In this episode of the Women’s Motorsports Network Podcast, host Melinda Russell sits down with Lisa Kubo, a true pioneer of import drag racing. Lisa shares her incredible journey from being a two-week-old baby at the street races with her father to becoming the first driver in NHRA history to pilot a front-wheel drive car into the seven-second range.
Lisa reflects on her street racing roots in California, the rise of the import vs. domestic scene, and how she helped build an entirely new motorsports industry alongside her peers. She opens up about the highs of four world championships, unforgettable moments racing in Puerto Rico, and the pressure of beating corporate General Motors to the seven-second milestone.
Today, Lisa manages a performance shop in Florida and is carefully rebuilding her original Civic for a return to the track. Her story is one of resilience, community, and the adrenaline-fueled passion that continues to drive her forward.