TOPEKA, Kan. (May 7, 2015) -- Famed motorsports journalist, racer and SCCA Hall of Fame inductee Denise McCluggage passed away Wednesday, May 6. She was 88.

SCCA President and CEO Lisa Noble offered the following statement:

"Fearless, brave, pioneer are words that are being spoken today about Denise McCluggage. I prefer to think that she disregarded those and just did exactly what she wanted to do; drive race cars, write and ski.

"Denise wrote, 'Things change. It is good to notice those changes. What was and what is.' She lived through what was, changed it by her presence and became a big part in making the sport what it is today.

"Undoubtedly, Denise broke barriers at the very top levels of motorsport as a driver and journalist. She also got immense personal enjoyment from driving at most every level - from Grand Prix events to SCCA races to car tests for Autoweek. Her confident passion about cars was understated, almost matter-of-fact, but somehow, Denise dragged you in to share that excitement.

"Denise McCluggage was a hero to me. Without her and a very small handful of other women in those early days, accomplishing what women in the sport do now would not have been possible. She made my life and the lives of decades of readers and fans a richer experience through knowing her personally or through her writing. The world feels a little smaller today at her passing."

RACER.com has published the following on McCluggage's passing.