Lisa Smokstad | |
---|---|
Born | Lisa Jones Smokstad 6 September 1969 |
Alma mater | University of Minnesota |
Occupation | Tire specialist |
Years active | 1996–present |
Spouse |
Craig Smokstad (
m. 1993) |
Lisa Jones Smokstad (born September 6, 1969) is an American tire specialist. She has been employed by multiple-champion NASCAR race car team Hendrick Motorsports since 1999, and has worked for various drivers.
Smokstad was born on September 6, 1969, in Shakopee, Minnesota. [1] She is the daughter of Ellis and Pat Jones. [2] Smokstad began participating in gymnastics and competed in the sport until her early teenage years. [1] She worked as a child advocate in Minnesota's courtrooms. [3] While enrolled at the University of Minnesota on a psychology course, [4] Smokstad found work doing concessions at Raceway Park in 1990 which she did during the weekends. [1] [5] The job was secured by one of her friends with whom she attended gymnastic class with. [6] Smokstad said in 2006 that she had not originally intended for an auto racing career: "When I went to college I didn't think I'd be dirty four days a week." [7] It was where she met her husband Craig, whom she married in 1993. [1] [5] She obtained the job as she was the only member of her family who could understand tire fractions. [3] In 1992, Smokstad graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in psychology. [1]
In 1996, Smokstad began working as a tireperson for her brother-in-law who was competing in American Speed Association-sanctioned races. [8] She later overheard that race car driver Ken Schrader was planning to start a new short-track team and required a tire specialist. [5] [9] Smokstad and her husband accepted the position and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1996. When two race teams merged in 1999, she was required to look for a new job because Schrader wanted a tire specialist with more experience. He advised her not to send a résumé to Hendrick Motorsports because of her gender. [5] However, she was asked by Jack Sprague and his crew chief Dennis Conner to join Hendrick Motorsports as their tire specialist. [1] She began in the position in 1999. [4] That same year, he won the Craftsman Truck Series; the experience strengthened Smokstad's loyalty to team and garnered her admiration for its founder Rick Hendrick. [9]
She later worked with various drivers who raced for Hendrick Motorsports. [1] Smokstad coached a gymnastics team while not working in auto racing. [10] She gave birth to her daughter, RaElla, on August 30, 2007. [2] She and fellow crew member Zach Miller were awarded the Cup Series "Consistently Smooth" Tire Specialist Award in 2009. [11] Smokstad was promoted by Hendrick Motorsports in 2010 to focus on strategizing and tire testing. [1]
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Lisa Smokstad | |
---|---|
Born | Lisa Jones Smokstad 6 September 1969 |
Alma mater | University of Minnesota |
Occupation | Tire specialist |
Years active | 1996–present |
Spouse |
Craig Smokstad (
m. 1993) |
Lisa Jones Smokstad (born September 6, 1969) is an American tire specialist. She has been employed by multiple-champion NASCAR race car team Hendrick Motorsports since 1999, and has worked for various drivers.
Smokstad was born on September 6, 1969, in Shakopee, Minnesota. [1] She is the daughter of Ellis and Pat Jones. [2] Smokstad began participating in gymnastics and competed in the sport until her early teenage years. [1] She worked as a child advocate in Minnesota's courtrooms. [3] While enrolled at the University of Minnesota on a psychology course, [4] Smokstad found work doing concessions at Raceway Park in 1990 which she did during the weekends. [1] [5] The job was secured by one of her friends with whom she attended gymnastic class with. [6] Smokstad said in 2006 that she had not originally intended for an auto racing career: "When I went to college I didn't think I'd be dirty four days a week." [7] It was where she met her husband Craig, whom she married in 1993. [1] [5] She obtained the job as she was the only member of her family who could understand tire fractions. [3] In 1992, Smokstad graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in psychology. [1]
In 1996, Smokstad began working as a tireperson for her brother-in-law who was competing in American Speed Association-sanctioned races. [8] She later overheard that race car driver Ken Schrader was planning to start a new short-track team and required a tire specialist. [5] [9] Smokstad and her husband accepted the position and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1996. When two race teams merged in 1999, she was required to look for a new job because Schrader wanted a tire specialist with more experience. He advised her not to send a résumé to Hendrick Motorsports because of her gender. [5] However, she was asked by Jack Sprague and his crew chief Dennis Conner to join Hendrick Motorsports as their tire specialist. [1] She began in the position in 1999. [4] That same year, he won the Craftsman Truck Series; the experience strengthened Smokstad's loyalty to team and garnered her admiration for its founder Rick Hendrick. [9]
She later worked with various drivers who raced for Hendrick Motorsports. [1] Smokstad coached a gymnastics team while not working in auto racing. [10] She gave birth to her daughter, RaElla, on August 30, 2007. [2] She and fellow crew member Zach Miller were awarded the Cup Series "Consistently Smooth" Tire Specialist Award in 2009. [11] Smokstad was promoted by Hendrick Motorsports in 2010 to focus on strategizing and tire testing. [1]
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