Tracy Gaudu First Woman To Race A Corvette At Pikes Peak

Tracy Gaudu will break new ground later this month as the first woman to race a Chevy Corvette in the world-renowned Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Gaudu will tackle the grueling 12.42-mile ascent from the driver’s seat of her Atomic Orange 2008 Z06, racing to the 14,115-foot summit in Colorado to compete in the event’s 103^rd running. Gaudu will later join the fun at Corvettes at Carlisle for a meet-and-greet this coming August.

While other women have competed at Pikes Peak before, none have done so behind the wheel of a Vette. What’s more, Gaudu’s Z06 is anything but ordinary – under the hood, you’ll find a Lingenfelter LS7 427 Eliminator Spec R engine producing up to 650 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque. Following her Pikes Peak debut, Gaudu and her high-performance Z06 will be featured at the annual Corvettes at Carlisle event between August 21^st and August 23^rd, 2025, where she’ll meet fans and share her story at the Racer’s Reunion tent.

Gaudu’s racing history spans more than 15 years, beginning in 2008 when she transitioned from enthusiast to competitive driver. Her numerous motorsport accomplishments include national titles under the National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC), NASA Southeast, and SCCA, as well as recognition from Car Chix. Most recently, she was crowned the 2024 NASA Southeast Super Unlimited Champion and named a Hoosier Hero.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Gaudu now works as a vascular surgery and trauma physician assistant near her hometown of Johnson City, Tennessee.

“I’ve always loved the Corvette,” Gaudu says. “Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted one, but never thought I could afford one. Finally, I got my first; a 2005 C6. It was amazing. I joined the Longhorn Corvette Club in Austin, Texas and attended their events, took part in autocross, and had such a great time participating and competing with that club and the rest of the Southwest Region of the National Council of Corvette Clubs.”

Gaudu later made what she calls the “best mistake ever.”

“I looked around in the showroom of a local dealership and that’s where I found my current love; a 2008 Z06. I do this all myself typically, but I’ll be competing at Pikes Peak with the help of some amazing friends. To be the first woman ever to drive Pikes Peak in a Corvette is historic and I’m honored.”