Victoria Rose Wood[1] (née Raczak; March 15, 1919 – June 5, 2020), known as "the fastest woman in racing",[2] was an American professional automobile racer and one of the first women to compete in NASCAR.
[2] In 1941, she married Tom Fitzpatrick, who died in Germany late in World War II.
[3] In 1953, her husband took her to a "powder puff" race at Motor City Speedway in Detroit.
[3] A week later, her husband had borrowed a 1937 Dodge coupe for her to compete and she finished ninth of the 25 women racing in the event that day.
[3] She also set a number of women's records at American race tracks, including fastest lap (130.3 mph) and fastest one-way mark (150.375) at Daytona International Speedway in 1959 and 1960, respectively, and at Atlanta International Speedway in 1961.