Maryeve Dufault featured in bikinis, or compared to Danica Patrick, or simply pegged as the former model on The Price is Right. Scrap all of that. While her looks can steal the story, motorsports have been Maryeve's passion since she was 4-years-old. Growing up in a racing household in Canada, she caught a fever that no amount of pressure, resistance, or criticism could ever cool off. After working her way through motocross and go-karts, Maryeve moved up to open-wheel racing and eventually the ARCA circuit, where her best finish came at Chicagoland Speedway this July when she finished 10th in the Messina Wildlife Animal Stopper 150. In August, Dufault made her NASCAR Nationwide debut at the NAPA Auto Parts 200 in Montreal and finished 30th. We talked to Maryeve about what role her modeling has actually played in her life, what it was like learning English from scratch, proving Ray Lewis wrong, and how the death of Dan Wheldon affected her. --- How do you feel about a lot of the attention being directed at your modeling and looks rather than your racing?
Maryeve Dufault: If you are a race fan, then you focus on the racing. If they are watching my modeling and pictures, then good for them, but I have proven myself in many races in ARCA, and I think that opened a lot of eyes. You’re always going to have people that are not true race fans. They focus on things that might bring in other fans and try to attract them to the race track. Everybody is different, and you have the really hardcore race fans that don’t really follow the other stuff. If people read my story, then they’d know I wouldn’t be here without modeling.
What is the story behind that?
Maryeve Dufault: I used that money to go and buy some racing tires every weekend. What else can I prove? It’s hard work and determination. I never let my dream die. I have been involved in racing since four years old. My dad raced and my brother raced, so I grew up in racing. I didn’t just go from modeling to NASCAR. That’s not the story. People try to use the pictures to make things up. I never did the lingerie bowl, and they’re coming up with these things. I have never been in the lingerie bowl. You find me the game and show me. So you weren't actually in the lingerie bowl? That's been widely reported.
Maryeve Dufault: I’m not sure why that happened. It was on IMDB for no reason, and they took it off, but now the people think I did it because it’s like a snowball effect. The only thing I really did was Price Is Right, and I did a few of those shows. That was great, but I earned some money that kept me on schedule to go racing. The modeling was strictly to support your racing career?
Maryeve Dufault: I had some modeling jobs, I did really good commercials, and did TV shows during the weeks, and during the weekends I would race. I wouldn’t buy clothes or shoes, I’d buy equipment, tools, and new tires. Everything was about racing. Modeling kind of reminds me of when you’re an actor and you work at a restaurant. To survive, you keep working and make it happen, but you’re still focusing on acting. I used it to pay my dues in racing. It’s not easy, but when you want it bad, you find a way to make it happen. I find myself here today and I’m really happy that I did it. How difficult was the transition to racing and life in the States? Maryeve Dufault: I moved here without speaking English. I had to do my own mechanics on my car. I went through a lot of difficult times, and it’s not easy by myself. But I did it. When you’re by yourself, you get really thick skin and really strong.
Tell me about moving here without knowing English.
Maryeve Dufault: It was pretty difficult. It’s not like I went to a specific school or English class or anything. Making new friends was hard. I learned from TV and movies and surrounding myself with English people. It takes a long time to remember one word when there are so many. You’re like, “oh my gosh, what is this?” You have a few years where it’s really tough. The other people need to kind of teach you. I was probably really annoying asking a hundred questions. They probably didn’t want to go out with me. It’s part of my journey that I had to learn a second language pretty quickly. I’m glad today that I can speak French and English.
What is it about driving that you love so much?
Maryeve Dufault: I started riding motocross at four. It’s just adrenaline. The challenge of doing well. I’m really competitive. It’s all a combination of everything about when you win races. It’s so special, because you work so hard. All the emotion. I got addicted and hooked at a really young age and that’s why I can’t let it go. It would be the hardest thing in my life not to be involved in racing. I see Mr. Hylton, who is 77 years old, that did the Daytona 500 so many times, and he's still racing in ARCA. He’s having a blast with it. It’s in your heart, it’s in your blood, and it’s just a passion. It’s crazy when you think about it.
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