A career that started in the year 2018 in a male-dominated NASCAR world and continued to achieve wonders is nothing short of an achievement. Her extensive career with Hendrick Motorsports has been a testimony of how women can achieve everything they want in life and even in such a male-dominated field – hold their demeanor together. Alan Conor has been a standout figure in this field not only for her impeccable engineering standards but also for her Hispanic origin. 

However, through resilience, determination, and a relentless commitment to hard work, she carved out her place in the competitive world of NASCAR. Her story serves as a powerful testament to the strength it takes to rise above challenges and pave the way for future generations in racing.

Alan Conor maneuvers through gender discrimination and biases to reach the zenith

The journey to the current executive position at Hendrick Motorsports started with a dream to become the first Puerto Rican female astronaut. Alan Conor grew up in Puerto Rico, and since her childhood, engineering has been her passion. It was during her mechanical engineering degree days that she got involved in a solar race car project. This is what changed her approach completely and made her interested in the field of motorsports. Her 23-year-long glorious career with General Motors served as a predecessor for her entry to Hendrick Motorsports.

Colon has driven the success of more than 40 wins for Hendrick Motorsports till now. Alba Colon is a very important part of Hendrick Motorsports and recently she opened up about her journey in a podcast with Angie Skinner. Colon said, “You know when I came to the sport, it was a little bit different right. Not only was there not too many women as you know about this, but there was also not too many engineers, not too many Hispanics neither. Everybody didn’t know how to treat me or what to do with me right. But hard work. I would say hard work got me to where I am”.

However, her illustrious career was not devoid of any biases. Back in the day, she was even addressed as a “PR Girl” just because of her gender. People did not have an idea about how they should address her, given that the notion was that females on the race track meant their affiliation could be with media houses only. Even her golden chance of being associated with Hendrick Motorsports came after she proved her worth in General Motorsports. 

By the year 2000, she was able to climb her way to the top of GM’s drag racing programs. In 2001, she was handed over the responsibility to head the NASCAR Cup series. What a stellar achievement right? With Colon, Chevrolet was able to claim 11 NASCAR Cup Series titles and 4 Manufacturer titles. Recognizing her talent and the contribution she made, GM released an official statement that said, “Alba Colon was a key contributor to Chevrolet’s racing success for over two decades, including 14 NASCAR Cup manufacturers’ championships as our program manager in the series. We thank Alba for all of her contributions to Chevrolet Motorsports”. Alan is certainly a true testimony of how resilience can drive success and a lot of gender biases were done away after her remarkable contribution. 

Being the top female engineer in the field is not easy and she does have some amazing advice for girls who want to trace a similar trajectory as hers. According to Colon, “embrace the wealth of resources and opportunities available today, educate yourself, and immerse yourself in your passions—success is within reach if you dare to pursue it”.

Hendrick Motorsports unveils their 40-part winning series as they celebrate their 40th birth anniversary

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The year 2024 has been lucky for Hendrick Motorsports for all the right reasons. As the season started, Hendrick Motorsports announced that they would be celebrating their ruby anniversary all year long with various elements like winning series, special edition paint schemes, and even fan events. The conception of the team started in the year 1984 with only a handful of employees under the discretion of the Hall of Fame proponent Rick Hendrick. 

Speaking of the incredible journey they had so far, Hendrick said, “When I think back on our story, I have a hard time believing it myself,” Hendrick said. “In 1984, we had five employees, 5,000 square feet of rented space and a lot of desire to make it work. I dreamed of one day winning a race, but I never imagined it would grow into what it is now. Every bit of success we’ve had is due to the contributions of our people and the incredible support we’ve received over 40 years. We’re here because of the commitment, the passion and the sacrifices made by so many”.

In September 2024, the Motorbooks publisher brought forth the “Hendrick Motorsports: 40 Years” special book. This is the exclusive, officially licensed book celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 14-time Cup Series champions. Written by seasoned auto racing journalist Ben White and featuring photography by renowned NASCAR photographer Nigel Kinrade, the book will showcase 40 captivating stories that highlight the team’s remarkable journey and legacy.