NHRA legend Shirley Muldowney was one of the first women to make her mark in drag racing. She endured years of wearing pink short-shorts and being called “Cha Cha” before being taken seriously as a racer. Earlier this year there was talk that she might return at the wheel of a nostalgia Funny Car, but that deal fell through.

Never one to shy away from straight answers, here she shares with DRO the behind-the-scenes story of her nixed AA Funny Car deal, as well as a possible run at a land-speed record. She also makes some candid remarks about NASCAR, jet cars, the Top Fuel canopy, quarter-mile racing, and NHRA founder Wally Parks.