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In 1990, Shirley again finished in the NHRA top ten, but decided to change gears for the following season. In her desire to continue on a profitable level, she and Rahn (now her husband) decided to move back to the match race trail. This would not be an effort were she would simply appear and make a minor impression; track records became somewhat of a hobby for her as she set no less than twelve new ones at various facilities all across America and Canada. Throughout most of the early 1990's, Shirley set out on vigorous match racing schedules across the USA and overseas. In 1993, she set a track record at the Fuji International Speedway in Japan of 5.30 @ 285 mph. By 1995, the desire for open competition brought her back to IHRA. In 1996, she reached the final round in IHRA competition five straight times, winning three national events back to back. She qualified in the top three at every race and finished the year in the number two spot for top fuel points. In 1997, Shirley continued running IHRA and NHRA competitions when her busy match racing schedule allowed. In open competition, she set and re-set the high mile per hour mark for the IHRA national record four times with a standing mark of 303.71 mph at seasons end. In competition, she held the number two spot in points, but by opting not to go to the final race of the year, that tally dropped her to third for the season. The highlight of 1997 was being honored by the United States Sports Academies 25th anniversary CNN/USA Today balloting for "Top Athletes of the past 25 years." In four categories names were presented by ballot voting for the persons whose noted accomplishments made an impact on their respective sport. In auto racing for the men, it was Richard Petty-known as the king of NASCAR. For the women, it was Shirley Muldowney, whose forty years of dedication and devotion have carved her unmistakable mark in the annals of auto racing. In 1998, Shirley had another successful year racing. She set track records for top speed or elapsed time at Atco, New Jersey; Milan, Michigan; Epping. New Hampshire; and Stanton, Michigan where she not only engraved new track records, but set a new performance record for the International Hot Rod Association. Her 4.69 second elapsed time at 312.50 mph during qualifying at Stanton's Northern Nationals was the quickest and fastest ever recorded in the history of the IHRA competition, proving once again what she was made of. Shirley also received one of the highest distinctions of her career that year when she was honored by the New York State Senate as one of the "Thirty Women of Distinction," with a historical display presented at the state capital in Albany. Her historical motor sports accomplishments were acknowledged alongside such luminaries as Susan B. Anthony and Eleanor Roosevelt. The 2000 season began only seconds after the new millennium began, when Shirley matched up with Don Garlits in a special race at Moroso Motorsports Park in West Palm Beach, Florida, and won. The next highlight of the season was to return to the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, where she qualified and brought down the house with a spectacular wheel stand in the first round. This effort was through the assistance of Goosehead.com (a sponsorship brought in part by former crew member Pat Galvin) with actor and American Graffiti star Richard Dreyfuss as a guest of the team for the weekend. They finished the season by qualifying 10th at the NHRA World Finals. With help from Action Performance and Collectibles owner Fred Wagenhals and MAC Tools, Shirley was able to return to the Indianapolis event in 2001 with a special paint scheme honoring her years as a funny car racer. The team qualified with their quickest and fastest time to date - 4.64 @ 320.20 mph. With the help from Action Performance Companies and MAC Tools, Shirley Muldowney Racing will be at no less than five NHRA races in addition to her match race schedule. To date, she has qualified at each stop and has gone as far as the semifinals (at where else Columbus, Ohio!). She is still beating the boys (as well as other women who have now followed her footsteps). With a long and distinguished career in professional motor sports, as well as paving the way for women to enter the arena. Shirley Muldowney is a true champion by any standard.
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