Isabella Robusto may be NASCAR's best female prospect ever

In 75 years of NASCAR competition, over 130 women have made starts in a NASCAR sanctioned series.

Danica Patrick, Sara Christian, Patty Moise, Janet Guthrie and others have all made starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, and in recent years, the number of women racing in either a national or developmental series of NASCAR has been on the rise.

Leading the charge is 19-year-old Isabella Robusto, who currently competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series. In 2024, Robusto has made eight starts across the ARCA, ARCA East and ARCA West Series, finishing top-10 in seven races and top-five in four races.

In Saturday's ARCA Menards Series race at the Elko (M.N.) Speedway, Robusto finished fourth, her first top-five at the national level of ARCA competition. Her best effort of the 2024 season came in the ARCA West race at Irwindale on July 4, where she qualified fifth and finished second. Two nights later at the same track, Robusto took the lead with 86 laps to go.

While a flat tire relegated her to a 17th-place finish, the race served as a reminder of why she's so highly touted as a prospect, and her 58 laps led are likely just a precursor for races in the future. The consistent speed she's showing is a rarity even among the top prospects in the sport, and sets her apart from fellow female prospects who have tried to climb the ladder in recent years.

2024 has been a difficult year for female drivers trying to make a name for themselves. Hailie Deegan parted ways with AM Racing in July, while Natalie Decker and Toni Breidinger have seldom competed in Truck or Xfinity Series races.

On the flip side, Robusto has been a constant, not just starting races, but being a contender in them as well. Few young drivers in the sport can match her level of consistency and race craft, and both of those variables could be the difference maker in Robusto succeeding in NASCAR long term.

If you're wondering why it seems that most of NASCAR's female prospects fizzle out before reaching the top level, the reason is simple: 95 percent of all NASCAR prospects fizzle out before reaching the top level. By the numbers, barely any drivers ever make it to the Cup Series, and fewer still remain at the top level long enough to win races and championships.

Patrick may be the most famous female driver in the sport's history, and while she could never quite figure out the Cup Series, she may be one of the biggest what-ifs in IndyCar history. Before making the jump to stock-car racing in the 2010's, Patrick was an IndyCar winner and clearly had a knack for open-wheel racing. However, a rushed development period severely hindered her NASCAR career, and had she been able to develop into a Cup Series driver, she may have become the first woman to ever win at the Cup level.

There are certainly a number of rungs left on the proverbial ladder for Robusto to ascend on her way to NASCAR stardom, but if her performance so far in 2024 is any indication, she could be one of the most sought after prospects in the sport in the coming years. With financial backing behind her and an already impressive resume, there's no limit to what the Fort Mill, S.C. native can accomplish in NASCAR - as long as she heeds the cautionary tale of other top prospects before her and takes her time moving up through the ranks.