At the 1977 Firecracker 400, NASCAR invited two of Europe's most exceptional female racers — Christine Beckers and Lella Lombardi — to make their Cup Series debut… but its goals may not have been particularly noble. Janet Guthrie, who was also competing in that race, felt that NASCAR was attempting to end her career by paying foreign talent to take her down. Today on "Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys," we're delving into those accusations, and the drama surrounding the race.

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Episode Bibliography:

A Life at Full Throttle by Janet Guthrie

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/trailblazing-racer-lella-lombardi-remembered-30-years-on-from-her-death.6zz9pupcxc97yy5SEL1kkR 

https://www.reed.edu/reed-magazine/in-memoriam/obituaries/2018/rolla-vollstedt-1940.html

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-24-sp-2407-story.html

https://www.newspapers.com/image/303640537/?match=3&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker 

https://www.newspapers.com/image/319067010/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker

https://www.newspapers.com/image/224846339/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker 

https://www.newspapers.com/image/111800501/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker

https://www.newspapers.com/image/54071698/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker

https://www.newspapers.com/image/622854875/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker

https://www.newspapers.com/image/398599913/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker

https://www.newspapers.com/image/398599913/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker

https://www.newspapers.com/image/233364880/?terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker

https://www.newspapers.com/image/284009301/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker