I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Muldowney. A close friend's older brother was racing in the econo altered class at the local 1/4 mile strip. Muldowney and Garlits were the featured attractions. My friend's older brother was racing in the econo altered class and graciously gave me a pit pass. I immediately went to Muldowney's camp. We hit it off and she showed me what her mechanics were doing, which was tearing the whole damn rig apart and putting it back together. She literally took the time to explain every step to me in detail while simultaneously signing autographs. Class act.

As someone who's not into drag racing, I had never heard of Shirley Muldowney before watching Jonathan Kaplan's Academy Award-nominated "Heart Like a Wheel" (not knowing what it was about, I assumed that it had something to do with Linda Ronstadt's song). My unfamiliarity made the movie all the more impressive. Like numerous people throughout history, Muldowney wanted to make something of herself.

I understand that Muldowney would've preferred Jamie Lee Curtis in the role. I could see Curtis in the role, but I still think that Bonnie Bedelia did a fine job. It's not a masterpiece, but I recommend it.

PS: supporting cast members Hoyt Axton and Dick Miller co-starred the following year in Joe Dante's "Gremlins".

Bonnie Bedelia got her career role in this biographical study of Shirley Ann Muldowney aka Cha Cha who became the first female drag racing champion. She cracked a lot of glass ceilings and this film is particularly good viewing as another woman is poised to crack the biggest glass ceiling of them all this year.

There were a lot of heartaches on the way for Muldowney, the break up of her marriage where her husband Leo Rossi felt relegated to the sidelines in his role reversal as her mechanic. There was also an affair with another drag racing champion played by Beau Bridges.

Bedelia is just wonderful in a role where she gradually ages almost 20 years and she's convincing at all stages of her life. She gets good support from her supporting cast. Special mention should go out to Leo Rossi who has a complex role as the husband who is never made a stereotypical alpha male. No trace of a Donald Trump like character is found in his performance. Also country singer Hoyt Axton does well as Bedelia's father.

I think more than drag racing fans will like Heart Like A Wheel which got an Oscar nomination for costume design.