Leilani Münter "Never Underestimate a Vegetarian Hippie Chick with a Race Car"

Some fun stuff: Leilani once worked as a photo double and stunt driver for Catherine Zeta-Jones. Her mother, a nurse, was born in Hawaii and her father, a doctor, was born in Germany. Leilani has three older sisters - Svenja, Nicolette, and Natascha. Natascha is married to Grateful Dead guitarist and singer Bob Weir - so Leilani is a bit of a hippie. She has been a vegetarian for most of her life. While attending college, Leilani was a volunteer for a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center. In 2009, she married engineer Craig Davidson in a seaside wedding on the Coromandel Peninsula of the North Island of New Zealand, his home country. Leilani is left handed and has a cat named Pushkin. She is small, but tough.

Leilani was born and raised in Minnesota. She excelled in science and earned a Presidential Academic Fitness Award in high school, graduating with a 4.0. In her senior year of high school, she became a PADI certified scuba diver, a hobby she continues to this day. Leilani went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology specializing in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution from the University of California San Diego. While attending college she worked as a volunteer at a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center.

Leilani started racing cars in 2001 and has spent the last ten years working her way up the NASCAR ranks. During this time Leilani also worked as a race instructor and spent three years as a special correspondent for NASCAR.com. In 2003 she had her first start in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series at South Boston Speedway, she finished ninth. She made her first speedway start in 2004 at Texas Motor Speedway and set a new record when she qualified fourth, the highest qualifying effort for a female driver at the track. It was also her first super late model race; she finished seventh.

Texas would turn out to be one of Münter's favorite tracks. She returned to Texas Motor Speedway in 2006 and set a new record when she finished 4th, the highest finish for a female driver in the history of the 1.5 mile speedway. Later that year, Leilani became the first woman to qualify in the 45 year history of the Bettenhausen Classic at Illiana Speedway in Indiana. By the end of the 2006 racing season, Leilani had raced her way from the short tracks of southern California all the way to the most iconic NASCAR track of them all, the high banks of Daytona International Speedway. She completed her rookie ARCA test at Daytona and even though she was with a small underfunded team, she was 24th quick of 57 race cars testing at Daytona. Leilani was set to make the move into the ARCA Series in 2007, a stepping stone series into NASCAR's top three series, but sponsorship funding still needed to be secured for her to make the move.

Shortly after her Daytona test Münter received a phone call from an Indy team to ask if she was interested in racing open wheel cars. She completed her rookie test with IndyCar in May 2007 and later that year became the fourth woman in history to race in the Indy Pro Series, the developmental league of IndyCar. She impressed the open wheel racing world when she qualified 5th for her debut at Kentucky Speedway on August 11. She had trouble on a restart and dropped back to 13th but raced her way back to the front of the field. She passed five cars in a lap and a half and turned in the fifth-fastest lap of the race with a speed of 192.399 mph. Leilani was running in the top five when a multi car accident took her out of the race when a car in front of her cut a tire. Four-time Indy 500 champion Rick Mears, IndyCar driver Jaques Lazier, and many others in the IndyCar community spoke very highly of Münter after her debut.

Since 2007, Leilani has purchased an acre of rainforest for every race she runs to offset her carbon footprint and has been a long time vegetarian and eco activist. In fall of 2008, Leilani landed a national ad campaign as a Lucky Jeans model, her caption read: "Leilani Münter, Race Car Driver and Environmentalist - Saving rainforests one race at a time." Her ads appeared in Vogue, Vanity Fair, In Style, W Magazine and Lucky Brand Jeans stores across the country.

In 2008, as an Ambassador of the National Wildlife Federation, Leilani became politically active in the legislative fight for the environment. She made several trips to Capitol Hill to speak with Congress on behalf of climate issues with climate change scientists from the National Wildlife Federation. In June 2008 she spoke at a Climate Action Rally on the steps of Capitol Hill alongside Senators Barbara Boxer, Joe Lieberman, and John Kerry.

In 2010 Münter was one of the first activists to visit the BP Oil Spill, she arrived in Venice, Louisiana ten days after the Deepwater Horizon sank to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. She spent a week at the spill, documenting her experience there. In July Münter returned to the Gulf and toured the oil-stained areas of Louisiana devastated by the BP Oil Spill as part of a Sierra Club sponsored event involving 10 athletes.

Later that year she became involved in the fight against the dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan and became a volunteer for Save Japan Dolphins. In September, Münter stood in Tokyo, next to dolphin activist Ric O'Barry who is featured in the movie, to deliver a petition signed by 1.7 million people from 151 countries asking for the dolphin slaughter to end. She returned to Taiji, Japan again for two weeks in October 2010 and documented two dolphin slaughters while she was there. She has stated she will continue to return to The Cove until the slaughter has ended.

Leilani's accomplishments have landed her on 14 magazine covers and on the pages of USA Today, New York Times, Italian Vogue, Esquire, ESPN, Men's Journal, Newsweek, Glamour, Reader's Digest, Vanity Fair, Washington Post, and Sports Illustrated named her one of the top ten female race car drivers in the world. Glamour Magazine named her an "Eco Hero." In 2010 Discovery's Planet Green named her the #1 Eco Athlete, beating out Lance Armstrong for the top spot. She was profiled on Discovery Planet Green's new 2010 television series "Fast Forward." She has also been featured on ESPN, Fashion TV, National Geographic, NBC Sports, and MSNBC.

Leilani is also an accomplished public speaker and writer, currently contributing to Discovery's Treehugger.com and the green section of the Huffington Post, rated the most influential blog in the world by the Guardian and topping Time Magazine's blog index.

Leilani turned the fastest lap of the race at Daytona (she was 2/10 of a second faster than the leaders) before getting taken out in "The Big One" in February 2010.

Leilani was one of only three women to qualify for the Daytona 2010 ARCA race on speed, alongside Danica Patrick and Alli Owens. She qualified 25th out of 51 race cars attempting to make the field.

Leilani was 7th quick at Daytona ARCA testing in Dec 2009 with a speed of 181.77 mph.

Leilani became the fourth woman in history to compete in the Indy Pro Series, the developmental league of IndyCar in 2007.

Leilani set the record for the highest finishing position for a female driver in the history of the 1.5 mile Texas Motor Speedway when she finished 4th in the Konica Minolta 100 on June 10, 2006.

Leilani set the record for the highest qualifying effort for a female stock car driver in the history of the 1.5 mile Texas Motor Speedway when she qualified 4th for the First Convenience Bank 100 on June 12, 2004.

Leilani became the first woman to qualify in the 45 year history of the Bettenhausen Classic at Illiana Speedway in Indiana on September 16, 2006.

Leilani was 5th quick in her very first laps at Chicagoland Speedway in a practice session for the Indy Pro Series Chicagoland 100 on Sept 8, 2007.

In her very first laps at Daytona International Raceway, Leilani was 24th quick of 59 ARCA race cars testing on Dec 16, 2006.

Leilani qualified 5th for her debut in the Indy Pro Series at Kentucky Speedway on Aug 11, 2007. She had trouble on a restart and dropped back to 13th but dazzled the crowd by racing her way back up to the front of the field. She was about to pass for 4th place when she was collected in a multi-car accident. Four time Indy 500 champion Rick Mears, IndyCar driver Jaques Lazier and many others in the IndyCar community spoke very highly of Münter after her debut. She turned the 5th quickest lap of the race with a speed of 192.399 mph.

In 42 starts, Leilani has 9 top five finishes and 19 top tens. She has finished running 88% of the time. Two of these races were in the Indy Pro Series, the rest were stock car races.

	In February Leilani made her debut at Daytona International Speedway in the ARCA Series presented by Re/Max and Menards. Fifty one race cars attempted to qualify for Daytona's ARCA race, Leilani qualified 25th and was one of only three women to qualify for the event on speed along with Danica Patrick and Alli Owens. Leilani turned the fastest lap of the race and was 2/10 of a second faster than the leaders when she was caught up in "The Big One" after a driver spun and collected 10 race cars, including Leilani's #59 GREENandSAVE Dodge. After several years of working to form her Eco Dream Team of sponsors, Leilani had that dream realized when she unveiled her Daytona sponsors as: GREENandSAVE, NativeEnergy, groSolar, LED Saving Solutions, Eco Academy, and Home Efficiency Report as her first Eco Dream Team collaboration. She was honored when she had her first official NASCAR trading card released by Press Pass Inc. She made the cover of Experience Life Magazine and UCSD Magazine, the University she earned a biology degree from. Discovery's Planet Green named her the #1 Eco Athlete, beating out top athletes like Lance Armstrong. 2010 television appearances include Discovery Channel's Planet Green "Planet 100" and their new tv series "Fast Forward" as well as "Green Heroes TV."
	Leilani tested the #59 NextEra Energy Resources Dodge owned by Mark Gibson Racing at Daytona International Speedway in the ARCA Series open test. More than 80 drivers participated in the ARCA open test and Leilani was 7th quick in the final practice with a speed of 181.77 mph. She spent several laps drafting with the #88 of Danica Patrick and later reflected on the historic nature of having two women drafting together at Daytona, something that likely had not happened before. Leilani also drove a hydrogen fuel cell Ford Focus across Norway in the Viking Rally, a zero emissions rally for hydrogen and electric cars. She finished 2nd in the hillclimb, beaten by only World Rally driver Hennig Solberg. Leilani was named one of the "Best of America" by Reader's Digest and was named one of the most beautiful people in NASCAR by Sporting News Magazine. Leilani was also featured as one of Glamour Magazine's "Eco Heroes" and a "fitness inspiration" in Shape Magazine. Leilani appeared on four more magazine covers in 2009 and Discovery's Planet Green filmed Leilani for a new tv series coming in 2010.
	Leilani tested Daytona International Speedway in NASCAR legend James Hylton's ARCA car in preparation for her debut in the ARCA Series at Daytona in Februay 2009. Leilani made three trips to Capitol Hill to speak with members of Congress on behalf of environmental legislation and became a contributer to the green section of the Huffington Post, rated the most influential blog in the world. Media highlights include Italian Vogue, the Washington Post, her second cover for Rochester Magazine, a feature in the historical Indy 500 program, and as one of the "Lucky Few" in Lucky Brand Jeans fall ad campaign, Leilani appeared in Vanity Fair, Vogue, In Style, and W Magazine in addition to billboards and Lucky Brand stores across the country. She also became an Ambassador for the National Wildlife Federation.
	Signed with Championship Indy Pro team Sam Schmidt Motorsports to run Kentucky Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway in the SMART Papers Dallara after an impressive performance during her rookie test for the Indy Pro Series in May. Leilani became the fourth woman in history to compete in the Indy Pro Series in 2007. She qualified 5th for her debut at Kentucky Speedway on Aug 11, 2007. She had trouble on a restart and dropped back to 13th but surprised and impressed many by racing her way back up to the front of the field. She was about to pass for 4th place when she was collected in a multi-car accident. Four time Indy 500 champion Rick Mears, IndyCar driver Jaques Lazier, and many others in the IndyCar community spoke very highly of Münter after her debut. Re-signed for a second year with Hostess to appear on boxes of Hostess Twinkies, Cupcakes, and Donettes as a "Hostess Race Diva" alongside IRL's Danica Patrick and NHRA's Melanie Troxel. Media highlights include: featured in tv documentary ESPN Ultimate NASCAR: The Explosion, USA Today, and the cover of InTune Magazine.
	Set the record for the highest finishing position for a female driver in the history of the 1.5 mile Texas Motor Speedway when she finished 4th. Also became the first woman to qualify in the 45 year history of the Bettenhausen Classic. Leilani completed her rookie test at Daytona International Speedway in the ARCA Re/Max Series (feeder series to NASCAR). With just two runs, Leilani was 24th quick of 59 race cars testing with a lap of 177.644 mph. Raced against NASCAR Nextel Cup Champions Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth posting a time that was only 3/10 of a second off of Stewart’s quickest time. Signed Konica Minolta Printing Solutions as her primary sponsor. Signed to appear on boxes of Hostess Twinkies, Cupcakes and Donettes as one of three "Hostess Race Divas" alongside Danica Patrick (IRL) and Melanie Troxel (NHRA). Media highlights include: front page of FOXSports.com, and cover of Speedworld Magazine.
	Began working as an instructor for Andy Hillenburg's Fast Track High Performance Driving School, giving rides and instructing at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Nashville SuperSpeedway, Kentucky Speedway, and Atlanta Motor Speedway. Media highlights include: television feature on NASCAR Nation, cover of Rochester Magazine, and being one of 50 women profiled in the photography book "A Day in the Life of the American Woman."
	Debuted in the ROMCO Super Late Model Series with an impressive run. In her first super late model race and her first race at Texas Motor Speedway, Leilani was 6th fastest of 26 race cars in practice. Leilani set the record for the highest qualifying effort for a female driver in the history of the 1.5 mile Texas Motor Speedway when she qualified 4th for the First Convenience Bank 100 on June 12, 2004. She started 4th and finished 7th on the lead lap and closing. Leilani was sponsored by FHM Magazine. She also signed Trimspa as a sponsor for a NASCAR Elite division race at the 1.5 mile Kentucky Speedway. Signed as special correspondent with NASCAR.com. Media highlights include: cover of Corvette Quarterly Magazine and host on Spike TV.
	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, Leilani debuted in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series with a 9th place finish in the Coor's Light 150 at South Boston Speedway. In the final laps of this 150 lap race, Leilani was turning the same lap times as the leader. Two weeks later, Team Bristol Motorsports encountered financial difficulties that forced the team to retire from competition. Media highlights include: named "The Hottest Woman in NASCAR" by FHM Magazine.
	Relocated to North Carolina, worked at a racing school, tested late models. Studied race car set up, geometry, and aerodynamics with Larry McReynolds (former Winston Cup crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Sr.). Media highlights include: featured as "A Woman We Love" by Esquire Magazine, named "America's Sexiest Race Car Driver" by Men's Journal Magazine, cover girl for Charlotte Magazine, and an ESPN Magazine feature.
	Started racing stock cars 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. Qualified and finished seventh in main event. Prior to her first race, Leilani attended various racing schools while earning her degree in biology from the University of California. Media highlights include: television features on FOX Sports and NBC Sports.