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Karting Magazine Female Driver of the Year

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2015 Karting Magazine Female Driver of the Year Award nominees
Photo: Karting Magazine

Karting Magazine is hosting their 2015 awards, and the Female Driver of the Year category is up for grabs.  Readers can vote on their favorite female driver out of the 20 young ladies eligible for nomination.   All females who competed in a Club or National Championship event during the 2015 season were candidates for the category.

To vote, visit Karting Magazine and follow the link for your driver, using the Facebook Like button at the bottom of their page to place your vote.   Voting closes November 22, 2015, and the winner will be announced in the December edition of Karting Magazine.

 

2015 Karting Magazine Female Driver of the Year Nominees

  • Abbi Pulling
  • Abbie Munro
  • Abigail Ross
  • Alicia Goundry
  • Alisha Roland
  • Anna Morris
  • Bryony King
  • Carol van Beusekom
  • Charlotte Fox
  • Jamie-lea Hawley
  • Jem Hepworth
  • Kaite Crowther
  • Logan Hannah
  • Lucy Fulton
  • Lydia Walmsley
  • Marcie Russell
  • Megan Lawson
  • Stephanie Walters
  • Susanne Gutzold
  • Tilly Goundry

Ladies of NHRA Red Carpet 2015

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It’s the end of the season, and that means the annual 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Awards Ceremony has arrived!   All of our favorite stars of the NHRA series gathered Monday after the finals in Pomona to Hollywood’s Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Vineland for a year-end banquet and the crowning of the 2015 champions.   This formal event is always a crowd favorite, because we get the rare chance to see our favorite personalities outside their fire suits and crew uniforms, dressed to the nine in formal attire.

For 2015, the ladies didn’t disappoint, hitting the NHRA Red Carpet all looking stunning.   Check out their red carpet fashion below!

Ladies of NHRA Red Carpet 2015

Leah Pritchett and Angie Smith on NHRA Red Carpet
Top Fuel’s Leah Pritchett and Pro Stock Bike’s Angie Smith
Erica Enders on NHRA Red Carpet
Pro Stock World Champion Erica Enders
Courtney Force and Graham Rahal on NHRA Red Carpet
Funny Car driver Courtney Force and fiance, open wheel driver Graham Rahal
Angie Smith Karen Stoffer on NHRA Red Carpet
Pro Stock Bike’s Karen Stoffer and Angie Smith
Brittany and Courtney Force on NHRA Red Carpet
Top Fuel driver Brittany Force with sister Courtney.
Alexis DeJoria Jesse James on NHRA Red Carpet
Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria, husband Jesse James, and sister.
Jenna Haddock at the NHRA Red Carpet year end banquet
Top Fuel driver Jenna Haddock and husband Terry

WHO WORE IT BEST? Ladies of NHRA Red Carpet – Vote in Comments below!

Video: Awards Ceremony    |  Last year’s Ladies of NHRA 2014 Red Carpet Album 

Janette Thornley Pro Fuel Champion

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Janette Thornley Pro Fuel Champion
Photo: Dream Chaser Racin’

Dream Chaser Racin’s Janette Thornley was able to cinch the 2015 Pro Fuel Championship at the NHRA Harley Davidson Drag Racing Series season finale in Las Vegas.  The Statesville, NC resident entered the event trailing points leader Dennis Fisher by 5 points, but the championship was decided in the first round of eliminations, when Thornley advanced and Fisher was eliminated.

Janette Thornley Pro Fuel Champion 2015

Janette Thornley made history as the first woman to win a national Harley Davidson class championship.  She finished with 623 points after losing in the final round to former World Champion, Johnny Vickers at the Las Vegas final race.    Thornley won 4 national events:  Joliet, Sonoma, Seattle and Bristol leading to her winning of the 2015 NHRA Harley Davidson Pro Fuel championship title.

Thornley has not yet announced 2016 racing plans.

 

First woman to win ‘Pinks all out’

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Women of Motorsports sure are on the hunt for achieving big wins by dominating the men in the process. That’s where 19 year old Sarah Boyce from New Derry, PA comes along. As she spent most of her time at the track to spectate and watch her dad compete, she became drawn to the excitement. There after Sarah took on her dad, Ron Boyce 2014 Dodge Ram pick up truck, where she ran 14.90’s in a quarter mile track.

sarah_boyce1

After winning at Pinks, all I can remember is wanting to jump out of my car, hug my Dad, my Mom and my boyfriend Tyler. I was so happy they were there for this life changing experience. We still talk about it to this day.

Winning, Pinks All Out

As Sarah graduated High School, her parents awarded her with a 1989 Fox Body Mustang. She couldn’t wait to get on the track because she felt this car was exactly right for her. Sarah’s dad entered her into the event, Pinks All Out. A TV show hosted by Rich Christenson.

You would of thought somebody died, I and everyone else around me screamed like crazy! I couldn’t believe I got picked for the Top 16, let alone be the first person called, I was so excited!

sarah_boyce2

 

She then became very nervous, as there were over 100 people in her 11 second bracket class. They gave them two qualifying rounds, then after everyone got to make their two qualifying passes, Rich made an announcement of who made the Top 16, hoping that Sarah had a chance. The first thing Rich said was Car “#72, Sarah Boyce.”  Being apart of this event was life changing for her. Sarah didn’t think she could win something like this. She plans attend again in 2016, in hopes for another win.

I raced against guys who have been racing for many years, I was so proud that I never gave up. We still talk about it to this day!

She still continues to build her dreams by attending the track in Pittsburgh Raceway Park in hopes to impact other women of Motorsports. Her biggest supporters are her parents, boyfriend and her racing family.

 

Nicole Johnson nabs 1st in Scooby Doo

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Nicole Johnson takes the Scooby Doo Monster Truck airborne in Puerto RicoNicole Johnson, the driver of the popular Scooby Doo Monster Jam truck, nabbed first place in the Wheelie and Donut competitions at the San Juan, Puerto Rico Monster Jam event held at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico on Friday, November 6.

“We took 1st in Wheelies and 1st in the Donut Competition last night! It helps having a dog that knows tricks!!!” — Nicole Johnson, Facebook

The event marked the first time that the Monster Jam series has visited the island of Puerto Rico.

Nicole Johnson made the jump from professional rock crawling competitions to Monster Jam in 2011, with more than 17 years of four wheeling experience under her belt in total.  The mom of two has driven the Tasmanian Devil in 2011, the Advanced Auto Grinder truck in 2012, and debuted the new Scooby Doo Monster Truck in 2013.

Source:  Nicole Johnson, Facebook |  Monster Jam

 

Jenna Haddock celebrates rookie season

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Jenna Haddock finishes the 2015 NHRA seasonThis weekend’s 51st Annual Auto Club Finals marks the conclusion of the 2015 NHRA Mellow Yellow Drag Racing season.  For rookie Top Fuel driver, Jenna Haddock, it marks the end of an amazing first year in the premiere professional class of the sport.    As the season comes to a close,  Jenna looks back on her season and rates her year as driver of the ‘Boots For Troops’ Top Fuel Dragster in her trademark exuberant and sincere fashion.

“Everyone rates on performance,” explained Haddock, “but there is so much more to take into consideration.  As a driver, I didn’t have much experience.  I never drove anything in competition.  I’m proud that we qualified at eight out of the 11 races we ran.  And we did it with only six team members when other teams have 12.  We lost our sponsor mid-year so we did it with no money.  We did it with friends, family and a lot of hard work and determination.  And I’m grateful for everyone that helped.  When I rate out first year, I’d say we had a phenomenal year.  Without money, our car performed really well and I cannot be sad.  I’m proud to say our car is good.”

The Auto Club Road to the Future candidate posted her career-best of 3.850 sec. at 311.63 mph in her first-round match-up against Antron Brown at the previous race in Las Vegas.  Though she couldn’t hold off the new 2015 Top Fuel Champion for the win, she was still  thrilled at her performance.

“In qualifying in Vegas, we kept throwing the blower belt,” Haddock said.  “But if you look at our half-track numbers we knew it was going to run.  We run used belts.  We can’t buy all new ones like most teams.  Most of the time our belts have four to five runs on them.  We rather buy new crankshafts, pistons and connecting rods.  Those things come before blower belts for us.   On Sunday morning a bunch of teams brought us their belts with only one run on them, which was so amazing.  So for us when that 3.850 came up on the board; Sunday took the cake.”

Haddock’s husband, Terry is a long time Funny Car driver known for competing on a very limited budget and for never giving up.  This year, he put his car on the back burner and concentrated on launching his wife’s career.

“I really have to thank Terry for his unending support,” expressed Haddock.  “He helped me learn how to drive and he was a great and patient teacher.  This year has been all about me, and his car hasn’t gotten much attention.  He made sure that everything came much easier to me than it ever did to him.  He’s been great about it and I love him for it.”

Valerie Thompson returns to NHRA

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Valerie Thompson 2016 PSM NHRA

Seven-time land speed record holder Valerie Thompson returns to NHRA Drag Racing competition to compete in the full season as an independent team owner and driver.   Thompson will be riding a Star Racing built Pro Stock Motorcycle in all of the events on the schedule for the PSM class.   The team will be led by recently appointed crew chief, Chris Rivas,  a former Pro Stock Motorcycle racer with four NHRA event wins and six land speed racing world records of his own.

“Chris Rivas has been successful in drag racing while setting new land speed records. As a crew chief, he will be one of my biggest assets. He understands the difference between quarter-mile and land speed racing, so he can help our team with everything from bike set-up to my riding technique as I transition back to drag racing,” added Thompson.

Valerie Thompson began her motorcycle-racing career in the All Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA), where she finished third in the V-Rod Destroyer class in 2007 and was featured in a Super Bowl commercial with Danica Patrick.  She entered several NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle events in 2008, with a best elapsed time of 7.05 seconds.

“I have a real passion for land speed racing, but I can’t express how excited I am to return to my ‘racing roots’ with a bike built by George Bryce’s Star Racing team. George and his wife Jackie, operate one of the most successful NHRA Pro Stock motorcycle teams in the history of the sport, so I’m confident we will do well next year,” said Thompson.

Star Racing and owner George Bryce have won six NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championships and collected 80 different NHRA national event wins under their 10 different Star riders.    The high performance motorcycle company is also a worldwide mail-order parts business, with engine building, a state-of-the-art machine shop and dyno services.

“I’m delighted to see Valerie returning to drag racing and thankful she chose Star Racing to help her new team. We are also looking forward to working with Chris Rivas again,” said George Bryce, Star Racing owner.

While Valerie Thompson returns to NHRA and is excited for the homecoming, she also plans on continuing the quest for new land speed racing records with her team’s BMW S 1000 RR at select events in 2016 as her schedule permits.

Thompson formed her own land speed racing team in 2012, and has went on to record a personal best top speed of 217 mph at the 2014 Texas Mile. This year, Valerie became the first female member of the Colorado Mile 200 MPH Club on her Quicksilver Powersports Lubricants/CTEK BMW Motorrad and is now a member of six-land speed racing 200 MPH Clubs, including the prestigious Bonneville 200 MPH Club. As a result, she is often referred to as “America’s Queen of Speed.”

The 2016 NHRA schedule includes 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle events with the first scheduled for March 17 – 20 at the Gatornationals in Gainesville Florida.

D.R.A.W. Awards Angelle Sampey

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Angelle Sampey DRAW awardThe ladies of the Drag Racing Association of Women (D.R.A.W.) presented the People Of The Year Award to NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Angelle Sampey on Saturday October 31, 2015 at the Las Vegas Strip.

“I don’t feel like I deserve this award but I am so honored and blessed to receive it!! I was so shocked when the awesome ladies of D.R.A.W. Presented it to me here at the Las Vegas Strip.”  – Angelle Sampey

D.R.A.W. – Fast Help for Fast Friends

Angelle Sampey wins Person of the Year award from DRAWThe Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW) is a non-profit organization that provides financial and emotional support to qualified individuals involved in drag racing accidents at a track. From 1985 through 2014, DRAW has helped 799 racing families and provided a total of $4,055,442 in financial assistance.

A year ago, after Angelle suffered a season-ending injury to her achilles tendon,  D.R.A.W. was able to give her assistance financially to help her and her family through the experience.

Sampey donated the helmet worn in Pro Stock Motorcycle competition all season long in 2015 to the organization for a future fundraising auction.   As she says today “they truly are, Fast Help For The Fast Friends.”

Source: Angelle Sampey, Facebook

‘Speed Sisters’ USA premiere at DOC NYC

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The documentary film ‘Speed Sisters‘ follows the first all-woman race car driving team in the Middle East.  Embracing racing and turning heads in at improvised tracks across the West Bank, these five women have sped their way into the heart of the gritty, male-dominated Palestinian street car-racing scene. Weaving together their lives on and off the track, SPEED SISTERS takes you on a surprising journey into the drive to go further and faster than anyone thought you could.

Speed Sisters Film

For the first time in the US, viewers will get to experience the ‘Speed Sisters’ film as part of the DOC NYC Documentary Film Festival.   DOC NYC is the largest American documentary film festival and voted by MovieMaker magazine as one of the “top five coolest documentary film festivals in the world”.

‘Speed Sisters’ US Premiere at DOC NYC

Date:  November 12, 2015    2:00PM
Location:  SVA Theater, School of Visual Arts
Tickets:   $17/Adults; $15 Children/Seniors
Reservations/More Information: DOC NYC ‘Speed Sisters’

 

Watch the ‘Speed Sisters’ Trailer

John Force asks Shirley Muldowney for advice (Video)

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What happens when you open the floor at the Women of NHRA Breakfast to questions?   You get a rare moment on the mic when John Force asks Shirley Muldowney for advice on his daughter, Courtney Force’s love life.

 

John Force asks Shirley Muldowney for love life advice

Source:   @TerryBlountNHRA | Twitter