Last year, she joined Danica Patrick by making her ARCA stock car debut at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway last February in a Toyota fielded by Stringer Motorsports. While the result was less than exhilarating for the Caracas, Venezuela native she’s back in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards garage armed and ready to do battle again at the “World Center of Racing!”
This year, she’s not going quietly into the sunset. During the off-season, the Miami, Florida native paired with the potent Mooresville, North Carolina-based Sheltra Motorsports, the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards championship operation.
The alliance could not come at a better of a time for the two. With Sheltra Motorsports focused on keeping a program healthy in the development series for NASCAR and Duno striving to prove that she despite some of her critics can get the job done, the match almost seemed like fate.
If there is a team that can prove that Duno does belong in Motorsports, Sheltra Motorsports is one of her best hopes. Overseen by crew chief and team manger Jon Wolfe and a host of veteran Motorsports’ staff, the fifth year-ARCA team heads into the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 optimistic about their chances but confident that Duno can reel in a top-10 finish in her No. 63 CITGO Lubricants Dodge Charger.
The team has every right to feel positive about what could be ahead. Last month, the ARCA Racing Series tested at the 2.5-mile superspeedway with Duno leading the female trio of six drivers and placing her Patrick Sheltra-owned Dodge into the top-10 in nearly all of the practice sessions held during the three days.
Not to mention the pep talks from Sheltra, himself, concerned one of ARCA’s best when it comes to plate racing, Duno was seen walking around the garage at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Wednesday smiling and revving to go.
With the forecast playing mind games with the stars and cars of the ARCA Racing Series, it is possible that Duno herself could be leading the field to the green flag on Saturday afternoon, should rain wash out qualifying and set the field by 2010 car owner points. During the off-season, Sheltra Motorsports transferred the ownership points from Sheltra’s familiar No. 60 to Duno’s No. 63 thus giving her a guaranteed entry into the first of 19 races this season.
If Mother Nature was to reel her ugly head, Duno would become just the third female in the history of the 59 seasons of ARCA competition to lead the 43-car field to the green flag behind Patty Moise (1989 and 1990) and most recently Erin Crocker in 2007. While Duno would like to earn the pole based on the performance of her No. 63 CITGO Lubricants Dodge Charger and not the points her team earned last season.
Duno also hasn’t been afraid to speak her mind about being treated like any race car driver and most importantly not being compared because of her gender.
In fact, Daytona International Speedway is the home to one of Duno’s most defining moments in her racing career where in 2007, she achieved a second-place finish overall in the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona thus becoming the highest finishing female finisher in the Rolex road race.
Undoubtedly, Duno will find herself in contention to take that checkered flag again near the front as she’s in one of the stoutest speedway cars in the garage and whether you like it or not, Duno could become the first female to win an ARCA Racing Series event.
Did I mention that Duno will be wheeling the same Dodge Charger that finished fifth at Daytona last year, one position ahead of Danica Patrick?
With all that being said, take what you want from this commentary, but I say go for it Duno. Put those critics to rest and Go Milka Go!
For more on Milka Duno, please visit MilkaDuno.com
