Michelle Theriault

Driver - No. 8 Nergy Fitness Drink Ford Taurus
USAR Hooters ProCup Series

Michelle Theriault is like most teenagers, with one exception. While many are going to the movies on Saturday nights, Theriault, 18, is driving her No. 8 Nergy Fitness Drink Ford Taurus in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series. Determined to become a NASCAR champion, she is poised to make her mark on the world of stock car racing. The 2004 season, Theriault's rookie season in the highly competitive stock car series, is the next step in her blossoming racing career.

As a young girl, Theriault and her father, David, watched family friends race Quarter Midgets at local race tracks in Connecticut. When Michelle was five, she saw a race car for sale and asked to sit in it. The moment she hoped in, the race car driver from within emerged.

She turned to her Dad and said, "I want this."

Theriault proved to be a natural. Seven years competing in Quarter Midgets delivered her more than 200 wins in 13 states throughout the country. Five times she was a runner up in the Quarter Midgets of America National Championship.

In 1999, her family relocated to Georgia to further nurture her budding career. She graduated from Quarter Midgets to Legends Cars and once again proved her abilities. She won Atlanta Motor Speedway's Thunder Racing Legends Championship and earned the distinction of becoming the first female Legends Car Champion. She backed up her success with two more championships and more than 20 wins.

After three years of Legends Car success, Theriault moved up to the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Pro-Late Model Division at Lanier National Speedway. Before she made the jump, she attended Finish Line Racing School, one of America's best short track racing schools, to get a professional opinion on her skill and talent.

She received an outstanding review.

In 2003, Theriault completed a full season in Late Model competition driving the No. 14 LesCare Kitchens/Nergy Fitness Drink entry. She finished 20 of 20 events, sixth in the series point championship and runner up in the Rookie of the Year battle. She also competed in two NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Super Late Model Division races (Lanier National Speedway and Music City Motorplex) for team owner Randy Bradshaw.

Late in the 2003 season, a chance meeting with Steve Husketh, owner of the Premiere Motorsports Hooters ProCup Series team, set Theriault's ProCup career in motion. Husketh arranged for Theriault to test one of his cars and was so impressed with her talent, described as smooth and consistent, he hired her to drive his No. 8 entry in 2004.

Today, Theriault competes full-time in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series driving the No. 8 Nergy Fitness Drink Ford Taurus, vying for the Rookie of the Year title. She is also the only female competitor in the series, but that doesn't bother her one bit.

"My theory is," explains Theriault, "When the helmet goes on we're all equal. It doesn't matter whether you're a boy or a girl, 13 years old or 30. I'm a race car driver and that's it.".

Theriault added another dimension to her racing career. She was approached by a Hollywood production company about a reality-based TV series. After meeting with her, she was immediately added to the cast. The Drive, airing on Country Music Television (CMT) is a series focusing on seven race car drivers, their daily lives and the rigors of stock car racing

In May, Theriault accepted Ford Racing's invitation to participate in its Driver Development program. The comprehensive program evaluates and nurtures driver skills both on and off the track.

An honor student with a 4.0 GPA, Theriault is a Senior at Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia. She's a member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club and the National Arts Honor Society. In the Fall, she will attend the University of Georgia.

Accomplishments

Participant in the Ford Racing Driver Development program in May 2004.

Cast member on Country Music Television's (CMT) The Drive, a reality-based TV series focusing on seven race car drivers, their daily lives and the rigors of stock car racing.

Finished 20 of 20 races, sixth in point championship and runner up in Rookie of the Year battle in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Pro-Late Model Division at Lanier National Speedway in 2003.

2002 Lanier National Speedway Pro Series Legends Champion.

2002 Georgia State Pro Series Legends Champion.

2001 Atlanta Motor Speedway Thunder Racing Legends Champion.

2001 Most Improved Driver Award at Senoia Motor Speedway.

Over 20 feature wins in Legends Car competition.

First and only female competitor to win a Pro Series Legends Car race.

First and only female competitor to win a Legends Car championship.

Youngest female competitor to win in a Legends Car Series at both Lowe's Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Youngest female competitor to score four wins in a Legends Car Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Only female competitor to score three wins in a Legends Car Series at Lanier Motor Speedway.

Winner in Legends Car Series at Senoia Motor Speedway.

Graduate of the Lyn St. James Driver Development Program in 2001.

Graduate of Finish Line Racing School's Race to Win Advanced Course in 2001 at New Smyrna Speedway.

Five time runner up in Quarter Midgets of America National Championship.

Over 200 feature wins in Quarter Midget competition.

Career Highlights

1992 Launched racing career competing in Quarter Midgets. Over the next seven years, scored more than 200 wins in 13 different states.

1999 Relocated from Bristol, Connecticut to Alpharetta, Georgia to focus on her stock car racing career.

2001 Won the Atlanta Motor Speedway Thunder Racing Legends Championship, Most Improved Driver Award at Senoia Motor Speedway and concluded the season with nine feature wins, six second place and 27 top five finishes.

2002 Won the Georgia State Pro Series Legends Championship, Lanier National Speedway Pro Series Legends Championship and finished seventh in National Pro Series Legends Championship. Scored five wins, eight second place and 31 top five finishes.

2003 Competed in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Pro-Late Model Division at Lanier National Speedway driving the No. 14 LesCare Kitchens/Nergy Fitness Drink entry.

Finished 20 of 20 events, scored one top five and eight top 10 finishes and finished sixth in the series point championship. Competed in two NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Super Late Model Division races (Lanier National Speedway and Music City Motorplex).

2004 Competing full-time in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series driving the No. 8 Nergy Fitness Drink Ford Taurus.

Participated in Ford Racing Driver Development program.

For more information visit her site at www.michelletheriault.com