Dana Moore was born in San Diego, California, on May 12, 1977. She is the daughter of Dr. Gerald Moore and Dr. Joyce Swineheart Moore. She lived in Lakeside, California until she was seven, when she moved to Crest, California. Dana has an older brother, Marty, and an older sister, Jodi, who is married to Rob Brandonstein. Dana's brother Michael Moore was killed in an auto accident in July of 1998. He was 25 years old. Dana also has one niece, Leanne.

Dana attended Country Day and Coleman, private elementary schools. She graduated from Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, California in 1994. Immediately after graduation, she attended cosmetology school and became a licensed manicurist. She has attended Cuyamaca and Grossmont Community Colleges, and National University. Dana has taken 1999 off to focus on furthering her auto racing career.

Dana's father introduced her to auto racing. When she was sixteen years old, he encouraged her to run the slalom at Qualcomm Stadium to learn good car control. He raced the Vintage Auto Racing Association (VARA) series, as well as the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) with his 1969 Ocelot. At that time, a driver had to be at least 18 years old to race, so Dana began driving the Ocelot as soon as she turned 18. She graduated from the University of VARA, an introduction to racing course. Later Dana completed the Lyn St. James Driver Development Program, and graduated from the Advanced Russel School of Racing. During the entire time that Dana has been racing, she has always had podium finishes. When she transitioned into Formula Fords in 1998, she placed first in her class the first time that she went on the track with it, placing an overall 12th in a 38 car race.

Dana is thrilled to be a part of the 1999 Women's Global GT Series and has also been offered a ride at Cajon Speedway in El Cajon, a series sanctioned by NASCAR. She has been invited to test a truck to determine if she wants to run in the American Truck Series in 1999. She says that priority will be given to the Global GT Series, but finds there are only a couple of GT races that conflict with stock car events. Dana also loves vintage auto racing with her father in both the Formula Ford and Ocelot, so she wants to participate in the VARA and SCCA Series whenever possible.

Favorite activities of Dana's include skiing and snowboarding, with snowboarding being her favorite. She also likes to roller blade, and some people are familiar with her enjoyment of yo-yo's if they have seen her on the road racing grid waiting for the five minute call. Dana is also an animal rights advocate, and the proud "parent" of five dogs and one cat. She just began volunteer work at the county's animal shelter in El Cajon. Dana has also worked with young mentally disabled persons, and was especially inspired by her work with Michelle, a young woman who suffers from schizophrenia.

Dana's future plan is to obtain her degree in marketing, and transition into the advertising side of racing, "as they drag me kicking and screaming from the car," she jokes. She eventually wants to own a racing team and develop a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching teens safe driving and car control techniques. Dana hopes to become well known, so she can become a motivational speaker. She loves to encourage and motivate others.