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Larsen Motorsports partners with Space Coast Tourism

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Larsen Motorsports partners with Space Coast Office of TourismPalm Bay, Florida based Jet Dragster Super Team, Larsen Motorsports announced they have aligned with the Space Coast Tourism Office in order to help promote tourism and careers on Florida’s Space Coast in 2017.

Florida’s Space Coast is a family-friendly destination located 45-minutes east of Orlando.  Encompassing Cocoa Beach, Melbourne & the Beaches, Port Canaveral, Titusville, and Palm Bay, it is home to the world’s second busiest cruise port and 72 miles of beaches, the longest stretch in the state; as well as 190,000 acres of wetlands and waterways full of habitat found nowhere else. Plus, Florida’s Space Coast is where rockets still soar into orbit from Kennedy Space Center.

Larsen Motorsports fields a 3-car exhibition jet dragster team at over two dozen premium venues across the country – from drag racing track locations, tradeshow venues, corporate appearances and more.  

As our teams travel across the country, we have the opportunity to help promote Florida’s Space Coast to a multitude of people” said Chris Larsen, co-owner of Larsen Motorsports, “Our vehicles and staff directly represent a large number of the initiatives Brevard County wishes to promote. With our teams’ home right here on Florida’s Space Coast, Larsen Motorsports is perfectly positioned to help deliver the Space Coast Office of Tourism message to a very large audience across North America.”

Space Coast - Elaine LarsenElaine Larsen, co-owner of Larsen Motorsports and driver of the Florida Institute of Technology Jet Dragster, has made incredible contributions to not only the drag racing community – helping to train many young dragster pilots such as Kat Moller, Shea Holbrook, Kat Redner, Allison West, Marisha Falk, and many other ladies in the sport; but also on the crew and engineering side with their Jet Developmental Center focused on hands-on training in jet car engineering, fabrication and more.    Elaine holds several World Championships in the Jet class, aided by her crew chief Paige Sanchez.    Larsen Motorsports has been known previously as the “Fastest Girls in Town” for the team’s strong history of helping advance women in motorsports.  Their emphasis on training and development, research and hands-on engineering/fabrication advancements reflects their highly successful partnership with the Florida Institute of Technology and their dedication to giving back to the sport and their local community.

 “I am so excited about this newest partnership!” said Elaine Larsen.  “When I am not racing, it is good to come home to Florida’s Space Coast, where there is always something to do.  This paradise may be home for me, but a destination for others to enjoy as well.”

For more information, contact the Space Coast Office of Tourism at (877) 572-3224 or VisitSpaceCoast.com.

Crewmember of the Year 2016

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The Female Crewmember of the Year 2016 category received 27 nominations and 67 votes for the Horsepower & Heels Women of the Year Awards.    There were several lead changes throughout the 8 day voting period, but your winner pulled ahead by just 2 votes at the wire.

Crewmember of the Year 2016Crewmember of the Year 2016 –  Shelley Molea

Horsepower & Heels is proud to announce the winner of the Female Crewmember of the Year 2016 category – Nostalgia Drag Racing Crew Chief, Shelley Molea!   Serving as crew chief on the popular Nostalgia Drag Racing entry of Mad Mike Molea, the family-owned operation out of Grants Pass, Oregon, Shelley Molea works hard with all the crew duties on their beautiful, 1933 Willys Blown Alcohol Gasser entry.  

Shelley MoleaThe popular team recently took the win for the AA/Supercharged class at the 25th Annual California HotRod Reunion event at Auto Club Famoso Raceway this past October.    This feat was accomplished after an amazing recovery from an on-track accident a month before, that left the team scrambling to repair the extensive crash damage and make a comeback before the season-highlighting Hotrod Reunion event.   Not only did Mike, Shelley and the rest of the team get the car back together in time for the race, but they landed in the winner circle for the prestigious reunion event.   

Regularly featured on magazine covers, and a crowd favorite, the “Mad Mike” Willys looks better than ever, and Shelley can always be found out front, helping guide Mike through the burnout and into the beams – as well as busy in the pits between rounds.

Runner Up –  Cassie Simonton

Multi-talented drag racing driver/wrench, Cassie Simonton was your Crewmember of the Year 2016 Runner-Up for the Horsepower & Heels Women of the Year Awards.

Crewmember of the Year 2016 Nominees

  • Tinzy Aronson
  • Sarah Burgess2016 Horsepower & Heels Women of the Year
  • Janette Thornley
  • Paige Sanchez
  • Melissa Urist
  • Judy Franklin
  • Shannon Giust
  • Cheryl Hyrn
  • Bunny Burkett
  • Kaylnn Simmons
  • Rachel Meyer
  • Jessica Mace
  • Shayne Fisher
  • Leeza Diehl
  • Kayli Barker
  • Tiffany Mills
  • Krista Elyse
  • Leeza Diehl
  • Heather Capano
  • Megan Meyer
  • Natasha Cherchuk
  • Randi Lyn Shipp
  • Kristi Shipp
  • Candace Williams

Larsen Motorsports wins Innovation award

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IHRA Jet Drag Racing super team, Larsen Motorsports, was recently recognized by the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast as their 2016 Innovation Company of the Year.

Larsen Motorsports wins Innovation awardThe award selects a business who demonstrates innovation in product or service offerings, manufacturing productivity or processes, sales and marketing approach that result in increased investment.     Larsen Motorsports, Inc was selected for carrying out the goal of bringing new talent in driving, design, engineering, maintenance and development of their jet drag racing development program.    The program, which was recently expanded, reaches talent from around the world from their Brevard County, Florida location in Palm Bay.

Founders  Elaine Larsen and Chris Larsen accepted the award on behalf of the company at the EDC’s Investor Update Meeting on January 20th, where companies were displaying locally made products in the Made in Brevard showcase exhibit.

“Our passion is to create a unique hands-on training experience that will inspire the next generation of learners into STEM related majors”, stated Chris. “With a unique business focus, a niche home as the anchor of Florida Tech’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Design (CAMID), and a team of innovators creating new and inventive product designs, we are honored to be a part of this business community and appreciate the EDC’s recognition as an innovator making a difference.”

Larsen Motorsports 2015 Team of the YearThe Larsen Motorsports team trained and provided development for the four jet dragsters teams in the program, nicknamed the “Fastest Girls in Town”.   As driver, Elaine Larsen won the IHRA Jet Dragster Championship for 2015, aided by her crew chief and engineering student, Paige Sanchez.   Other development program drivers in the program: Shea Holbrook, Kat Moller, Allison West, Dawn Purdue and Marisha Falk – all drove the 250+ mph jet dragsters.   The Larsen Motorsports team also won the Horsepower & Heels Female Motorsports Team of the Year for 2015.

Elaine Larsen cinches Jet Championship

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Elaine Larsen cinches Jet ChampionshipElaine Larsen, owner of the Larsen Motorsports Jet Dragster team, was able to cinch the 2015 IHRA Jet Dragster World Championship at the San Antonio Nationals this weekend.   With one race to go in the 2015 season, Larsen and her female crew chief, Paige Sanchez, were able to race their Miller Welds Dragster to a runner-up finish at the event, securing the championship points lead for the title.

Runner up at San Antonio Nationals

Although Elaine would post a faster 5.892 second at 265.96 mph pass in her Miller Welds Dragster, her teammate Shea Holbrook would leave quicker off the starting line, earning a holeshot victory against the reigning 2014 IHRA Jet Dragster World Champ.

Larsen cinches Jet Championship

Elaine Larsen and Paige SanchezLarsen, who has recorded four wins this season and five runner-up finishes in 11 races to date, was able to defend her 2014 title to retain the Jet Dragster World Championship with one race to go, the upcoming IHRA World Finals in Memphis, TN (Oct 9-10).

Elaine has over 20 years of drag racing experience, and with husband Chris Larsen, operates Larsen Motorsports, a hot spot of driver and engineering development for women in motorsports.    Her crew chief, Paige Sanchez, a Mechanical Engineering student, made sure that the Miller Welds Dragster was in championship contending form all season.     The duo promote “Girl Power” in the male dominated world of drag racing, and encourage education and advancement through their Jet Technology Center display at races.   There, fans can watch Paige service the General Electric J-85 engines used in the Miller Welds dragster.