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Featured Racer: Taylor Vetter

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Taylor Vetter
Photo: Eddie Maloney

Women in Racing Feature: Taylor Vetter

Meet Taylor Vetter, a 20 year-old Super Comp drag racer from Henderson, Nevada.    When she is not attending classes at UNLV to become an athletic trainer, Taylor is a regular racer at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in her 540 cubic inch Big Block Chevy powered Ron Fry super comp dragster.

Taylor VetterShe began drag racing at the age of  8 in the junior dragster ranks, following in the steps of her cousins, Justin and Ryen Lamb.  Moving up the ranks, Taylor competed in the junior dragster series with her family until she turned 18, winning many local track races and a divisional race.    She runnered-up in the 2010 Western Conference Finals, and was a Semi-Finalist in the same race in 2011.

This year, Taylor made the switch to the adult NHRA Super Comp ranks.

Taylor Vetter 2
Photo: Eddie Maloney

Her current goals are to become more comfortable with the new car, gaining the experience she needs to eventually win a national or divisional event.  She would love to travel for racing, and get the opportunity to compete at as many racetracks as possible.

Best of luck to Taylor Vetter!  We look forward to following her career.

Doubleheader weekend for Taylor Ferns

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Taylor Ferns
Photo by: Al Steinberg

Taylor Ferns will get to hit the dirt twice this weekend in her home state Michigan as she takes to the track at Hartford Speedway and I-96 Speedway for a pair of events.

The weekend will open for Ferns today with the Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt Presented by ARP, where she will drive the Eco-Mend/Jimmy’s Towing Maxim at Hartford Speedway.

Saturday, she will the race in the NAPA Auto Parts Rumble in Michigan for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series at I-96 Speedway.

After getting rained out on Monday, I am really looking forward to getting to race twice this weekend,” said Ferns. “We’ll be racing both the 360- and 410-sprint car, which is always a good transition. I’ve never been to Hartford before, so I’ve been watching You Tube video to stay on points. I did race a micro (sprint) at I-96, but that was on the smaller inner track, so it will be a lot different this time, especially racing with the World of Outlaws, who in my opinion, are the best in the world.”

Ferns has raced once with the Sprints on Dirt this season, finishing eighth on May 16 at Plymouth Speedway in Indiana. That event marked her first 360-winged sprint car start since last fall.

The Michigan native, who now calls the Indianapolis area home, competed with the World of Outlaws earlier this month at the famed Eldora Speedway in Ohio, during the two-night “Mother of All Sprint Car Weekends” on Mother’s Day weekend. She battled engine problems on the second night, which forced her to scratch after time trials.

Last weekend, Ferns returned to Plymouth Speedway to race with the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions on May 22 in the Earl Gaerte Classic. She opened the night by timing in 31st and finished eighth in the second heat race. The night ended for Ferns in the B-main.

We have a full week of racing coming up and we are hoping to have a good start to that in Michigan,” said Ferns. “We’ll be racing good competition both nights and that always adds a bit to the learning curve, but it’s also how you get better. The team has been working hard as always and we can’t wait to get to the track both days this weekend.”

Ferns has made 12 starts this season, while battling Mother Nature, with a number of scheduled events rained out. She finished a season-best eighth in her first race of the year with the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions in Florida. She also has raced with the MOWA Series, OVSCA and F.A.S.T. Series.

She will continue to contest a true “Outlaw” schedule in 2015, racing with a variety of series at numerous tracks across the Midwest.

Throwback: Racecar Limo for Prom

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Today’s #TBT is a fun story from back in 2003.

Racecar LimoHorsepower and Prom Dresses

My little sister Lauren was going to her high school Prom, and wanted to make a cool entrance.   Rather than a played-out limo, I thought it would be way cooler to make a Horsepower & Heels style entrance- a RACECAR LIMO.   I decided to surprise her by picking her up and being her chauffeur in my Drag Radial foxbody coupe.   I mean, really, what would be more memorable than making an entrance in a 1600 horsepower turbocharged Drag Radial race car?

So, I put on my best chauffeur outfit: all-black with a little black drivers cap (not shown) and made the drive over to pick her up.   Still 100% streetable, I was even able to take advantage of the pin-removable door bars on the roll-cage to make it a little more “graceful” for her to get in and out in her gown.  She was pretty stoked!

A Powerful Entrance

We make the drive over to the high school, and I pull up to the entrance of the dance.   There were people arriving and trying to make their own entrances in limos, but a loud, flashy race car with a parachute hanging off the back quickly stole that show.   I revv’d it a little as we pulled up, threw it in park, and jumped out to open her door and help her exit.    By now, most of the guys in her class had abandoned their dates to come over and look.  Having heard the commotion from inside, a few were even coming out of the dance to check it out.    There were lots of “Whoas…” and “Way cools” being thrown around, and Lauren was smiling from ear-to-ear.

horsepower heels drag radial
Way cooler than a limo

I arrived a little early to pick her up, and was waiting in the parking lot.   The police officer assigned to the event walked over to me, and jokingly pulled out his citation book:

License to drive this thing and Insurance, ma’am,” he said with a laugh.   “You know, I could ticket you for having obstructed license plate, bald tires, exhaust…. but this is just too cool, so I’m going to let you slide.”

We chatted a little about what was done to the car, where I raced, and how many girls inside that dance were probably furious that their dates were still gawking at the cool race car outside.

After a little, Lauren made her way back outside to leave, to a growing crowd ready to watch her departure.    I did my best to make an exit without getting into any trouble with my new officer friend watching intently from the parking lot.

Man, I wish there was Youtube back then….  I am pretty sure my sister had the best entrance/exit of the night to Prom that year.

 

What fun ways have you incorporated your love for racing into normal day-to-day life?

Enders scores perfect weekend in Topeka

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Erica EndersErica Enders wins Topeka 2015 couldn’t have had a more perfect weekend for the 27th Annual NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas.   Her Elite Motorsports team scored a dominant victory, capping a perfect weekend with a top qualifying spot, the quickest performance of every round of racing-both qualifying and eliminations, and the championship points lead leaving the event.

The last time we did this was Norwalk (Ohio) last year: We qualified on the pole and were low e.t. every round of qualifying and every round of eliminations,” Enders said. “It’s definitely a feat, especially in Pro Stock, as competitive as it is. Hat’s off to my guys; they are absolutely incredible.  It speaks volumes of what they’re capable of when they’re given the tools that they need, and that’s what (team owner) Richard Freeman has provided them. I’m just really proud.”

Quickest qualifying Pro Stock

Erica Enders qualifying in TopekaShe began the weekend with a strong qualifying showing, nabbing the No. 1 position in qualifying in a rain-shortened three attempt program.    This brought back memories of 2006, the same place where she earned her first No. 1 qualifier to become the first woman to secure the Pro Stock pole.

It’s pretty cool,” Enders said. “I thought about that coming in here on Thursday, so it definitely was a fun memory here, becoming the first female No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock. We’ve gone on to do some really great things (with Elite Motorsports).”

Enders led all three qualifying sessions — the fourth was rained out — with her top pass of 6.150 seconds at 211.43 mph earning her the No. 1 spot. She earned nine bonus points by being the quickest in each qualifying session.

I’m always confident in my guys,” Enders said. “They give me a very consistent race car, and that makes my job a little easier, to where I just focus on driving and not wonder what the car is going to do — if we’re going to blow the tires off, if it’s going to hook right or left. Being low for every session is pretty exciting. We were able to do that some last year and accumulate those three bonus points per round that you’re low. Coming to the final race of last year, every point mattered, so we’ll take ’em when we can get ’em.”

Dominating Pro Stock Eliminations

First round, Enders was paired against No. 16 qualifier Mark Hogan.  She posted a 6.579 second pass at 209.10 mph, good for low of the round and beat his 6.855-second run at 201.58 mph.  In round number two, she faced off against noted starting-line ace Jonathan Gray, who left with a .005-second reaction time, but Enders .013 light and 6.586 at 208.78 mph run was enough to blow past Gray, beating his 6.607 at 208.68 mph.

Larry Morgan left with the starting line advantage against Enders in the semi-final round, cutting a brilliant .007 light, but Enders ran him down with a 6.579-second pass at 208.94 mph to beat his run of 6.609 seconds at 208.68 mph.

I missed the Tree a little bit against Larry Morgan,” said Enders, whose reaction time was .030. “I knew I was late and was looking over to see where he was. It was only a seven-thousandths margin of victory, so I guess if we had a lucky round, that was it, for sure.”

Erica Enders and her Elite Motorsports teamThen came long-time rival Greg Anderson, who had bested Enders in the semifinals at Atlanta Dragway in the previous event. This time, Enders ripped off a .009-second reaction time to Anderson’s .020 and then made a pass of 6.584 seconds at 209.33 mph to beat his 6.591-second run at 209.14 mph.

“He congratulated me down there,” Enders said. “He doesn’t like to lose to anybody; he’s got a very competitive spirit. We all do in Pro Stock. But everything’s cool, and I’m proud that we got the win. He got us (in Atlanta) and he outran us, so I was happy to pay him back just a little bit, but all in good fun.”

All of this on a relatively new car set-up, one that Enders just returned to one race previously.   This win marked the first for the new R&J Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro.    The Elite team began the season with the new car, but made the call early on to tackle new fuel/tires mandated by NHRA rule changes in the tried-and-tested championship chassis she campaigned in 2014, before switching back in Atlanta.

We’ve had an awesome weekend.  It’s a brand-new race car and our second race in a row with it. We’re just trying to get a handle on it, and my guys have done a great job.  To be honest, I didn’t want to let go of the car I drove last year because we had such an awesome relationship,” Enders said. “We had a lot of success together. We’ve had 29 runs on this car, and it’s still very new and we’re still learning all about her. Rick and Rickie Jones built it and it’s a tremendous masterpiece, and we’re just going to get better and better.”

Enders leaves Topeka with a 59-point lead over Jason Line, who lost in the first round, in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship chase after eight of 24 races.

Because I had never led the Pro Stock points in my career until last year, I remember I screen-shot it every week because I didn’t know if that would disappear or we’d ever get back in that position, but because of my guys and what Richard Freeman has given us, we’ve been able to accomplish a lot of great stuff together.  It’s cool to be back on top, but it’s been a long, grueling season. Pro Stock is so competitive, and we’ll do our best to stay on top.”

Leah Pritchett lands first TF Final

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 Leah Pritchett- Atlanta 2015Leah Pritchett and her Dote Racing team had a stellar weekend, filled with many memorable firsts for the 26 year-old driver.   After a career-best qualifying performance Saturday, she made her way through the tough 16-car Top Fuel field to her first ever final round appearance in Sunday’s eliminations.   The Gumout dragster came up just short in the final against former NHRA Mello Yello Series champion Antron Brown in the 35th annual Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

Now residing in Avon, Ind., California native Leah Pritchett started off her Sunday by clocking a 3.805 second elapsed time at 317.64 miles per hour to defeat drag racing legend Chris Karamesines 3.998 second at 305.15 mph run in the opening round.

Leah Pritchet 2nd Rd Win Atlanta 2015In the second round, Leah scored victory over J.R. Todd with another strong 3.813-second pass at 319.29 mph.  J.R. had problems in the other lane, running just 5.433 second E.T. at a coasting 132.19mph.  This placed Pritchett in the semi-final round, the third semi-final appearance of her Top Fuel career.

Pritchett would take on three-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon in the semi-finals.   She scored a major upset victory, running a 3.936 second E.T. after Dixon ran into trouble down the track and had to abort the run.   The former Heritage Funny Car world champion advanced to her first final round in Top Fuel against Antron Brown.

It was an incredible run through the Top Fuel field today,” said Pritchett. “I even got my husband, Gary (a crew member on Steve Torrence’s Top Fuel team), to help me before the final round. Gary helped me pack the parachute and mix the fuel today. Everything worked well for the Dote Racing team and the Gumout dragster. It turned into a one-lane (right) track at the end and Antron had the right lane. We tried to stay with him but we hazed the rear tires at the 330-foot mark. Overall, it was a great showing with a little one-car team against the big squads.”

Post Final Antron Brown/Leah PritchettPritchett’s search for her first NHRA national event title came up short, as she lost to Brown’s 3.887 second charge with an off-paced 4.202 second attempt at 260mph.   Though she wasn’t able to land her first Top Fuel win,  Leah has three NHRA national titles in the Pro Modified class.

It was a tricky track with the final round having a 126-degree track temperature,” she said. “So it was tough going against Antron who had the better lane. But everything worked well up until that point of the day. You needed a ‘hot track’ setup here and you might in Topeka next week too. I’m anxious to get the Gumout dragster back at the track after this weekend.”

Two women qualify for Indy 500

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Two women qualify for Indy 500: Simona de Silvestro and Pippa Mann both making the starting grid for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500.   The women will participate in the historic race, marking the 5th start for de Silvestro and the 4th for Mann.

Simona starts 19th (Row 7)

Simona de Silvestro Indy 500 TE Connectivity AndrettiiSimona de Silvestro put the No. 29 TE Connectivity Honda at the 19th starting position for Andretti Autosport with a 4-lap average of 223.838 mph in qualifying time trials.   This places her in the 7th row for race day.

Simona ran into some trouble early in practice week, when the rear of her race car caught on fire after exiting pit row in Tuesday’s practice session.    She was able to escape uninjured, and learned the fire was the result of a faulty buckeye, the component that reseals the fuel cell after a fuel stop.

Warmup:  221.296
Lap 1:  224.085
Lap 2:  223.660
Lap 3:  223.577
Lap 4:  224.032
Average: 223.838

Pippa Mann qualifies for Indy 500Pippa Mann starts 28th (Row 10)

Pippa Mann was  able to secure the 28th starting position for Dale Coyne Racing in the #63 Susan G. Komen Honda entry.   Mann posted a 4-lap average of 223.104 mph during her qualifying efforts, placing her in Row 10 for the Indy 500.

Pippa also encountered difficulty during Indy practice, when she lost control exiting Turn 4 of the track and made contact with the entrance wall to pit row, before spinning up the track surface.    The team raced to get Mann back onto the track in time for qualifying.

Warmup:  220.257
Lap 1:  223.157
Lap 2:  222.870
Lap 3:  223.145
Lap 4:  223.242
Average: 223.104

Women qualify for the Indy 500

There have been 9 women qualify for the Indy 500 to date:

  1. Janet Guthrie (3 starts)
  2. Lyn St. James (7 starts)
  3. Sarah Fisher (9 starts)
  4. Danica Patrick  (7 starts)
  5. Milka Duno (3 starts)
  6. Simona de Silvestro (5 starts)
  7. Ana Beatriz Figuereido (4 starts)
  8. Pippa Mann (4 starts)
  9. Katherine Legge (2 starts)

Source: Wikipedia

Hot-streak ends in Atlanta for Enders

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Erica Enders Stevens in Atlanta qualifyingErica Enders was on a hunt to win three NHRA national events in a row, but fell a little short after a semifinal loss at the 35th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals.   The NHRA Pro Stock reigning World Champion pushed her streak of elimination round-wins to 10 in a row, the longest such streak of the season in any pro category.

It’s hard to be disappointed with a semifinal round showing, but I kind of feel that way because I know we have the car that can win,” said Enders, driver of the Elite Motorsports Camaro. “You can’t win them all, but it sure is addictive when you get on a roll. You feel so much confidence that it’s really weird when you come up a little short.”

Tie for No. 1 qualifying spot decided by MPH

Erica Enders Burnout AtlantaEnders started the weekend off right, tying the quickest elapsed time of the qualifying with a 6.546-second blast, but nabbing the second spot due to Jason Line’s slightly better top speed. Line, who posted an identical 6.546,edged out Enders in MPH, a 211.23 to 210.28 mph by Enders.   The strong qualifying improvements come after the team’s surprising decision to switch over to the new Elite Camaro build for Enders at the start of the season, a car that hadn’t been proven in competition.

We actually started the year with this car, but the new fuel and tires they have us running put us a touch behind, so we brought out last year’s championship car and started gathering data. I have such a special place in my heart for that car, and I know how she runs and how she reacts to every little thing, so we were able to use her to figure out the fuel and the tire and apply that to this new car.    This new one is absolutely the smoothest, most drive-able car I’ve ever driven. It’s the next generation, and I know it’s going to take us to a new level.”

Semi-Final Finish for Erica Enders

She posted a 6.543 at 211.49 mph in beating first-round opponent John Gaydosh and used a 6.561 at 210.97 mph opposite Shane Gray in the quarterfinals.   In a class where races are routinely decided by thousandths of a second, Enders was consistent, continuing her hot-streak and proving quicker than everyone at the track during eliminations- except Greg Anderson.  Anderson was fractionally better each time, running a 6.541 in Round 1 and a 6.560 in Round 2.

Lane choice can be critical on race day, and Anderson’s thousandths-of-a-second advantage was just enough to earn the critical decision in the match-up against Enders.    Anderson would take the win, 6.562 to Ender’s losing 6.582.

That thousandth of a second he got us by in Round 2 was enough to give them lane choice in the semi’s, and when a track is as hot and tricky as this one you need every little edge you can get,” Enders said. “I think that right lane was just a touch better and our race pretty much proved that. I could have been better on the Tree, but it may not have mattered because he had a .015-second light.  This is a Summit race and I know those guys put a premium on winning their title sponsor’s races. We spun a lot and the car moved around and we ended up with a 6.582 to his 6.562. Game over. I’m still really proud of this team, and winning 10 rounds in a row is special. We’ll have to just start another streak.”

Enders won’t dwell long on the loss, as she and her fellow Pro Stock driving husband Richie Stevens, head onto the midwest for next weekend’s NHRA Kansas Nationals in Topeka, Kan.

I love Topeka,” Enders said. “The first ever national event was in Kansas and there is some question whether we’ll race there again after this year, so it would be extra special to get another Wally there.  We’ll stop by the shop in Oklahoma and freshen everything up. We did switch to our new Rick Jones car this weekend and it was perfect every time down. It’s like driving a Cadillac the thing is so smooth. We’re just getting to know each other but so far, so good. We’ll definitely be ready for Topeka.”

Karen Stoffer out first round in Atlanta

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An early exit for Pro Stock Motorcycle veteran, Karen Stoffer at the 35th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia this weekend.   Stoffer, who is still running a limited schedule due to lack of sponsorship, started the weekend off well in qualifying but was just too aggressive off the line, losing at the tree on Sunday.

Karen Stoffer out 1st round in Atlanta
Photo: NHRA

All-female opening round

During qualifying, the 2015 Gatornationals winner was able to post an impressive 6.875 second elapsed time at 195.59 mph, earning her the top qualifier position.   The pole marked Karen Stoffer’s third career No. 1, and the first this season.  This would pair her first round against No. 16 qualifier, Angie Smith.   Though Stoffer carried the advantage entering the first round of eliminations, a 7-0 record over Smith, she was a touch too early off the starting line, turning on the red light and handing the win to Angie.   Karen left 0.002 seconds before the tree, a false start making her 6.861 second 195.3 mph pass invalid.   Meanwhile, Angie would have trouble down track, running a slower but winning 7.199 second E.T. at 162.98 mph.

Seeking Sponsorship: Help Karen Stoffer

Karen entered Atlanta Dragway No. 3 in points, but is still lacking sponsorship to put together a full-schedule.  Despite her position in the championship points chase, she is unsure of where her “limited schedule” will take her for the 2015 season.   The team is still aggressively seeking marketing partners to secure a full-time schedule.

Early exit in Atlanta for Alexis DeJoria

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Alexis qualifies at dusk in Atlanta
Photo: Gary Nastase/ Alexis DeJoria Racing

Alexis DeJoria still hunting for her 1st win in 2015

Drag Racing Funny Car driver, Alexis DeJoria and her Patrón XO Cafe Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car team went into the 35th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals hoping to pick up their elusive first event win of the 2015 season. Unfortunately for three-time Funny Car winner, Atlanta Dragway would not become the dry-spell breaking victory for the Kalitta affiliated team.

DeJoria ready to run in Atlanta
Photo: Gary Nastase/ Alexis DeJoria Racing

After qualifying in the No. 8 spot with their 4.064-second run from the second qualifying session, Alexis and the Patrón team faced No. 9 qualifier Ron Capps in the first round of eliminations on Sunday morning. The two went head-to-head in the final pairing of Funny Cars. DeJoria made a good clean run in her Toyota Camry, but her 4.091-second pass didn’t stand up against Capps’ 4.081-sec run, ending Team Patrón’s day much earlier than they had anticipated.

It was a close race against Ron Capps. I really had a good feeling about this weekend but at least we don’t have to wait long until we’re back racing again. We’ll be in Topeka, Kan. next weekend and we’ll get back after it,” said DeJoria, who has raced to two semi-final finishes so far this year.

Chutes out in Atlanta Alexis DeJoria
Photo: Gary Nastase/ Alexis DeJoria Racing

The Kalitta Motorsports Patrón XO Cafe Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car team heads to the midwest from Atlanta for the series’ first back-to-back race of the season. They will enter the 27th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals, May 22-24, in 9th place in Topeka with 361 points.

Career best qualifying effort for Leah Pritchett

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Leah Pritchett starts 3rd in Atlanta

Leah Pritchett AtlantaNHRA Top Fuel racer Leah Pritchett recorded her best career Top Fuel qualifying performance Saturday during the Summit Racing NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.   Leah took the Gumout dragster to the third qualifying spot in the 16-driver field for Sunday’s elimination drag races.

The 26-year-old veteran driver from Avon, Ind., drove her nitro-burning Top Fuel car to a 3.792 second elapsed time at the Commerce, Georgia drag racing facility during Friday’s round, a time that would hold the No. 3 position secure through two rounds on Saturday.

Pritchett’s third starting spot in Sunday’s final eliminations places her behind former NHRA Mello Yello Series champions Antron Brown and Tony Schumacher in the 16-driver Top Fuel division.  Brown notched the No. 1 spot at 3.758 seconds followed by Schumacher’s 3.767 and Pritchett’s 3.792.

In addition, Pritchett’s third qualifying position was best of the female drivers in the nitro classes at Atlanta Dragway which included Brittany Force (10th) in Top Fuel and Alexis DeJoria (8th) and Courtney Force (10th) in Funny Car

Again the track conditions are tricky here at Atlanta Dragway,” said Pritchett, who’ll take on drag racing legend Chris Karamesines in the first round of eliminations Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. EDT. “it was difficult to get all of the horsepower to the pavement Saturday but we still ran a 3.88.  And that was one of the best passes of Saturday. Now, we’ll concentrate on winning rounds in eliminations. Looks like almost anyone could get to the final round on Sunday.  I want to be in that position on Sunday afternoon with a chance to win the race.”

Pritchett posted three consistent qualifying runs at Atlanta Dragway – 3.792, 3.809 and 3.887, some of the most consistent numbers in the class. Pritchett is looking for her first Top Fuel victory in her third season in the Top Fuel class, having captured three NHRA national events previously in the ProMod

ESPN2 will televise the final eliminations of the 35th NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday.