Christmas Abbott: Woman Tire-Changer Takes On NASCAR

Christmas Abbott is the newest woman to join NASCAR‘s top series, but instead of taking on Danica Patrick out on the track, she’ll be competing with the boys for the fastest pit stop.

Abbott recently inked a deal to change tires in the Camping World Truck Series, though it’s hard to imaging the 115-pound woman picking up tires half her weight.

The Iraqi war veteran-turned CrossFit competitor is just five feet three inches tall, reports Yahoo! News. But with tattoos covering her body, including a gun on her hip, it’s easy to see she brings attitude to the table as well.

Christmas Abbott will change tires for driver Jennifer Jo Cobb this season. But she could also change tires in the Sprint Cup Series as well, according to Speedway Media.

On Wednesday, Michael Waltrip Racing hired the woman tire-changer as a full-time pit crew member for NASCAR’s top series. Abbott, who has competed in several CrossFit competitions and can overhead squat 200 pounds, stated:

“This is just the first step for me. I’ve been training for several months. This is the most challenging thing I have ever done. I’m here to do whatever my coaches ask of me, and I don’t want any handouts.”

Considering she has an air gun and wheel-and-axle set outside her bedroom, Christmas Abbott is more than ready to make her NASCAR Sprint Cup debut. While an over the wall position may be a while out in the sport’s top circuit, Abbott assured, “I’m in this for the long haul.”

Christmas also credits her mom and grandma for her toughness, though her time in Iraq also helped with that. She commented, “I come from an incredible heritage of women.”

Michael Waltrip, founder and co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, is excited to have Christmas Abbott on board. Waltrip stated:

“She is an incredible elite athlete and she has worked with our crews by bringing some cross-fit elements to their workouts. She is a competitor and when she decided to start working towards an over the wall position, we said we are the perfect place to make it happen.”

It may be a while before Christmas Abbott changes the tires of a Sprint Cup car on Sunday, but with her determination, it won’t take her long.