From Music Studio to Dragstrip: Nancy Matter's Remarkable Journey

Women's Motorsports Network Podcast

Send us a text

Nancy Matter's resilience burns brighter than nitromethane in this powerful conversation about perseverance, passion, and breaking barriers in motorsports. From her childhood days at San Fernando Raceway to becoming the first female owner-driver of a Top Fuel Funny Car in this century, Nancy's journey exemplifies the never-quit attitude that defines championship racers.
What makes Nancy's story exceptional isn't just her accomplishments on the track, but how she's navigated life's most challenging turns. At just 13, she was taken under wing by the legendary Gasparelli family, helping on their funny car despite her youth. Though marriage and motherhood temporarily pulled her from racing, Nancy channeled her creativity into a music career that yielded 70 gold and platinum records. But the call of nitro never faded.
After returning to the sport following a 21-year hiatus, Nancy methodically climbed the racing ladder – from Super Comp to alcohol funny car to nostalgia funny car, setting records and becoming nearly unbeatable in first-round eliminations. Just as she acquired a Top Fuel funny car in 2022, life threw its cruelest curve. A devastating personal and professional crisis nearly destroyed everything she'd built, forcing her to put racing aside while focusing on survival.
Lesser souls might have surrendered, but Nancy refused to give up. Slowly, methodically, she rebuilt both her life and her race car, replacing virtually everything except the middle chassis section. Throughout these dark years, select sponsors remained loyal despite her inability to represent them on track – a testament to the respect she's earned throughout the industry.
Today, Nancy stands ready to make history, proudly partnered with the American Valor Foundation honoring Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. Rather than seeing herself as a "woman of power," Nancy identifies as an "empowered woman" serving as a beacon of inspiration regardless of gender. Her message resonates beyond motorsports: "Anybody that thinks they can't, I'm here to tell you right now you can."
Ready to witness motorsports history? Follow Nancy Matter Racing on social media as she prepares to unleash this beautiful red beast on the quarter-mile. Her comeback story might just inspire your own.

Support the show

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworki/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/

TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/

X: https://x.com/IWMANation

FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

Chapters

1. Welcome to Women's Motorsports Network (00:00:00)

2. Nancy's Early Racing Origin Story (00:01:47)

3. From Music Career to Drag Racing (00:06:13)

4. Building a Nostalgia Funny Car (00:12:18)

5. Overcoming Life's Major Hiccups (00:16:16)

6. Making Racing History as Female Owner-Driver (00:21:45)

7. American Valor Foundation Partnership (00:26:10)

8. Being an Empowered Woman in Motorsports (00:30:25)