering career and her impact on the sport. Muldowney became the first woman licensed by the NHRA to drive a Top Fuel dragster, earning that license in 1973. She later became the first woman to win an NHRA world championship, proving she was a championship-level driver rather than merely a novelty in a male-dominated field.

Muldowney competed in Top Gas, Funny Car, and Top Fuel, and won three NHRA Top Fuel world championships. Her career also inspired the 1983 film Heart Like a Wheel, which introduced her story to a wider audience. “Cha Cha” is another nickname associated with her, but it is not the standard honorific asked for here.

The phrase describes her pioneering status, not an official racing class or championship designation.