Milka was born in Caracas and is a Venezuelan race car driver. She was introduced to the sport when she was invited to a driving clinic by a car club in Venezuela. She holds master’s degrees in Organizational Development, Naval Architecture, Maritime Business, and Marine Biology (earning the last three masters degrees simultaneously) and also she has worked as a naval engineer.
Talent, beauty, brains and competitiveness are just a few of the adjectives that can be used to describe race car driver Milka Duno – one of the most successful female race car drivers in the world today. Milka has competed in more types of race cars in more different racing series than any other current female driver – and has eight major motorsport wins to her credit.
When Milka won the Rolex Series Miami Grand Prix she became the first woman in history to win a major international race in the USA. Milka also earned the highest finish ever by a female driver, 2nd place, in the now 52-year history of the legendary 24 Hours of Daytona. Milka was the first Hispanic female driver, in the now 101-year history of the race, to qualify for and compete in the world famous Indianapolis 500 – a race that she would qualify for and compete in for three consecutive years.
Milka is now making another historical transition – from IndyCar to stock car racing – and in 2013 competed in her first full stock car racing season in the ARCA Racing Series. She finished the season 7th in the Driver Point Standings and became the 2nd highest finishing female driver in ARCA’s 61-year history.
During the 21-race season Milka earned the ARCA Series pole at Talladega Superspeedway and generated two top-10 and thirteen top-15 finishes. In the 2013 ARCA Series season open at Daytona Milka qualified 2nd and took the lead on the first lap.
Milka is the first Hispanic woman to compete in stock car racing on a national level in the United States. Milka inducted into the Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame. Milka became the first Venezuelan athlete to be inducted into the Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame at their 35th Anniversary Induction Ceremony in January, 2010.
Milka Duno Achievements in Car Racing
- First Hispanic woman to compete in the ARCA Racing Series in its 61-year history.
- Earned the highest finish for a Venezuelan driver in the ARCA Racing Series in its 61-year history.
- 2nd highest finishing woman in the ARCA Racing Series driver point standings in its 61-year history.
- Earned pole position in the 2013 ARCA Racing Series race at Talladega Super speedway becoming only the 4th woman in history to win an ARCA Racing Series pole and the first Venezuelan to earn an ARCA Racing Series pole in the 61 year history of the ARCA Racing Series and only the 2nd woman to earn a ARCA Racing Series pole at Talladega
Super speedway in 25 years. - First woman in history to win a major international race in the United States.
- Eight professional career race wins at top levels. Numerous wins at minor levels.
- During her time in the ARCA, IndyCar, Rolex and American Le Mans Series has earned 8 wins, 13 podium appearances, 16 top-5 finishes and 26 top-10 finishes.
- First Hispanic woman, in the 101-year history of the race, to compete in the Indy 500.
- First Hispanic woman to compete in the IndyCar Series.
- First Hispanic woman to lead an IndyCar Series race.
- Historic 2nd place finish and highest finish ever by a female driver in the 24 Hours of Daytona in its now 52-year history.
- Three wins in the Rolex Grand American Series.
- Five wins in the American Le Mans Series.
- First woman to win at Petit Le Mans – has won twice.
- In only 2nd year of racing named “Venezuelan Auto Racing Driver of the Year”
- In only 2nd year of racing won first racing championship – Panoz GT Series.
- Crowned Vice-Champion Driver in American Le Mans LMP 675 Championship.
- First woman to reach the podium in GTS Class of American Le Mans Series.
Milka wins Ferrari Challenge Race at Road Atlanta and becomes the first woman to win a Ferrari
Challenge Race in North America
• First woman to drive LMP 900 – fastest car in American Le Mans Series.
• First woman to drive Daytona Prototype – fastest car in Rolex Series.
• Twice competing at legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, France.
• Invited by Porsche AG to be VIP Porsche Supercup Driver at F1 GP of Spain.
• First woman to drive the fastest car in Europe’s World Series by Nissan.
• First woman to score points in Europe’s World Series Light by Nissan.
• First woman to win a Ferrari Challenge race in the USA.
Milka’s passion and determination to succeed on the track is equaled by her passion and desire to “give back” off the track. It is Milka’s way. It is who she is. “I’ve been given many wonderful opportunities and I feel that it is a responsibility to make the most out of each and every one of them. I feel an obligation and a desire to give back – to let others know that they too can achieve all of their dreams and to help in any way I can to motivate and inspire them – to take advantage of every opportunity and to make their dreams come true!”
In 2004, Milka created the “Milka Way” Program – whose mission it is to inspire children and students to “Aim for the Stars” and achieve academic excellence. Milka Way visits inspire and motivate students to focus on their education by helping them understand that a strong academic background will benefit them for their entire life – in all aspects of their life – and in any career they choose.
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Milka Duno is highly accomplished and talented race car driver. She is winner of Rolex Series Miami Grand Prix, historic 2nd place finish and highest finish ever by a female driver in the 24 Hours of Daytona in 52-year history. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Your love with racing cars began later in life than other drivers, which looks a like late start in professional car racing but your career has propelled you to the height where you have been at the top of the world of professional car racing by being the woman holding the record of highest finish for a female driver in the 24 Hours of Daytona and with a total of 8 major race wins so far. Tell us something about this journey of success?
Ms. Milka Duno:
I did not start my life thinking that I wanted to become a race car driver – but it became my destiny. After simultaneously obtaining my last three (of four) master’s degrees a friend invited me to a Porsche Driving Clinic in Venezuela. I very much enjoyed all the aspects involved in driving a high performance car on a professional racing circuit and it was then that I knew deep inside that this is what I wanted to do – it was my destiny.
I started competing in races in Venezuela and winning and then went to the USA to take professional lessons. The instructors involved said that I had “what it takes” to have a successful professional racing career and so that is when my professional racing career began. Always I was trying to be the best and while, as a woman driver, I realize that I have made a lot of history so far in my career – that wasn’t the primary motivation. My primary motivation is simply – as a driver – to compete to the best of my ability and to win races.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You hold master’s degrees in Organizational Development, Naval Architecture, Maritime Business, and Marine Biology and you have prior experience working as a naval engineer. How has this helped you in your approach and understanding of making a career in professional car racing?
Ms. Milka Duno:
Earning all the degrees required a lot of focus, determination and commitment. These are also very important in racing – so I take these skills and use them every day in my racing career. In addition, so much of racing has to do with engineering and technology – so my experience in those areas help me understand the race car that much better, and how it is performing in race conditions and this helps me to give great feedback to the team’s engineers so that we can always be working toward being better and faster.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have selected a sport which requires a lot of cohesiveness and absolute understanding between your team of technicians, your machine and you to finally succeed, how do you achieve that?
Ms. Milka Duno:
Racing is most definitely a team sport and for success everyone on the team – from driver, to pit crew, to engineers, etc. have to all work in harmony toward the shared goal of winning. You become like a family with everyone doing their best to achieve a great result. We work hard – all of us together – to generate a good result in each and every race.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share?
Ms. Milka Duno:
To keep in the best shape and to keep up on the physical demands of racing cardio work is extremely important – do I do a lot of it. I run, kayak, and bicycle and do boxing and martial arts training as well.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Milka Duno on Women Fitness:
I’m honored to be selected for an interview with Womenfitness.net and I believe that you help to educate and motivate women and girls of all ages to develop positive attitudes and insights about health and wellness and help them to lead a positive and wonderful life.
Ms. Milka Duno:
I make sure to eat a very balanced and healthy diet with just the right amounts of protein and carbohydrates. Leading up to a race and at the race itself I do modify my regular diet a little and lighten it up a bit.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hairs. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hairs to make them look so stunning?
Ms. Milka Duno:
Hydration is a big key here so I make sure to drink a lot of water every day and of course maintaining a healthy and balanced diet contributes enormously to healthy hair and skin. I do use an olive oil cream treatment on my hair once a week.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding professional car racing girls who all are your fans and shall like to know from you for their climb to ladder of success in field of car racing?
Ms. Milka Duno:
The secret to being successful is being prepared – so my advice to them would be to study very hard and to prepare very hard. Also – don’t let anyone intimidate you. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Don’t let anything stop you from achieving your dreams. Set your goals and make a determined commitment to achieving them.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How did you feel before and after in 2013 when you became the second highest finishing female driver in ARCA’s Racing Series 61-year history?
Ms. Milka Duno:
It felt great actually and I’m very honored and proud of the achievement. The ARCA Series is now in its 62nd year so there have been many, many drivers that have competed in this series. But I didn’t enter the 2013 season with the goal of earning that achievement – I started the season, as I always do, with the goal doing my absolute best – not as a female driver – but as a driver. The point is to always try and do the best that you can do – at what you do. By doing that – many other things happen along the way that are very special and rewarding.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You are a professional race car driver, movie actress, published author and a model. How you manage such a remarkable multi-dimensional lifestyle?
Ms. Milka Duno:
It takes a lot of work – but again it all comes down to being determined, working hard and making the most of every opportunity.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Milka Duno:
I’m honored to be selected for an interview with Womenfitness.net and I believe that you help to educate and motivate women and girls of all ages to develop positive attitudes and insights about health and wellness and help them to lead a positive and wonderful life.
To know more about Milka Duno: Check out at: http://www.milkaduno.com
“Milka Way” is Milka Duno educational initiative. To learn more about it please see the Milka Way website at http://www.milkaway.com/milkaway
Women Fitness Team thanks Milka Duno for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and shall also like to thank Harry Capehart from RacePR/CapehartPR who made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.