As a Family Danz customer, you know you can rely on quality Bryant® equipment to keep your home comfortable. But, did you know that Bryant was also a longtime auto racing sponsor, and served as a sponsor for Janet Guthrie, the first woman to qualify for and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500? Since March is Women’s History Month, we thought we’d share Janet Guthrie’s story with you – keep reading to learn more!
Who is Janet Guthrie?
As we mentioned above, Janet Guthrie is a retired race car driver, and the first woman to qualify for and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500. She was also the first woman to lead a lap in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Interestingly enough, Guthrie’s original career goal was out of this world instead of on the track – she was an aerospace engineer and a pilot. However, she took up racing in 1963, and by 1972, she had become a full-time driver.
Over the course of her racing career, Guthrie competed in three Indy 500s and more than 30 NASCAR races. Her highest finish was 6th place in Bristol in 1977, for which she still holds the record for the best finish by a woman in a top-tier NASCAR race (Danika Patrick tied with her in 2014.) Guthrie was one of the first women elected to the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. Additionally, she has been inducted into both the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, as well as the Automotive Hall of Fame.
“Racing takes everything you’ve got — intellectually, emotionally, physically — and then you have to find about ten percent more and use that too.” -Janet Guthrie
Janet Guthrie’s helmet and driver’s suit are on display at the Smithsonian Institute. Her autobiography, “Janet Guthrie: A Life at Full Throttle” was published in 2005. Guthrie recently celebrated her 85th birthday on March 7th.
Learn More About Bryant Racing Sponsorship
Bryant has a rich tradition in auto racing and is the longest-standing non-automotive sponsor at the Indianapolis 500. In addition to Janet Guthrie, legends like Eddie Sachs, Roger Ward, Cale Yarborough, Scott Brayton, Chip Ganassi, and Stan Fox have all driven under the Bryant Racing banner, earning a total of 16 previous race victories on other tracks. Bryant also sponsors Tony Kanaan and Marcus Ericsson.
And, you can count on quality Bryant home comfort equipment from Family Danz.
As a Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer, Family Danz is proud to provide our customers with quality home comfort solutions from Bryant. You can also trust us to be certified by North American Technical Excellence, or NATE. This is the leading certification program for technicians in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning field, and the only test supported by the entire industry.
And, because we’re a Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer, we always repair your equipment using Factory Authorized Parts, so the best quality and efficiency of your heating or cooling system is guaranteed.
When you choose us, you’ll know that the Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer symbol means we’ve met Bryant’s highest standards for superior skills, service, and a promise of 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed. Reliable products, dealers who care – Family Danz does whatever it takes to keep you and your family comfortable. Whether you need quality heating or air conditioning products for your home, count on Family Danz and Bryant. Just give us a call at (518) 427-8685 and we will be more than happy to help.