28 Facts About Kat Teasdale

Kathryn Pennington Teasdale was a Canadian auto racing driver and businesswoman.

Kat Teasdale began racing Formula Fords in Canada in 1988, and later switched to stock car racing.

Kat Teasdale was the CASCAR rookie of the year in 1993, and a three-time Canadian national champion in the Chevrolet Camaro racing series from 1996 to 1998.

Kat Teasdale achieved several firsts for female drivers which included being the first Canadian woman to have an international racing license, the first woman to compete in the Indy Lights road racing series, and the first female driver in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series.

Kat Teasdale succeeded in earning her own sponsorships in motorsport, and was later her own racing team owner.

Kat Teasdale was described by Andy Pilgrim as both a fearless driver and a talented athlete.

Kat Teasdale won over 180 races during her career, and retired from professional racing in 1998.

Kat Teasdale began riding horses at age 4, and later won a junior golfing championship.

Kat Teasdale later competed in the Player's GM Motorsports Series, the Trans-Am Series, and the International Race of Champions.

Kat Teasdale joined the Landford Racing team in 1991, and participated in the Molson Indy Vancouver in the Atlantic Championship, becoming the first woman to compete in the series.

Kat Teasdale made her debut in the CASCAR series during the 1993 season.

Kat Teasdale had limited previous exposure to stock cars at the time, but achieved success immediately by winning CASCAR's Hard Charger Award as its rookie of the year.

Kat Teasdale remained with the Pontiac team until the 1996 season, and competed in the Street Stock Endurance Championship of the International Motor Sports Association, winning a team championship in 1995.

Kat Teasdale later raced in other NASCAR events at Milwaukee Mile, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Michigan Speedway and Dover Downs International Speedway.

Kat Teasdale had planned to race a full schedule during the 1999 season, but chose to retire from professional racing in 1998.

Kat Teasdale won over 180 races during her career, was the first Canadian woman to have an international racing license, and the first woman to race in the Indy Lights road racing series.

Kat Teasdale obtained dual Canadian and American citizenship during her racing career, and lived in both Toronto, Ontario and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Kat Teasdale had great enthusiasm for racing, an upbeat and positive personality and loved to laugh.

Kat Teasdale further stated that "Kathryn believed in herself, her talents and had faith in those surrounding her, and she wasn't shy about announcing it to the world".

Kat Teasdale was reported to be "a fan and friend of Corner 2 at Mosport International Raceway" in her native Canada.

Brian Stewart was the team owner on the 1992 Indy Lights series, and said that Kat Teasdale insisted on as much practice as she could.

Kat Teasdale recalled that during a practice session in Michigan the input shaft on her transmission broke, and Teasdale arranged to meet another team at 5:30 in the morning on the Indiana Toll Road to get a replacement part and practice some more.

Teasdale started her own Black Kat racing team in early 1988 when she turned professional.

Kat Teasdale was assisted by Canadian sports lawyer Gord Kirke as her legal counsel.

Kat Teasdale initially struggled to find the money to compete as sponsorship deals were tentative in her early years, but she was determined as she felt that she was good enough and deserved to be on the same race track as men.

Kat Teasdale was determined to work harder for corporate sponsorships, and credited those sponsors who assisted her with making her driving career possible.

Kat Teasdale received international recognition for her work with the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon breed.

Kat Teasdale became involved with charitable work at age 10 for Easter Seals Canada, Christian Children's Fund and the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.