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VITAL STATISTICS
Height: 5'4
Weight: 105
Birthplace: Rochester, Minnesota
Residence: Mooresville, North Carolina
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Biology
University of California, San Diego
Presidential Academic Fitness Award
CURRENT OCCUPATION
Special correspondent for NASCAR.com
PREVIOUS OCCUPATION
UCSD Teacher assistant- Cellular Biology
Precision Driver, Stunt Double, Model
Stand in/double for Catherine Zeta-Jones
HOBBIES
Snowboarding, scuba diving, music
FAVORITE TV SHOW
Sex and the City
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CURRENT RACING SERIES
NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Late Model Division
RACING HISTORY
2004-- Plans to race full time in late model division of the NASCAR
Weekly Racing Series. Also working for NASCAR.com as a
special correspondent.
2003-- Debuted with a 9th place finish in late model at South
Boston Speedway. Crew member- 54 Busch Series team.
Signed Evernham Performance Parts as late model
sponsor.
2002-- Relocated to North Carolina. Tested late models. Worked
at Richard Petty Driving Experience. Trained with Mike
Loescher (New Smyrna) and Andy Hillenburg (Atlanta)
Studied race car set up, geometry, aerodynamics with
former Winston Cup crew chief Larry McReynolds.
2001-- Qualified and finished 7th in first stock car race. Ran a
limited schedule in Allison Legacy cars
2000-- Attended various racing schools
1998-- Won first race: Sports Car Club of America.
GOALS-- Gain the experience and knowlege necessary for ultimate
goal- NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
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As a woman competing in the All American sport of NASCAR racing, Leilani Münter doesn't look like your typical American. Nor does she have a typical American name. But, upon taking a closer look, Leilani is a true product of the USA-- "The Melting Pot". Born and raised in Rochester, Minnesota by her parents-- a nurse from Hawaii and a doctor from Germany. Leilani is the youngest of four girls and grew up "riding horses, skateboarding, building tree houses, and playing football," says Leilani, "I never really liked dolls."
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California in San Diego. During her studies, she volunteered for a wildlife rehabilitation center, earned her scuba diving license, worked as a model, and raced in amateur SCCA races with several wins. But for now, her racing career would take a back seat...
With her previous experience in front of the camera, upon graduation Leilani made the natural progression toward film. Soon after arriving on the Hollywood scene, casting directors hired her to photo double for actress Catherine Zeta-Jones in the Academy Award winning movie "Traffic" and "America's Sweethearts." She worked as a stunt double on "Scorpion King" and as a band-aide on "Almost Famous." On days off she polished her driving skills by turning laps at local racetracks. She began to volunteer as a crew member on a NASCAR Southwest Tour team. "My friends would be going out to Sky Bar to mingle with Hollywood's finest and I would stay home so I could get up at 4 am to drive to Mesa Marin Speedway in Bakersfield to crew on a race team," Leilani laughs, "They must have thought I had lost my mind!"
In 2001 she ran a limited schedule in the Allison Legacy Series, where she fought for the lead for several laps in her first heat race. She spun attempting to make a pass for the lead and finished fourth. She qualified and finished seventh in the main event. After seeing her at an Allison Legacy event, NASCAR Legend Donnie Allison said this of Leilani: "She has the ability to drive a stock car. It's encouraging to me to see a female do that 'cause a lot of them can't. There are a lot of peddle pushers, very few of them are racecar drivers."
In 2002 Leilani relocated to the stock car racing capital of North Carolina to pursue racing full time. She worked at the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Lowe's Motor Speedway and spent her free time gathering together used equipment, testing late models at various short tracks, and poking around garages getting tips from the pros. She trained at Atlanta Motor Speedway with ARCA champion Andy Hillenburg. During her training, Hillenburg had this to say of Münter's abilities, "Leilani has the potential and desire to become one of the top drivers in the next generation of racing stars. She's not intimidated. She's not a good 'woman' driver. She's just a good driver."
In 2003 Leilani landed the chance of a lifetime when she signed a multi-year driver development contract with Team Bristol Motorsports, home of the 54 Busch Series race team. After an impressive test where Leilani turned lap times just 2/10 of a second off the pole position in her first test with Team Bristol, Leilani debuted in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series with a 9th place finish in the Coor's Light 150 at South Boston Speedway. Two weeks later, Team Bristol Motorsports encountered financial difficulties that forced the team to retire from competition.
After Team Bristol closed its doors, Leilani was honored when she received funding from Evernham Motorsports Research and Development, headed by one of the most respected figures in the racing world- Ray Evernham. It was the sponsorship from Evernham Performance Parts that kept Leilani behind the wheel when she needed it most. "The Team Bristol ordeal took a lot of wind out of my sails," says Leilani, "with Ray's help, I was able to get back on track, literally."
In 2004 Leilani's experience in front of the camera and love for racing came together when she began working as a special correspondent for NASCAR.com, the official site of NASCAR. "This hasn't changed my racing plans," said Leilani, "NASCAR.com has been very generous in scheduling, they understand that my racing comes first." Leilani's goals for the 2004 racing season include just two words- seat time. Her goal is to race late models throughout the southeastern United States in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series. It is the seat time behind the wheel of a late model that will provide Leilani, as it has many drivers before her, with the experience necessary to move up to the higher levels of competition.
Leilani is also active outside of the driver's seat. She has been a crew member on a variety of race teams including late models, Southwest Tour, and Busch Series. She studied racecar set up and geometry with former Winston Cup crew chief Larry McReynolds and highly respected race instructor Mike Loescher. "I want to learn as much about the race car as possible," said Leilani, "I know it will make me a better driver."
Although a relative newcomer to the sport, Leilani's efforts have not been overlooked. She's been named "America's Sexiest Race Car Driver" by Men's Journal, "The Hottest Woman in NASCAR" by FHM and honored as a "Woman We Love" by Esquire. She has also appeared in ESPN and on the cover of Charlotte Magazine. She's no stranger to television either, having already appeared on NBC Sports, FOX Sports, Livin' Large, and Spike TV. Her website has received over 5 million hits.
So why would a woman with a promising future in Hollywood give it all up for the short tracks of North Carolina? "Because I belong at the track. When I'm driving, nothing else in the world matters. I can't explain..." she grins, "All I want to do is drive."
