BACKGROUNDER

Media Contact:
Olivia Snyder ASUPR
(571) 405 1189
o.snyder@asu.edu

BIO OF AMERICAN RACE CAR DRIVER AND ACTIVIST

Leilani Mnter
Leilani Mnter is known for making waves in the world of NASCAR with
her environmentalist message and whole-hearted activism. Her vast
accomplishments sometimes overshadowed by her activism. This is an opportunity
to get to know the real Leilani, everything she is and has been. Mnter was born in
Rochester, Minnesota to a Japanese-Hawaiian mother and German father after they
had relocated from Kneohe, Hawaii. Mnter earned her bachelors degree in
biology, with a concentration in ecology, behavior, and evolution, from the
University of California, San Diego. She began racing in 2001, and eventually
became the fourth woman in history to compete in the Indy Pro Series in 2007, and
was named Sports Illustrateds top 10 Female Race Car Drivers.
Mnter began her activist career by volunteering at a wildlife rescue and
rehabilitation center during her college years. After being a vegetarian for a
majority of her life, her personal beliefs led her to branch into veganism in 2011.
Her cars have always been a canvas for her environmental activism: in 2012 she

drove a car sponsored by donations from fans that depicted an ocean awareness
theme in the ARCA Racing Series at the Daytona International Speedway, in 2012
she finished in 28th place in Go 100%s renewable energy race car, and in 2014 she
finished 14th at the Talladega Superspeedway in a car sponsored by Sam Simon
depicting an artists rendition of the 2013 Blackfish film.
Mnter has made a name for herself as an environmental activist and
lobbyist, writing for the Huffington Post, becoming the first Ambassador for the
National Wildlife Federation in 2008, and named the #1 Eco Athlete in the world
by Discovery Channels Planet Green Network.
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