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First win in Top Fuel for Leah Pritchett

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First win in Top Fuel for Leah PritchettNHRA racer Leah Pritchett earned her first career win in the Top Fuel class this weekend during the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.   The emotional win not only marked the first win in Top Fuel for Leah Pritchett, but the all-female final also had historical significance for women as well.   Pritchett had previously campaigned limited schedules in Top Fuel during the 2014 & 2015 seasons with Dote Racing, before becoming a free-agent at the end of 2015.

First win in Top Fuel for Leah Pritchett

After qualifying in the No. 10 position with a 3.859 second, 314.31 mph effort, Leah Pritchett would begin Sunday’s eliminations facing JR Todd in round one.    She would take the lead off the starting line and never look back, running  4.361 at 245.54 mph to Todd’s losing 4.612 at 168.05 mph.

In round two, she would face former NHRA Top Fuel champion, Antron Brown.    However, this match was over before it began, as Brown left before the tree, handing Leah a rare red-light victory.   Undeterred in the other lane, she ran 3.808 at 322.19 mph to earn lane choice entering the next round.

For the semi-finals, Leah would face Clay Millican, a competitor she had yet to beat in Top Fuel competition.   Maintaining stealth-like reactions on the tree, she was able to defeat Millican with a 3.832 at 317.05 mph to his losing 3.878 at 299.86 mph.     A clean pass, but not enough to secure lane choice.    Pritchett would advance to her second career final in Top Fuel, where she would be facing fellow female racer, Brittany Force.    Last season, Pritchett reached the final round in Atlanta, where she took the runner-up against Antron Brown.

Historic All-Female Top Fuel Final

Leah vs. Brittany in the final
Photo: NHRA

Much anticipation built for the all-female final round.   Both racers were vying for their first career Top Fuel victory, and both had made big changes in the off-season that were making quite a difference in their on-track performances:  Leah having joined the Quaker State/BVR team full-time for 2016, and Brittany’s Monster Energy team forming an alliance with reknowned tuning ace Alan Johnson.    Statistically speaking, Leah had the advantage over Brittany in their previous meetings at 3-1, but Brittany had run consistently in the 3.70 range all day Sunday.   It was anyone’s race to win.

When the tree dropped, Leah’s consistency at the tree would pay off, taking the advantage off the line with a 0.046 second reaction over Brittany’s 0.067.   Both thundered down the track side-by-side, but Leah would hang on for the victory with a 3.775 second, 323.12 mph performance to Force’s faster, but losing 3.774 at 321.35 mph pass.     Her quickest run of the weekend, the hole-shot marked the first win in Top Fuel for Leah Pritchett.

It is the happiest day of my life, besides getting married, of course,” said Pritchett. “This is what dreams are made of.”

The win pushes Leah Pritchett and her Quaker State/ BVR team to the No. 5 position in championship points so far this season, after she was eliminated in the first round at the season opener in Pomona.

I feel like I just won the Super Bowl, even though it’s only the second race and it’s not the U.S. Nationals. For me, it’s an incredible personal and Professional victory to be able to compete with the team that I’m with.”

The first win in Top Fuel for Leah Pritchett placed her name in the record books as the eighth female driver to win in the Top Fuel category, and the 16th woman to win a Mello Yello Series race.  Leah and Brittany’s match-up marked the first all-female Top Fuel final since Shirley Muldowney defeated Lucille Lee in Columbus, Ohio back in 1982.   It also marked only the forth all-female professional class final in the Mello-Yello series history, with the last coming when Angelle Sampey and Karen Stoffer battled it out in Pro Stock Motorcycle last season in Norwalk, Ohio.

Drag Illustrated – the HOTTEST Women of Drag Racing

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Drag Illustrated The Hottest Women of Drag Racing

One of the most popular issues for Drag Illustrated is their annual The 2016 Hottest List – a feature on the top women in the sport who are contributing by showing exceptional talent driving, in the pits and in the boardroom.    They are currently accepting nominations – make sure you get in your votes!

Previous issues have featured many of our favorite drivers – Brittany Force, Leah Pritchett, Lizzy Musi, Alexis DeJoria and so many more!  Who will be on the 2016 list?
 

There are hundreds of talented ladies we can think of right off the bat, but you’ve got to nominate your favorites!   

Drag Illustrated – The Hottest Women of Drag Racing

The deadline is looming! THE HOTTEST 2016 is just around the cover. Drag Illustrated’s annual look at the best,…

Posted by Drag Illustrated on Thursday, February 25, 2016

Remembering the roots of Radial Tire racing

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Today is Throwback Thursday, and a topic has been circulating the social net since this past weekend’s legendary Lights Out radial race in South Georgia that not many know is a very dear subject to my heart.

RADIAL TIRE RACING

Back before Duck X and Donald Long, before Lights Out, Radial Wars, Radial vs the World or any of the events that are credited for putting radial tire racing on the map, there was a true revolution born.   All of the events that followed certainly helped it grow into the amazing spectacle it is today, with cars going just as fast as pro mods on a radial tire.   This certainly isn’t to take anything from the amazing racers or promoters that are out there today, but to pay my respects and share my memories of the true BIRTH of this movement so long ago.

You see, I was there in the late 1990’s and early 2000.   When street car racing was bringing about major advancements that many people take for granted today.  I watched the NMRA and FFW take street car racing to a whole new level.    They took people like me, who had a passion for fast and brought us off the street and onto the track.     They weren’t race cars — often they were daily drivers that we took and modified, pushing the envelope on the street.   They were accessible, they were affordable.   They were an art to drive, trying desperately to get a tiny street tire to hook with small blocks that pushed 600, 700, 800+ RWHP….  the numbers kept climbing, and so did the challenges of driving them.

Big Daddy – the FATHER of RADIAL

And then comes Dwayne Gutridge.    Big Daddy to all of us.     Larger than life to a young racer like me back then.  He was already a legend in his own right, pushing the performance of the small block 5.0 Fox Body Mustang game to innovative new heights.   But he wanted a street tire.   He wanted to do it on a radial – not a slick.   They told him it would never work – it couldn’t be done.  And then, he DID THIS.

Big Daddy

I don’t remember the exact date, but I know that this image, which I believe became a poster for BF Goodrich and was circulated through all the magazines, was THE REASON I wanted to race a Drag Radial car.

Most people look at that now and say ‘Big deal… 9’s and 1.30 60′ ft times’.    But you just don’t understand.

  • That was 15 YEARS ago.
  • It was on a true 275/50/15 BF Goodrich tire that didn’t have years and years of development perfecting.   (which, by the way, you can credit Big Daddy for much of that R&D work)
  • It was on true STOCK SUSPENSION.   No modified ladder bars or fancy traction arms.   Control arms and struts in factory locations.
  • It was SMALL BLOCKS making 1000+RWHP with bolt-on power adders in heavy all-factory street cars.
  • It was super tight converters, trying to spool big turbos that you fought in the burnout box to get spinning.
  • It was fighting to build boost while staging with your FOOT, no fancy bump boxes.
  • It was no real track prep, and especially no radial-specific track prep.
  • It was feeling the tire start to just break loose and pedaling it just enough to keep it going down the track.
  • It was TRACTION CONTROL via your FOOT, not via a computer.
Erica Ortiz Drag Radial
My Drag Radial Car, Atlanta FFW 2003

It was a GLORIOUS time that I was extremely proud to have took part in.    Racing alongside people like Big Daddy and Chris Little, Spence Hart and Peter Champani, all of the guys who made this class one of the most exciting things of its time.    I was lucky enough to have faced Big Daddy in quite a few Drag Radial finals during my run, and never could quite get around him.

It is really something to see the class that I was lucky enough to have raced  having come so far in the decade since it all began.  To see 25,000+ people in those stands, with exits on the interstate shut down, tech cards being sold out a day before the event begins, and all of the breath-taking advancement made is truly incredible.  

Big Daddy Facebook PostBut I am sad to see that the man who should get the credit for all of it starting, is so often overlooked.    Dwayne Gutridge, Sr.   forever “Big Daddy” to all of us, is still an inspiration to this day.   Thank you for believing, thank you for championing the class for so many of us, for not giving up, for seeing this vision through.

…. And even if they don’t remember where this all came from, WE DO.

My Thanks,
Erica Ortiz
Runner-up, 2003 FFW Drag Radial Points Championship (to Big D!)
5x event Runner-up, FFW Drag Radial
1st female in the 8’s on a drag radial tire
1st female over 175 mph on a drag radial tire

 

Subaru Australia returns to Rally with Molly Taylor

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After a break of more than 10 years, Subaru Australia returns to Rally with Molly Taylor as the driver, aiming to build on the brand’s record-breaking success in the Australian championship.
Subaru Australia returns to Rally with Molly Taylor
Molly Taylor, the daughter of four-time Australian Rally Champion Co-Driver Coral Taylor and rally instructor Mark Taylor, has put her Rally-infused DNA to good use, amassing a solid resume of her own in the sport.    Last season, Molly competed in the Australian Rally Championship, finishing second overall.   She also was selected as the winner of the prestigious Peter Brock Medal, named in honor of late touring car legend Peter Brock.   One of the most coveted awards in Australian motorsports, the medal is given to the driver demonstrating outstanding ability, sportsmanship and willingness to promote the sport to the masses.
Molly will campaign a turbocharged All-Wheel Drive WRX STI NR4 for Subaru Australia in the 2016 Australian Rally Championship.    The return for Subaru Australia will be the first since November 2005, when they departed after Subaru Rally Team Australia (SRTA) secured its tenth consecutive Australian Rally Driver’s championship.   During their reign from 1996-2005, SRTA was undefeated in their quest for the Australian Rally Championship, earning numerous class victories in both the World and Asia-Pacific Rally Championships as well.
It’s fantastic to be able to secure Molly as our driver and Subaru Ambassador,” said Subaru Australia Managing Director, Nick Senior.  “She’s got a wonderful attitude, has worked really hard for the opportunity and she’s a glass half-full person, never the victim.   Then, of course, her performances both here and internationally have been very strong, reinforced by the fact she is the world’s top-ranked female rally driver.”
The car is being prepared by world-renowned Tasmania-based Les Walkden Rallying, with testing imminent.
The rekindling of our partnership with Les Walkden is very pleasing,” said Mr. Senior.   “They are highly successful and have a great record with Group N production vehicles.  We are going to be very realistic with our expectations. The current regulations are very loose and free – you could virtually build anything, but we have chosen a showroom stock Group N production Subaru.  We really want our motorsport philosophy to be ‘Run on Sunday, buy on Monday’.“
For Molly, who has been driving competitively in rally racing since 2006, the change will mean getting used to a bigger, heavier car that her previous platforms that she is accustomed to driving.     A learning curve is expected, but Molly is ready to take on the challenge.
This is a fantastic opportunity and I’m both humbled and excited to be part of Subaru’s new plans to build on their amazing rally heritage in Australia, “ says Molly.   “We’ve got a lot of work to do in testing before the first round in April, but the NR4 is a great car and we look forward to seeing the return of the Subaru rally fans, both new and old.”    
Molly’s co-driver and official team name have not been yet announced.   Her debut is planned for April 22-24, 2016 at the Quit Forest Rally in Western Australia.
Source:   http://www.subaru.com.au/news/domestic-rally-return [Subaru Australia]

Larsen Motorsports 2016 Schedule

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Jet Dragster super team, Larsen Motorsports has a busy year planned for 2016.     The Horsepower & Heels Female Motorsports Team of the Year has some new venues and drivers on deck for the season.  Check out some of the personnel changes on the team and the Larsen Motorsports 2016 schedule below.

Larsen Motorsports 2016 scheduleElaine Larsen | Florida Institute of Technology

Elaine Larsen will return off her 2015 Championship season to drive the Florida Institute of Technology jet dragster.    She replaces Shea Holbrook, who has returned to touring car racing in 2016.

Kat Moller | Matrix Systems

Kat Moller returns as well in 2016 to resume driving duties in her Matrix Systems jet dragster.   Kat is beginning her third professional year with the Larsen Motorsports team.

Allison West | Applied Racing Components

Allison West will take over driving duties on the ARC jet dragster for 2016, after Marisha Falk retired at the end of last season.

Dawn Perdue | LMS

Dawn Perdue joins Larsen Motorsports again in 2016 to drive the fourth Larsen Motorsports jet dragster for the 2016 season.

Jake Elliott | Floating Driver

Jake Elliott served as crew chief on the FIT dragster in 2015, is a fabricator in the Larsen shop, and completed his licensing requirements behind the wheel at the end of 2014.   The first male driver for the team, he will be gunning for a full-time seat in the Larsen camp, jumping in for driving opportunities during the year.

Larsen Motorsports 2016 Schedule

Date Event Location
February 26 Florida Tech Exploration Day Florida Tech Campus
Melbourne, FL
March 4-6 IHRA Spring Nitro Nationals Orlando Speed World
Orlando, FL
March 17-20 47th Annual NHRA Gator Nationals Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, FL
March 25 Florida Tech Exploration Day Florida Tech Campus
Melbourne, FL
March 26 Race for Autism Cure Orlando Speed World
Orlando, FL
April 1-3 Melbourne Airshow Melbourne International Airport
Melbourne, FL
April 9 Florida Tech Discovery Day Florida Tech Campus
Melbourne, FL
April 21-24 7th Annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals Z-Max Dragway
Charlotte, NC
April 28- May 1 NMRA Ford Nationals Maple Grove Raceway
Reading, PA
June 3-5 Chevy Performance Nationals Atlanta Dragway
Atlanta, GA
June 9-12 NMRA Ford Super Nationals National Trails Raceway
Columbus, OH
June 25 Atlanta Night of Fire Atlanta Dragway
Atlanta, GA
July 22 Florida Tech Exploration Day Florida Tech Campus
Melbourne, FL
August 26 Florida Tech Exploration Day Florida Tech Campus
Melbourne, FL
October 29 Orlando Night of Fire Orlando Speed World
Orlando, FL
November 19 Florida Tech Exploration Day Florida Tech Campus
Melbourne, FL
November 25-27 Citrus Nationals Palm Beach International Raceway
West Palm Beach, FL
December 2-3 Snowbird Nationals Bradenton Motorsports Park
Bradenton, FL

Sara Slaughter new NHRA Media Relations Manager

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Sara SlaughterThe National Hot Rod Association announced Sara Slaughter as the new NHRA Media Relations Manager for the drag racing organization.    Slaughter will bring her experience gained in the sports department of Riverside, California’s  The Press-Enterprise newspaper and her previous internship at Health & Fitness Magazine in London, England to support outreach for the NHRA.

In her new role, Slaughter will provide media outreach for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, as well as support other NHRA communications programs and NHRA racing series. In addition, she will maintain and develop relationships with national media members, assist with research and statistical projects and contribute to all NHRA communications department publications.

We’re pleased to have someone with Sara’s abilities join our communications team,” Anthony Vestal, NHRA Director of Media Relations said. “She has the work ethic, personality, attitude and desire to have an immediate impact with the media relations programs we have developed to promote and publicize the sport of NHRA Drag Racing.”

Slaughter graduated with her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Riverside in June 2014 with a major in Political Science. She is a native of Southern California.

It is a fantastic feeling to be chosen to join the NHRA team,” Slaughter said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to be able to be a part of this growing sport and continue my career in the sports world.”

Madusa’s Monster Manicure

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MADUSA’S MONSTER MANICURE:   Had to share this cool manicure posted by Monster Jam driver, MADUSA (Debrah Miceli).

Her MADUSA Monster Truck design is now a fashionable manicure option.     This just uped the Motorsports Manicure game, ladies.   Think of the sponsorship opportunities!  

Madusa’s Monster Manicure

What every woman needs… And maybe some men! #bestmanicureever oh and of course the best damn @monsterjamlive truck ! #madusahasthebestfans @hotwheelsofficial #realmenwearpink

Posted by Madusa on Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Have a cool design you’ve rocked on your nails for race weekend?   Show them off in the comments below!

I’ll be busy thinking of a Horsepower & Heels design for my next trip to the manicure chair….   OR, if you’re interested in becoming a manicure sponsor, hit me up for advertising opportunities!   LOL

Willow Springs challenging for Michele Abbate

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Willow Springs Challenging for Michele AbbateRounds 3 & 4 of the SCCA US National Tour made Willow Springs challenging for Michele Abbate.    After a successful opening weekend a few weeks ago, Michele and her GRR Racing team were ready to take on Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, CA.  This would mark the first time the team would be racing their Scion FRS at the venue, with no practices on the schedule to prepare for qualifying and racing.

Saturday’s Qualifying and Race

Saturday morning would begin well for Michele, as she was able to qualify with a 1:32.9 lap time, earning her the P3 position out of 9 cars.     Confident after a strong qualifying effort, the team felt prepared for the race, with crew chief Anthony Philleo stating, “We just need to stay consistent and hit our marks and we will be running up front”.   

Michele Abbate SundayAs the green flag dropped for the race, Abbate pushed forward in an excellent start, passing two cars in other classes on the lead lap.  As she approached to battle for 2nd place, the handling of GRR Racing FRS started to fall off exponentially.

The car became progressively worse, but I continued to push with hopes of making to the checkered flag”, Abbate confessed.

She eased up and dropped back to 4th place to stay conservative.   But with just two laps to go, the front left tire expired as she entered turn 8, and forced Abbate to retire early.

Afterwards, the GRR Racing team assessed the damage, replacing the flat tire and looking over the car to find the source of the flat and ill-handling during the race.   The culprit?  A broken rear endlink – causing the car to lose its desired setup and making it very difficult for Michele to control around the track.   The team worked through the night to repair the damage, and reset the car for Sunday’s activities.

Sunday’s Qualifying and Race

On Sunday, Michele returned to the track with her freshly setup GRR Racing FRS for qualifying.  Her lap times earned her the P3 spot again for the Sunday afternoon race.   Much like her Saturday start, when field took off to the wave of the green, Abbate rocketed forward passing 3 other classed cars on the inside before entering turn one.    Another promising start, and the team was optimistic that this would be the turnaround for the weekend.  Unfortunately, about a third of the way into the race, the handling start to fall off once again on the GRR Racing FRS.  Understeering terribly through the right handers, Abbate struggled to maintain consistent, fast lap times.  Taking precautions she nursed the car to a 4th place finish once the checkered was thrown.

Willow Springs challenging for Michele Abbate

Team GRR RacingThough the weekend was challenging for Michele Abbate and the GRR Racing team, they are taking the lessons learned and are applying them to  prepare the car for Rounds 5 and 6 at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, CA on April 8th-10th.    The team has 6 weeks to analyze and make changes before, and will be ready for the next round in the SCCA Nationals Tour.

 

 

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Danica Patrick’s Daytona 500 Cut Short

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As Speedweeks came to a close with the 58th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Danica Patrick left with much to be desired from her newly sponsored Nature’s Bakery No. 10 Chevy SS with Stewart-Haas Racing. This was Patrick’s first event with the snack and food brand sponsor as well as crew chief Billy Scott. The two had never worked together until the February 13th Sprint Unlimited, but the communication seemed fluent between them all weekend. Unfortunately, everything else didn’t go as planned.

Patrick takes damage in the Sprint Unlimited race

Patrick, whose 2013 Daytona 500 pole position earned her a spot in the Sprint Unlimited, started the race in 12th and despite multiple incidents finishedDanica Patrick 2 in 11th position. She had made her way towards the front of the pack at one point, but a sudden decrease in speed by the No. 31 caused her to make contact ending in major grille damage. After fixing the majority of the problem during yellow flag pit stops, the No. 10 was caught up in a multi-car incident leading to right-front damage once again. Fortunately, for the team the car was able to continue and finished the race. In a post-race interview Patrick didn’t show much excitement about the on track activity.

That’s just speedway racing. I feel really good about how tonight went.”

 

Danica Patrick | Thursday’s Can-Am Duel

More trouble was ahead for the Stewart-Hass Racing team in Thursday’s qualifying race, the Can-Am Duel, for the Daytona 500. Starting in the 14th position Patrick was in a great place to fine tune the team’s plan. That is until she was once again caught up in a multi-car accident, however, only sustaining minor damage from a spin in oil after moving to avoid the carnage happening in front of her car. Being that this happened on the final lap she was able to take the checkered flag and because of the NASCAR caution rules she was given a 7th place finish. Patrick was optimistic that her team would be able to repair her car before the big day.

Hopefully, nothing is wrong with the car and we can just hammer on it a little bit, get it where it needs to be, change out the engine and get ready for the 500.”

Danica Patrick’s Daytona 500 efforts

Finally, it was time for the main event. The event race fans from all around the nation come to the sunshine state to watch, The Daytona 500. Patrick began the race in 16th position, but after a green-flag pit stop causing a pass-through penalty due to crew members being over the wall before permitted by the guidelines, she was back on track without any help from the draft. Quickly, she found herself a lap down and during the next caution was just out of reach for the “Lucky Dog” which would have put her back on the lead lap.

It (the penalty) put us in a position of being aggressive at the wrong time in the race against cars you don’t always want to be aggressive with” said Patrick.

Danica Patrick 1Unfortunately, left-rear contact was made with the No. 16 car, of Greg Biffle, causing Patrick to go airborne and spinning into the infield ultimately ending her day with a 35th position finish and only earning six points towards the chase.

As if Danica needed anything else to go wrong during the first race of the season, The King himself, Mr. Richard Petty, thought he would add insult to injury. He’s always been a tough critic of hers and very vocal in regards to her NASCAR career. In an interview with Yahoo Sports he once again expressed his opinion.

“She ain’t gotten no better or no worse.”

Although, a rough start to the season, Danica Patrick has the tools, the car, and the team to have a great year. Next week she’ll show what she’s got in Atlanta!

What do you think of her Speedweek efforts and the King’s comments?

Comment below!

Ariel Biggs announces 2016 plans [Video]

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Rising dirt track racer, Ariel Biggs announces her 2016 plans with Toyota Racing and Daum Motorsports, including a move back east to Illinois.  Check out what has happened after her big outing at the Chili Bowl earlier this year, and what she will be looking forward to for a 2016 racing schedule.

Ariel Biggs Announces 2016 Plans

 

Keep up with Ariel Biggs and hundreds of other women in racing by subscribing to receive free Horsepower & Heels news updates.