Thu, 24 Sep 2009, 02:18 PM Hispanic Heritage Month Fact

Courtesy of Tonita Perry

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), we recognize Peggy Llewellyn, a professional motorcyclist on the NHRA circuit and the first woman of color in the world to win a professional motorsports event, as a Hispanic Heritage Month Fact.

On September 23, 2007, Llewellyn, of Mexican and Jamaican decent, won her first professional racing event at the NHRA POWERade Series, O'Reilly Fall Nationals in Dallas, earning her an appearance in the inaugural Countdown to 4 and Countdown to 1, giving her a finish in the POWERade top five in standings where she recorded her post-career-best time and speed.

Llewellyn ran an elapsed time of 7.020 seconds at 190.00 mph to beat Andrew Hines in the finals, while knocking Craig Treble out of the number four position to make it into the inaugural countdown competition. She was the only female to make it into the countdown, finishing fourth for the season.

According to the United States Census, in September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week, with the observance being expanded in 1988 to a month long celebration (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), starting on Sept. 15 in observance of the anniversary of independence for seven Latin American (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile) countries.

Citizens celebrate the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Mexico, Spain, and other Spanish-speaking nations.

About Peggy Llewellyn
Professional motorcyclist Peggy Llewellyn, of Jamaican and Mexican American decent, is the first woman of color in the world to win a professional motorsports event. Winning at the NHRA POWERade Dallas 2007, she earned an appearance in the inaugural Countdown to 4 and Countdown to 1, giving her a finish in the POWERade top five in standings where she recorded her post-career-best time and speed.

The three year professional motorcyclist ran an abbreviated season in 2008 where she advanced to the semifinals in Denver, finishing the season qualifying five of six races. Llewellyn looks to return to the NHRA circuit for the remainder of the 2009 NHRA season.

Named 2009 Female Athlete of the Year by The Elements of a Champion Foundation for displaying extraordinary character on and off the racetrack, Llewellyn is dedicated to her community through actively being involved with Women's Sports Foundation's Go Girl Go! and independently promoting the sport of motorcycle racing, physical fitness education, and following dreams to young girls. She also serves as the celebrity spokesperson for Divas For A Cure, a unique national service-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of Black and Latina women, who ride motorcycles across country to increase awareness and raise funds to support a cure for breast cancer throughout the year and participate in their signature fundraiser, Divas For A Cure Breast Cancer Motorcycle Run.

For more information, visit http://www.peggyllewellyn.com.

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