Hollywood stunt driver and competitive drifting racer Zandara Kennedy poses with her 2003 Nissan 350Z ahead of 2023's race season.All photos courtesy of Zandara Kennedy
Zandara Kennedy is a professional driver with a CDL, and perhaps the baddest woman on the planet behind a steering wheel. Remember that scene in "Ice Road," Netflix's controversial attempt at a trucking thriller flick, where the two trucks are chained together and jackknifing across a frozen lake? That was her, and she was in fact driving on ice.
She's a Hollywood stunt driver, stunt coordinator, precision driver, and competitive professional drifter in a Nissan 350Z powered by a GM LS V8. She's also the only out LGBTQ+ athlete set to compete in the 2023 Formula Drift ProSpec race in Long Beach, California on April 7.
As such, she's got a lot to say about trucking, how it relates to her chosen sport, and what it's like to be a female star in a male-dominated field -- she's one of very few women competing in the Pro or ProSpec drift series. I caught up with her ahead of her 2023 season to talk variable traction, motorsports and touch points with trucking. Enjoy the brief Q&A.
Zandara Kennedy and fellow stunt driver Jeff Sanca on the set of
Kennedy: Trucking is definitely my backup career plan -- I got my CDL for stunt driving, and most of the trucks I’ve driven have been on set, but I do long distances hauling my rig from track to track, and spend a lot of time at truck stops. I have a great respect for people that drive trucks full-time. Truck drivers are keeping the country going, and it’s amazing how easy it is not to see that if you’re not traveling long distances.
[Related: Will Netflix's 'Ice Road' solve carriers' biggest recruiting problems?]
Kennedy shows off a bit of her range, hopping from race-ready to red carpet.
