Newest NASCAR babe MARYEVE DUFAULT is a former “Price is Right” and Maxim model who may force reigning speed queen DANICA PATRICK to kick up the glam!
Much like Danica changed lanes from Indy racing to NASCAR Nationwide, Dufault jumped from the ARCA circuit to race for NASCAR Nationwide race in her home country of Canada.
“I started riding motocross at the age of four,” Maryeve told FOX411.com.
“My dad and brother race motorcycles, so I grew up at the racetrack. Ever since I was one or two years old, my mom took me there every weekend while my dad was racing.”
Dufault moved to Hollywood in 2000, and quickly landed a gig as a model on “The Price is Right,” despite her poor English.
“I wasn’t speaking English really well and I didn’t want Bob Barker to know that my English wasn’t very good,” says the French speaking native of Quebec. “But I had good time, it was fun and a great experience.”
“Growing up, I didn’t have the wealth of my parents to support me with the best equipment,” explained Maryeve.
“One year I showed up to the track with a four-year-old chassis. The other guys had brand-new chassis. So, I had to find a way to make it work. When I won the Miss Hawaiian Tropic, I used the money to fund motorsports. Basically, I did modeling on the side, like an actor would work in a restaurant. But modeling pays much better money than working in a restaurant.”
The doe-eyed beauty is happiest when racing at a breakneck speed.
“When you start really young in racing, you’re not really fearful,” said Dufault.
“Because if I was scared of speed, I wouldn’t be here today. On the freeway, everyone is driving about 100 MPH, and you don’t feel like you’re going that fast. To me, going on the racetrack is like going on the freeway – everyone goes the same speed.”
