Michelle Theriault knows how it feels to live a dream. Each time she straps into a 3200 lb. stock car she is living hers. Theriault's goal is to become a NASCAR champion and the 21-year-old has lived each day of her life in pursuit of it.

    
     As a young girl, Theriault and her father, David, watched friends race Quarter Midgets at local race tracks in Connecticut. When she was five, she saw a race car for sale and asked to sit in it. The moment she hopped in, the race car driver from within emerged.


     She turned to her Dad and said, "I want this."

    
Theriault proved to be a natural. Seven years competing in Quarter Midgets delivered her more than 200 wins in 13 states. Five times she was a runner up in the Quarter Midgets of America National Championship.


     In 1999, her family relocated to Georgia to further nurture her budding career. She graduated from Quarter Midgets to Legends Cars and once again proved her ability. She won Atlanta Motor Speedway's Thunder Racing Legends Championship and earned the distinction of becoming the first female Legends Car Champion. She backed up her success with two more championships and more than 20 wins.


     After three years of Legends Car success, Theriault moved up to the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Pro-Late Model Division at Lanier National Speedway. Before she made the jump, she attended Finish Line Racing School, one of America's best short track racing schools, to get a professional opinion on her skill and talent.

    
     She received an outstanding review.


     In 2003, Theriault completed a full season in Late Model competition. She finished 20 of 20 events, sixth in the series point championship and runner-up in the Rookie of the Year battle. She also competed in two NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Super Late Model Division races.

 

     For the past three seasons, Theriault has competed in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series. Her consistent growth in the series has earned her many accolades and records.


     In 2004 she became the first female competitor to qualify for the season-ending National Championship. She backed that up by qualifying again in 2005 and 2006.


     During the 2004 season, she accepted an invitation from Ford Racing to participate in its Driver Development program. The comprehensive program evaluated and nurtured driver skills both on and off track.

Theriault added another dimension to her career when she was approached by a Hollywood production company about a reality-based TV series. After the meeting, she was immediately added to the cast. The Drive, which aired on Country Music Television (CMT) in 2004, was a series focusing on seven race car drivers, their daily lives and the rigors of stock car racing.


     In 2005, Theriault expanded her racing resume when she made one start in the NASCAR Grand National Division, AutoZone West Series at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Ore.


     The 2006 season has proven to be pivotal, marking the first full season with a corporate partner. Smyrna, Ga.-based GLOCK joined Theriault and allowed her to worry less about funding her racing career and focus more attention to on-track performance. She didn’t disappoint, recording the best start and finish by a female competitor in the Pro Cup Series. She also bettered several of her personal records.


     Michelle Theriault still dreams of becoming a NASCAR champion and she knows one day that dream will become reality.