Shannon Mansch has been involved in racing since 1986 when, at age 16, she was the co-pilot in her dad, Ron's, bomber car. From 1986 until her mini stock was built and ready to go racing in 1989, Shannon was part of her dad's pit crew and even raced his car a few times. Since the pit crew days with her dad, Shannon's career has spanned Mini Stocks, Pro-4's, Grand American Modifieds, & Pro Stock/Late Models.
 

For Shannon, a typical day at the race track goes something like this: First there are Hot Laps - these are two ten minute practice sessions giving her a chance to get her car set up; next is Qualifying - she takes two laps on the clock which determines her qualifying time and starting position in the races; then the Trophy Dash - typically a 4 lap competition between the quickest 4 or 5 cars; and finally the Main Event - approximately 20 cars compete in a 100 lap race.

Mini stock racing is where Shannon's racing career really began. Shannon turned what had been the family car - a Toyota Carina - into a mini stock and started racing at All American Speedway in Roseville, California in 1989. Shannon raced her Carina with its 1600cc motor on All American's 4 mile paved oval for the next 4 years. She logged many wins and set several track records during her mini stock days and finished in the Top 10 in overall points all four years. 1992 would be her last year, as Shannon was ready for new challenges. Her points finishes were: 1992 - 8th; 1991 - 3rd; 1990 - 9th; 1989 - 10th, and received the "Most Improved Driver" award.

Shannon ran a Ford Probe with a 4 cylinder Toyota motor during her tenure in the Pro-4 Series. She raced with the Pro-4 West touring group for the 1993 and 1994 racing seasons. This group competed at western states tracks - Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, and California - ranging from 1/4 to 1/2 mile paved ovals. In overall points, Shannon finished 9th in 1993 and 3rd in 1994.

In 1995, Shannon competed in the Pro-4 California Challenge Series where she finished 2nd in points. In 1996, Shannon competed in Pro-4 / Nor Cal "Best in the West" Tour where she finished 5th in points. She also ran a select schedule in the Mini Stock Racing Association (MSRA), which was the southern equivalent to the Pro-4's. Competing on a 3/8 mile track in Las Vegas, on April 14, 1995, Shannon became the first female in the MSRA history to win a trophy dash event. It was quite an achievement for Shannon.

As the end of the 1996 season approached, however, Shannon contemplated her next move. The MSRA race schedule was minimal and traveling to the southern race tracks was taking its toll. Recognizing that the Grand American Modified division was gaining in popularity near her home in northern California, Grand American Modified's would be Shannon's choice and next challenge.

Shannon entered the 1997 racing season with the goal of getting to know her new race car (a 355ci Chevrolet engine with 600 horsepower) and becoming comfortable on tracks where she did not have prior racing experience.

Shannon raced the full 21 race schedule in 1998 at All American Speedway and racked up some impressive stats. . .She finished 4th in overall points, had one Win, one 2nd, one 3rd, eight Top 5, and ten Top 10 finishes. She also took home two Trophy Dash wins and two heat race wins.

The success and momentum of 1998 continued to an even more successful 1999 season. Shannon made Altamont Raceway Park her home track for the season. Altamont is a 1/2 mile paved oval, ASA sanctioned track in Tracy, California. She improved to finish 2nd in overall points and scored six Trophy Dash wins and two heat race wins, and she was awarded Sports person of the year for 1999.

It was back to Altamont for the 2000 & 2001 season, one which saw an eventual decline in car counts for the modifieds and the cancellation of some races. It was then that Shannon decided to make the move to Pro-Stock/Late Model.

Shannon sat out the 2002 Season while her Pro-Stock Late Model was built. The fire red car #61 made an explosive debut in 2003, where at Roseville and Carson City, alongside husband Mike Mansch, Shannon won 3 races and all finishes in the top 5. Shannon also ran the Western Late Model Open Comp race at Stockton that September posting a 5th place finish out of 27 cars.

The 2004 season was a rather light schedule for Shannon, as she only raced in a handfull of events, 3 of those at Stockton in the Tri-Holiday Classic series, and competed in the tracks annual Open Comp Late Model race, where she qualified 3rd out of 17 cars, won the Trophy Dash, and ran up front in the main event, before a large crash took her out of competition on lap 24.

The 2005 Season saw the formation of the new Westcar Late Model Series.  Shannon ran a limited schedule at Stockton 99 Speedway in the Nascar Dodge Weekly Series, as well as a few races at Stockton & Roseville under the Westcar banner.

Shannon really enjoys the end of season open competitions. "They are usually two or three day events, and there is always a lot more competition (between 20 & 50cars compared to 20 during regular season), as the track champions from different race tracks in and out of state all converge at one race, you get to find out how good you really are and how you rate when you are away from your regular track. You learn how to set your car up on a different track, and the purses are usually bigger!"

2006 was to be a phenomenal season for Shannon, one that would propel her into racing history!  After a not so good first race at 99 Speedway in Stockton, Shannon showed she had what it takes to be a champion.  She was able to tame the 2005 inaugural series champion, Bryon Gonzales and fought a hard battle with Gary Glenn, who finished second in the series.  She won 3 races, had nine top 5 finishes and nine top10 finishes. It was a close race for the championship at the final race again at 99 Speedway.  She finished that race in 2^nd place, but it was enough for her to become the first female to win a Touring Series Championship!

Racing is a family affair for Shannon. Her parents, Ron and Bridget , have been supportive of her racing efforts. They are her Pit Crew; and you could even say her sponsor, lending financial support. Sadly, Bridget passed away in 2003 of cancer, and the team dearly misses her. Bridget was a huge supporter of Mansch Motorsports from the very beginning of Shannon's racing career. As a self-funded racer, Shannon has done an outstanding job achieving the success she has found to date. However, she recognizes that her ability to achieve her future goals will rely heavily on her ability to find sponsor funding. Those future goals, by the way, happen to be competing either in the SRL Southwest Tour or NASCAR "Camping World  Series West" Series.

Shannon is married to fellow Driver & Crewchief Mike Mansch. Residing in Roseville, California, Shannon works as a Claims Supervisor for a large third party administrator.

She has recently started taking flying lessons from CFI, located at Sacramento Executive Airport.  Her other interests away from the track include water sports, traveling and caring for her 3 cats and 2 dogs.

Shannon's advice to other women who are interested in motorsports is, "to hang in there, don't give up, it's hard at first, don't let people discourage you, once you get going and the drivers know you are serious, you will earn their respect." And Shannon Mansch certainly has the respect of drivers and teams all over.