Rab Racing has signed driver Milka Duno to compete in select races during the remainder of the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season.
"NASCAR is the most competitive and popular racing series in the USA, and I'm very proud to enter the series with RAB Racing, and I look forward to competing with them in their No. 29 Toyota Camry," Duno said to Fox Sports.
Duno will become the first Hispanic female racer ever to compete in a NASCAR national series in the U.S., according to Fox Sports. She has eight major race wins among prototype classes, the American Le Mans Series and Grand American Rolex Series.
She also recorded the highest-ever finish by a female (second place,) in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona.
When Duno won the Rolex Series Grand Prix of Miami, she became the first woman in history to win a major international race in the U.S.
Back in 2007, Duno became the first Hispanic female racer to qualify and compete in the Indianapolis 500. She competed in the event in three consecutive seasons and in the IndyCar Series for four straight years. She ran partial schedules in 2007-2009, and a full schedule in 2010, according to Fox News.
To prepare for her transition to stock-car racing, Duno has been competing in the ARCA Racing Series for three seasons. In 2011 and 2012 she drove partial schedules, and 2013 she drove her first full season.
"It has always been a goal and dream of mine to compete in NASCAR, and I worked very hard in ARCA to turn this goal into a reality," Duno said. "I always strive to challenge myself as a driver and I've been fortunate to compete in many types of racing. And while the competition is always my No. 1 focus, I am very proud of the history that I have made as a female driver, and the Hispanic sports history, as well, that has been made along the way."
She finished the 2013 season seventh in driver standings and become the second-highest finishing female driver in ARCA's history.
Chris Rice will work as Duno's crew chief. Rice led RAB Racing's No. 99 Toyota Camry to two poles, two top-five finishes and six top-10 finishes.
"We've watched Milka develop in the ARCA Racing Series, and feel she is prepared for the next step in her stock car racing career," said RAB Racing owner Robby Benton, according to Fox Sports. "I think that working together with Chris Rice, Milka can find a home in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. She has a very strong fan base and we hope we can attract them to follow her in her NASCAR endeavors. Milka is very intelligent and educated, and we look forward to working with her."
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