Laura Cyrus

Laura Roslyn Cyrus (born July 22, 1978 in Denver, Colorado) is an American racing driver. She currently competes for Motor Assault Racing in the ARLA Elite Series. Cyrus is the only known driver in the series to suffer from autism, which severely hinders her ability to communicate with others. This is especially problematic during races, where it is crucial that the driver informs his/her team on how the car is behaving.

Career
Cyrus has not told anyone about her early life and racing history prior to her first ARLA Thunder Trucks season in 2006, when she drove for Johnny Hanway's single-car operation. She consistently finished in the top 10 and was picked up by Feral Racing for a full-time Elite Series ride in 2009. Feral Racing's funding dried up at the end of the season, leaving Cyrus rideless, but she then found another Truck ride in 2010, this time with Riggs Motorsports.

Cyrus drove the #50 truck in 2010 (she scored her first Truck win at Rockford that year) and 2011. That year, she also drove the #50 Tremwell in the Elite Series in place of the injured Leslie Riggs. She ran very well is Riggs' place, which attracted the attention of Motor Assault Racing owner Lisa Marley. Cyrus was signed to drive MAR's #102 car full-time for the 2012 season. She put together a very impressive championship run, consistently running in the top 5 in points. She remains with an outside shot at winning the title in the Rockford 200.

Cyrus' impressive drive was noticed despite Ebenezer Quiggles, Jr.'s dominance of the field, as she was signed to drive for Edwin Schwarzloski's new team, Racers With Disabilities, for 2013. Cyrus will be the only driver on that team to compete in every race next season.

Personal life
Cyrus's mother Lois acts as her agent, and has played a major role in securing her rides and sponsorship deals. However, due to her lack of social skills, she does not give interviews or do sponsor appearances. However, she makes up for this with a driving ability that has been admired by many of her car owners and competitors.

Lisa Marley, owner of Motor Assault Racing, once said of Cyrus, "Laura can be fast in anything. She will adapt so well to the worst setup in the world, which is good if she's not going to talk to us during the race....It does bother me that she seems so cold no matter what happens. It's like she doesn't care if she wins the race or gets dumped out of the lead...but then again, the worst thing a driver can do is let her emotions get the best of her."