Leilani Maaja Münter (born February 18, 1974) is an American former professional stock car racing driver and environmental activist.

She last competed in the ARCA Menards Series, and previously drove in the Firestone Indy Lights, the development league of IndyCar.

[1] Prior to becoming a race car driver, Münter earned a bachelor's degree in biology, specializing in ecology, behavior, and evolution from the University of California, San Diego.

In 2002 Münter made the move to Mooresville, North Carolina, widely regarded as the center for NASCAR racing.

[citation needed] Later that year, Leilani became the first woman to qualify in the 45-year history of the Tony Bettenhausen Classic at Illiana Speedway in Indiana.

[5] In 2012, Münter drove in the ARCA Racing Series, driving for Tony Marks Racing in the season-opening 200 mile event at Daytona International Speedway, driving a car sponsored by donations from fans and carrying an ocean awareness paint scheme, featuring The Cove.

55 Blackfish (film) race car sponsored by activist and creator of The Simpsons TV show, Sam Simon.

Sports Illustrated named Münter one of the top ten female race car drivers in the world.

Münter drives a specialized version of the Tesla Model S in Racing Extinction which is equipped with a 15,000 lumen projector, a high definition FLIR camera (forward looking infra red) that comes out of the "frunk" of the car which has a special color filter on it that makes CO2 and methane visible to the human eye.

In September 2014 Oceanic Preservation Society did a public projection at the United Nations[22] in New York City to raise awareness about the "Anthropocene" or sixth mass extinction.

She blogs in the green section of the Huffington Post and became the first Ambassador for the National Wildlife Federation in 2008 and went to Capitol Hill to lobby for environmental legislation.

[23] In 2010, she was named by Discovery Channel's Planet Green Network as the #1 Eco Athlete in the world, beating out Lance Armstrong for the top spot.

"[9] In March 2008, Münter went to Capitol Hill with the National Wildlife Federation to speak with members of Congress on behalf of the Climate Security Act.

[citation needed] Münter graduated from the University of California, San Diego where she earned a bachelor's degree in Biology specializing in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution.

[29] In May 2009 Münter went to Norway to participate in the zero-emission Viking Rally, driving a hydrogen fuel cell-powered Ford Focus.

On July 13, 2010, Münter returned and toured areas of Louisiana affected by the BP Oil Spill as part of a Sierra Club sponsored event involving 10 current and former athletes which included tennis star Chanda Rubin, Olympic skier Stacey Cook and NFL stars Ovie Mughelli and Mike Alstott.

[39] She returned to Taiji in September 2011 with O'Barry; the effects of Typhoon Talas led her to report on Huffington Post that she understood water stress issues around the world in a much deeper way than before.

[41] On January 3, 2012, Münter announced that she was raising funds to drive a "The Cove" themed race car at Daytona International Speedway on February 18 to draw attention to dolphin captivity and killings.

[46] On March 17, 2009, Münter married Craig Davidson, an engineer, in a seaside wedding on New Zealand's Cathedral Cove beach.

[citation needed] Her personal car is an electric Tesla Model S, which she charges with solar panels on the roof of her home.

[47] Münter identifies herself as being childfree: a position she largely owes to helping greatly reduce her ecological impact on the planet.