Since the 1970s, Vonnie Mills, from Kennedyville, Maryland, has carved a path of her own in the sport of drag racing. What began as a teenage hobby alongside her then-boyfriend, now husband, Eddie Mills, has turned into a historic career spanning over four decades.
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #195, the Women of Power Issue, in July/August 2025.
At just 16 years old, the young couple began their racing street cars at Cecil County Dragway and eventually built a full chassis race car, taking turns behind the wheel in Pro and Super Pro. Vonnie soon took over the driving duties full-time and transitioned to NHRA Super Gas racing with her iconic pink 1968 Camaro, “Show-N-Tell.”
“I started racing the same time I started my hair salon in 1979 so they both got the same name,” Mills says. “They go hand in hand, because I’ve worked every minute of every day my whole life to be able to go racing. Every car we’ve had has been called ‘Show-N-Tell’ and they’ve always treated us well, so we’ve never changed the name.”
In 1987, Mills etched her name into the history books as the first woman to win in Super Gas at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida. She returned in 1990 to win the event again, proving herself as a fierce female competitor during a time when the sport was largely dominated by men. For years, Mills competed at NHRA national and divisional events in Super Gas and Super Comp. Then, in 2002, a new opportunity arose with the introduction of the Top Sportsman category.
“When the Top Sportsman class came out, it was my dream to run it,” Mills says. “We were able to get a faster motor and put it in the Super Gas car at the time. We did that for about a year, then sold it and bought a true Top Sportsman car.”
From there, Mills’ dream turned into a reality with a string of high-profile wins, including championships at Atco Raceway in 2012 and 2015 and a clean sweep of the 4.50 Bad Boys series at Capitol Raceway in 2016. She finished 8th in the world in NHRA Top Sportsman in 2018 and earned a memorable victory at the inaugural Drag Illustrated World Doorslammer Nationals in Orlando in 2020. With a perfect light and a dead-on dial run, Mills laid down a six-thousandths package in the final round of eliminations, once again confirming her natural talent. Throughout the years, Mills also collected numerous wins in IHRA Top Sportsman behind the wheel of her beautiful Buck Racing Engines-powered Chevy Cobalt, also named Show-N-Tell.
“I am extremely competitive,” she says. “I just love racing and going fast, period. But I have my husband to thank for the many years of keeping these race cars running for me.”
In 2022, Mills and her team debuted the latest iteration of Show-N-Tell, a 2013 Jerry Bickel Camaro powered by a 762-cubic-inch engine from Sonny’s Racing Engines. Known for her standout race cars, Mills considers this version, designed and painted by Ryan Korek and his father of Korek Designs, the prettiest she’s ever had. The car quickly drew attention, earning Best Appearing Car at both the PDRA Northern Nationals and the Pep Boys Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. There, she also made history as the first woman to win in the NHRA Top Sportsman category.
“That win was the highlight of my career because my whole family was with me. All my kids, their spouses, and my grandkids were there,” Mill says. “Having them come down to the other end to meet you was just special.”
While racing is a major part of Mills’ life, her family remains at the heart of everything she does. Mills’ daughter, Tiffany, has long served as her mother’s crew chief and steps in to run the salon while her mother is away racing. She and her husband, Cole, have helped Mills achieve many of her wins over the years. Vonnie and Eddie’s son, Clint, competes in truck pulls, and his children closely follow their grandmother’s racing career. After every race weekend, they eagerly ask, “Did Mimi win?” Mills admits the sweet question never fails to warm her heart, but also adds a little extra pressure.
In 2023, the Show-N-Tell team switched to an EFI-equipped, 903-cubic-inch engine from Sonny’s Racing Engines, which came with its share of challenges. After working through the learning curve, the team won the Elite Top Sportsman title at the PDRA World Finals with an impressive four-thousandths package in the final round against seasoned competitor Bruce Thrift.
Along with her family, Mills credits Steve Boone and Bryan Riley for working tirelessly on her race car throughout the years and is grateful for their support. As the team continues to gain traction with the new setup, they hope to qualify for every PDRA Elite Top Sportsman race this season. In addition to winning races, and hopefully a championship, Mills has also set an individual goal for herself.
“I want to win the U.S. Nationals in Indy because that race is the granddaddy of them all. I have two runner-ups there, so I have business to finish,” she says.
With over four decades of experience and a passion that hasn’t wavered, Mills and her team will continue to compete across multiple series throughout the year. Whether she’s behind the wheel of her race car or behind the styling chair at her salon, Mills brings the same focus and drive to everything she does.
“When I first started racing, it was tough being the only girl out there. But I think I’ve raced with the guys so long that it doesn’t feel any different now,” Mills says. “The same goes for my work at my salon. At the end of the day, you’re just trying to do the best that you can in everything that you do.”
Despite being one of the few women in the sport when she first started racing, Mills earned respect and built a reputation by letting her performance do the talking. True to the name of her race cars and beauty salon, Show-N-Tell, she has the trophies to show for her success and even more stories to tell as a trailblazer in the sport of drag racing.
The post WOMEN OF POWER 2025: Vonnie Mills Is A Top Sportsman Trailblazer first appeared on Drag Illustrated.