Blog – Page 10 of 73 – Horsepower & Heels

Salemi runner up | Shakedown at the Summit

September 23, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Buffalo, NY based drag racing driver Melanie Salemi and her Melanie Salemi Motorsports Pro Mod team entered the 2016 Shakedown at the Summit last weekend with high expectations to take home the richest Pro Mod purse in the history of the class. Summit Motorsports Park Owner Bill Bader Jr. vowed to make the “Shakedown” a race that everyone would place on their schedules for years to come because simply “you just can’t afford not to be there.”

Salemi started the Shakedown at the Summit strong, netting a No. 4 qualifying position in the rain shortened program with a 5.91 at 238 mph. The weather cleared on Sunday morning and sun was shining, so it was time to “Put up or Shut up” in true Shakedown lingo.

Melanie stomped through the 24 car field with a string of 5.87 second performances, eliminating fellow competitors RubenT, Bruce Boland, and Billy Harper in her wake. In the semi final round, she dispatched fellow Canadian and friend Wes Goddard with a 5.86 @ 242 mph to Wes’ 5.87 at a fast 252 mph.

This set the Shakedown at the Summit finals to be a blower vs. turbo battle for the money and the glory. Salemi would match up against the turbocharged entry of Kevin Fiscus, and the pair left almost dead even in reaction time on the tree. But Fiscus pulled away after Melanie experienced tire shake at the hit, trying to pedal and regain traction to no avail.

Although it was not Melanie’s day for the big Shakedown at the Summit win, she showed her skill on the track all weekend and was stellar on the tree to advance through 4 tough rounds of competition.

I am just really excited that I get to race with these guys a lot of them have way more experience than me in these cars and I’m really happy that I can class myself as one of them,” stated Melanie. “My guys send me down the track with a perfectly prepared car each time and it makes my job that much easier. I don’t know if there is a harder working bunch of guys in this sport. We have had a lot going on the past couple of weeks and I owed it to Jon, Jim, Mike and the rest of our crew to do my job on the tree and go rounds last weekend.”

Although Melanie didn’t take home the Shakedown 14 title, she took home more experience in the ¼ mile and posted one of her best racing weekends to date in the books.

Watch for the Melanie Salemi Motorsports team at their next outing at Virginia Motorsports Park, October 21-22 at the 2016 PDRA World Finals and then their final event of 2016 will be The Street Car Super Nationals in Las Vegas November 17-20.

Mechanical issues sideline Katie Vernola

September 23, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Mechanical issues sideline Katie Vernola in round 9 of the WORCS series UTV race at Glen Helen Raceway in Devore, CA. The UTV offroad racer suffered bad luck and mechanical issues that kept her from the podium finish she was working towards.

She began the first race looking good, but her luck quickly turned for the worse when she suffered some mechanical issues that took her out of the race.

I got a good start, but was hit going into turn one still managing to hold second going into the second turn of the course. After we came around the turn all the sudden I started hearing what sounded like a bucket of bolts rattling and had no power, so I called my pit and let them know,” explained Vernola.

A quick response from her pit crew enabled Vernola to rebound for race number two.

Luckily Pete and his crew were able to work on the car between races.”

Vernola regrouped and returned for the pro race, putting in her best efforts. An on course incident where fellow competitor Jared Blitz hit Vernola from behind multiple times throughout the race, ended up causing damage to her exhaust and rear bumper. Despite the damage and stress, Vernola was able to finish the race in the No. 12 position out of 17 in the Pro STX Class.

I fought through the challenging course with no front wheel drive and no exhaust,” stated Vernola.

Though she did not have the finish she was looking for, Vernola stays full of positivity and thankful for any opportunity to get out on the track.

I am trying to get more seat time. I am not doing well in the points this year but the more seat time the better.”

Her next race will be at the Camp Lejeune Support our Troops Terracross in Jacksonville, NC October 1-2. Vernola will continue her training, improving her program, and looking for redemption leading into the event.

Meyer finishes 5 week tour

September 23, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Returning to the site of her first win in Top Alcohol Dragster, NHRA rookie standout Megan Meyer was ready to get back on top at the 9th Annual NHRA Carolina Nationals after a difficult 5-week race swing in her Racers Evolved A/Fuel Dragster.

This past weekend concluded our 5 week tour, from Brainerd to Charlotte. We struggled with some unexpected gremlins but we have made some necessary changes to get back to performing our best.”

The Randy Meyer Racing team has worked hard between the tough five-week swing to sort out the Racer’s Evolve Dragster. In the first round of qualifying, Meyers was up in smoke at the hit, aborting the run for a 14 second timeslip. Round 2, Meyer posted a 5.345 second, 275.17 mph performance, moving her up to the No. 9 position. In the third and final qualifying session, Megan Meyer was able to jump up the ladder with a 5.278 second, 277.49 mph pass which netted her the No. 3 final qualifying position for the event.

In eliminations, she faced Artie Allen in Round 1 of eliminations, taking an advantage at the tree with her 0.05 reaction and putting distance between them at every interval, with a 5.340 second, 278.69 mph performance.

Round two, she would face Shawn Cowie, but would not have lane choice. The first time these two competitors have met in competition, and Cowie would take a marginal lead at the tree. Meyer hazed the tires a bit, running an off-paced 5.433 second, 275.00 mph ET. Cowie would continue on for the eventual event win in Top Alcohol Dragster class for the NHRA Carolina Nationals.

We had 2 holes out at the hit, which slowed us down quite a bit.”

The Randy Meyer Racing team will next head to their final Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Regional event in Noble, OK at Thunder Valley Raceway Park October 7-9.

National Business Women’s Day

September 22, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

September 22 is National Business Women’s Day, and what better way to celebrate than to highlight our Women in Motorsports Professionals!

National Business Women’s Day

National Business Women’s Day was born in 1983, when Congress passed a resolution, signed by President Ronald Reagan, declaring September 22nd the day for celebrating women’s place in the business world. It was also the historical date in 1949 that a group of Kansas City business women founded the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), an organization that today still brings women together for networking and support.

Women’s place in the business world has been growing throughout history. During World War II, women entered the business world previously only occupied by men to fill the needed roles left vacant by the men serving in the war efforts. However, when the men returned, many women who had excelled during their tenures, rejected the idea of returning exclusively to family and home.

Throughout history, women have shared a burning desire to do something even when odds were against them. Despite the long-standing glass ceiling that relegated them to the home life, women continue to climb the ladders and shatter the ceilings in their industries. Very much the same as women’s charge for success in the male-dominated motorsports world.

Women in Motorsports Spotlight

Get to know all the featured women of motorsports, who each have PERSERVERED, OVERCOME, CONQUERED, LEAD, AND INSPIRED in the world of automobiles, racing, and motorsport.

Driver Feature: Lisa Tatum – Full Throttle

August 30, 2016 // by Mackenzie LaRue

When I was growing up there were few young female drivers in the sport of truck and tractor pulling. It was therefore quite challenging to see myself driving a pulling truck one day. However there was one young female driver that competed with my father, and nothing would make me happier than when she had a successful pull. That driver was Lisa Tatum, who still competes in the two wheel drive class and continues to be one of my tractor pulling inspirations.

Lisa Tatum – Full Throttle

Lisa Tatum was born a puller. With her father being a competitor, her mother attended truck and tractor pulls right up until the week Lisa was born. She spent her childhood watching her father compete and when her older brother became old enough to drive she cheered him on as well. Tractor pulling was something she loved her whole life and therefore she feels that it was destiny that she would one day drive her own pulling truck.

When Lisa was old enough to drive, it was a natural transition from crew member to driver. She began to drive a vehicle that her father purchased called ‘Hot Shot’ and became the third driver of her father’s vehicle ‘Foolish Pleasure’. Eventually, Lisa began driving her own vehicle and competing directly against her brother T.J. She now competes in a bright yellow chevy called Full Throttle, which features a 526 Keith Black Hemi with Veney heads and a Mike Janis blower. Her father Tony and brother T.J. do all the assembly on their engines and their parts come from Sassy Racing Engines.

Like many other pulling teams, Lisa Tatum and her father compete directly against one another on the track. Her father gave up his driving rights for many years so Lisa could have the opportunity to compete with her brother. When her brother began his family he stepped out of the drivers seat and her father Tony began to drive again. Lisa truly believes that it is a gift to compete with her father. They both want to win but they also want one another to win as well.

“As much as I don’t want to admit it, parents don’t live forever, and I’m making priceless memories with mine each weekend at the track.”

Living away from her family has made tractor pulling quite difficult for Lisa. She does not get to work on their trucks as much as she would like, but she makes up for that with the pulls. She does everything she can to contribute to the care of their vehicles, but focuses most of her attention as a driver.

Lisa believes that best part of truck and tractor pulling is equally the competition and the people. She loves the thrill of tractor pulling but also contributes the love of pulling to many of the people she has met through it. Lisa has found her best friends through truck and tractor pulling, including her fiancé, Tyler Slagh who competes with a mini rod tractor.

“I LOVE the thrill of pulling. I LIVE for that 300 plus feet ride. It’s in my blood, my heart, and my soul. I crave another trip down the track as soon as I finish the last ride. BUT, I don’t think the time and miles away from home would be worth it if I didn’t have people I truly loved out on the circuit.”

Lisa Tatum has experienced many successes since she began her driving career in 1997. She was the first two wheel drive points champion as well as the first female in the Professional Pulling League in its inaugural season. She was also the first female to win the finals at the National Farm Machinery Show. She also won the Jeff McPherson Memorial pull the year after he passed. He was a puller from Ohio and one of Lisa’s favourite trophies is from that event.

Being a female has had a big impact on Lisa’s driving career. When she began pulling it was not rare for her to be the only female amongst all the classes at a tractor pull. She did encounter her share of individuals who doubted her abilities but proved that she belonged in the drivers seat, all thanks to her families support. Lisa claims that it was quite intimidating to be the only female, but she used this to her advantage and received a great deal of support due to her gender.

“Nothing like having every female in the crowd hinge their hopes on me doing well! I’m sure I gained more attention, newspaper articles, interviews, and tv time than I deserve thanks to my gender, but I’m always grateful and try to do whatever I can to present the sport in a positive light.”

Motorsports is definitely a more welcoming atmosphere to women than it was 20 years ago. There are so many women competing all across the board today. Lisa believes that just like any dream every girl should know that they can do anything they put their minds to, but it definitely helps to have a solid foundation like she has from her family.

In the future, Lisa hopes to continuing pulling as long as she is able. She would love to try out the mini rod class which is the class her fiancé competes in. He and his father campaign three tractors on the Lucas Oil circuit which makes it difficult for them to be at one another events. But as for right now her heart is still in the two wheel drive class!

“I guess I expect to just keep doing what I’m doing as long as I’m able. If I can keep the team owners happy and keep my seat, I’ll happily fill it.”

Lisa Tatum is an excellent role model for all women competing in truck and tractor pulling. She has excellent sportsmanship and also enjoys promoting the sport. Recently at the National Tractor Pulling Championships in Bowling Green Ohio Lisa was a representative for the Miles Beyond 300 Road Show, where she interviewed several tractor pulling legends.

Good luck with the rest of your season Lisa!

Holeshot win for Erica Enders in Seattle

August 9, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

When the pressure is on, champions rise to the occasion. A key holeshot win for Erica Enders in Seattle this weekend helped push the reigning NHRA Pro Stock World Champion into Countdown contention.

When Erica Enders and her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge team needed to have a good performance in the opening round of the 29th annual Protect The Harvest.com NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Lucas Oil on Sunday at Pacific Raceways, they got the job done.

Enders ripped off a .009-second reaction time against Alex Laughlin, winning a crucial round despite a slower elapsed time. And in beating Laughlin, who came into the race 10th in the points standings, Enders took over 10th, the final spot in the Countdown to the Championship.

“I said in my interview at the top end that it reminded me of the U.S. Nationals last year, racing Greg Anderson in the semifinals, where the winner of that round got to go into the Countdown in the No. 1 position,” Enders said. “If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: Under pressure, we are awesome together.”

Enders’ pass was 6.581 seconds at 209.39 mph, but her .048-second advantage on the starting line was enough to hold off Laughlin’s 6.569 at 210.90 mph.

“My guys gave me a good race car,” Enders said. “It wasn’t a great run. We feel like we could have definitely gone a .56 out there first round, and it was important to put a little bit of a spread on Alex. It’s not a big spread, but we will take what we can get at this point.”

Enders now unofficially leads Laughlin by nine points with two races before the Countdown.

Enders had another excellent reaction time in the second round, .031, and was in front of No. 14 qualifier Aaron Strong before she had engine issues. Strong had beaten No. 3 qualifier Greg Anderson in the first round.

“We got a break with Greg going out first round,” Enders said. “Performance-wise, we had him covered a little bit and shoulda, coulda, woulda gone to the semifinals at least today. Jeggie (Coughlin Jr.) and I had a chance to meet up in the semifinals. He had Bo (Butner) covered three-hundredths on the Tree, I had Aaron covered five and a half and everything went away.”

Courtney Force injured in Seattle

August 8, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

NHRA Funny Car racer Courtney Force injured in Seattle after a racing incident in the first round of Sunday’s eliminations at Pacific Raceways. Force’s Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car made contact with the left guard wall.

Force exited the vehicle on her own power and was checked by NHRA emergency services personnel before heading to Valley Medical Center in Renton, Wash., where she was evaluated for head, neck, knee, elbow and shoulder injuries.

“I am beat up pretty good. My arm, my shoulder, and my right knee are banged up. I am really thankful that the second I got out of the race car there was already a Safety Safari person right there to help me get down. I couldn’t put any weight on my right knee. I want to say thanks to everyone that was at the track who helped me. I got right to the ER and the doctor checked me out. I am extremely relieved nothing is broken,” said Force.

Doctors released Force from the hospital Sunday evening, but expect her to be very sore following the accident. X-rays of her right knee, left elbow and left shoulder along with a CT scan of her head and cervical spine were negative. The tendon on the knee was intact but there was a contusion from contact with the steering wheel. Force will see a sports orthopedist in Lake Tahoe, Nev., where the family has a summer home for continued evaluation and to make sure there is not a partial tendon tear in the knee.

“I have to thank everyone at Simpson Racing and their Stilo helmet for protecting me. To hit a concrete guard wall and move it two feet and not break any bones is a testament to their equipment and NHRA safety requirements,” said Force.

Force will focus on her rehabilitation with the goal being to race at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota in two weeks.

“I am going to see a physical therapist in Tahoe. Thankfully we have a weekend off. My goal is to get healed up as soon as possible. I want to say sorry to my team to have to witness that. We were planning on making a lot of changes to my car after this race and my dad joked that I gave them a head start,” explained Force. “I definitely feel bad we ruined the body and the chassis. Luckily we have some time and can get the car fixed up and my own body fixed up. I am looking forward to getting back as fast as I can. I want to thank all the fans for all their support.”

Force, the No. 3 qualifier, was racing Jeff Diehl in the first round when her Traxxas Funny Car smoked the tires. Force attempted to pedal her 10,000 hp race car before it made hard contact with the guard wall.

“I am really bummed out about the run. I am disappointed because I really wanted that win. I pedaled the car repeatedly hoping to just run him down but I got a little too aggressive. I think I hit the wall right where Ashley crashed a few years ago. I definitely have a love/hate relationship with this track since I have won here twice and have had two incidents but happy to be safe,” joked Force.

Papa John’s Pizza joined Leah Pritchett

August 8, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

The Top Fuel class just got a little more appetizing. National pizza franchise, Papa John’s Pizza joined Leah Pritchett and her Don Schumacher Racing Top Fuel dragster team at this weekend’s NHRA national event in Seattle, Wash. and will continue on with them on board at the upcoming race in Brainerd, Minn.

Papa John’s Pizza joined Leah Pritchett at the 29th Annual Protect the Harvest NHRA Nationals in Kent, Wash., ranked 10th in championship points in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. She won this year’s second event title near Phoenix. Pritchett would qualify in the No. 8 position for the event, pairing her first round against Morgan Lucas for Sunday’s opening round of eliminations.

Career-best E.T. leads to first round loss

Sunday morning’s routine for the popular 28-year-old driver from Redlands, Calif., who lives near Indianapolis, was disrupted by a rushed early call for prerace driver introductions. Race officials pushed the morning schedule ahead in an attempt to beat pending precipitation arriving before scheduled opening rounds of eliminations at Pacific Raceways.

The rain did come, and after about 90 minutes, the sky cleared and track was dried to set the stage for Leah Pritchett to race Morgan Lucas. As the higher qualified dragster, her crew chief, Todd Okuhara, had choice of lanes.

Pritchett beat Lucas to the finish line with her career-best elapsed time of 3.707 seconds at 325.30, but her day unfortunately ended before that when she was disqualified for leaving the starting line prematurely by 33-thousandths of a second and recorded a redlight (false) start.

“It’s going to take a lot more than that to break my spirit,” she said. “We win as a team and lose as a team. My guys have my back and I always have theirs. The plan today was to leave (the starting line) first and we definitely did that,” she joked. “I know I’m a better driver than that. That (3.70) was the best E.T. of my career, and we have a great car.”

It was her first red-light start in a side-by-side race in four years of driving a Top Fuel dragster.

One bright spot for her on the cloudy day was that she maintained her hold on 10th place in the Top Fuel standings when her closest challenger, Terry McMillen, also lost in the opening round. Pritchett, who won this year’s second event title in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, holds a 19-point lead over McMillen heading into the next event in two weeks at Brainerd, Minn.

“We get to race at Brainerd with Papa John’s, and we continue our chase to get into the Countdown thanks to Papa John’s, FireAde, Mopar and Pennzoil. Stability is something I’ve been hunting for for a very long time, and Don Schumacher has been able to provide that with our partners.”

Papa John’s founder, chairman and chief executive officer, John Schnatter, visited DSR headquarters a few weeks ago and got his first experience with nitro when DSR fired up Pritchett’s dragster.

“This means so much to me, our team and the sport of NHRA drag racing,” said the graduate of Cal State San Bernardino. “We are huge fans of Papa John’s Pizza and are confident it will help fuel us to victory,” added Pritchett. “My dream is one day to walk into a location and order a ‘Leah’s Nitro Pizza’ on the Papa John’s menu. One requirement – it has to be spicy!”

Schnatter founded Papa John’s in 1984 when he knocked down a wall to a broom closet in his father’s tavern in Jeffersonville, Ind.. He then sold his prized 1972 Z28 Camaro to purchase $1,600 worth of used pizza equipment and began selling pizzas to the tavern’s customers out of the converted closet to help save the business. Today, Papa John’sis the world’s third largest pizza delivery company with over 4,900locations in 50 states and 40 countries and territories.

“I am excited to add another quality ingredient to our Papa John’s team with our sponsorship of Don Schumacher Racing and Leah Pritchett,” said “Papa John” Schnatter. “Leah’s passion for racing is like my passion for pizzamaking; always looking for ways to improve and get better.”

Pritchett’s dragster is a salute to his iconic, gold muscle car that he reacquired and owns today.

Alexis DeJoria injured in first round accident

August 1, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

NHRA Funny Car driver, Alexis DeJoria injured in first round accident during the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals, is undergoing treatment for a broken pelvis after a trip to the local trauma center.

DeJoria, driver of the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry, was competing in the left lane alongside opponent John Force in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday morning at Sonoma Raceway. The Patrón Toyota Camry lost traction and made a violent turn to the left as soon as DeJoria stepped on the throttle, causing her Camry to make impact with the left retaining wall.

DeJoria exited the vehicle under her own power, but immediately knew something was wrong. Upon a quick evaluation from on-site medical personnel, she was transported via ambulance to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in nearby Napa. After x-rays and a CT scan, doctors diagnosed DeJoria with a high-energy fracture of the left pelvis. The fracture was caused when she struck the wall. The injury does not require immediate surgery, but is extremely painful. DeJoria is in good spirits and was more concerned with the condition of her race car, and if it was ok. She was released from the hospital on Sunday afternoon, and will start intense physical therapy as soon as possible, determined to get back on the track.

The Patrón Toyota Camry qualified No. 11 with a 3.946 second, 319.45 mph performance before Alexis DeJoria injured in first round accident.

DeJoria and the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car team were scheduled to compete next at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle, Washington, but due to injuries sustained, that race is to be determined.

Project Speed: Holbrook and Mueller attempt Land Speed Record

July 27, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Project Speed: Holbrook and Mueller attempt Land Speed Record

Motorsport hot shoe Shea Holbrook will join fifteen USA national Cycling champion Denise Mueller in attempt to be the first woman in cycling history to break the paced bicycle land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Holbrook will pilot the pace car in which Mueller will draft, to bore a hole through the wind at very high speeds. In what they are calling Project Speed, the duo of Holbrook and Mueller will attempt Land Speed Record run this fall.

Project Speed is one woman’s story of athletic empowerment. The spirit of Project Speed began in 1899, when Charles “mile-minute” Murphy paced the world’s fastest train-the Long Island express- to 60 mph on a single speed track bicycle. Newspapers of the day reported “women fainted at the news!” In the 117 years since that feat, the ultimate bicycle speed record has changed hands eleven times, always by men.

That final bastion of male dominance ironically may fall at the hands of one of the most powerful cyclists in the world, who happens to be a woman who has never fainted. Denise Mueller owns fifteen USA Cycling national championships and is gunning for the ultimate paced speed record of 167 mph set nearly 20 years ago by world motor pacing champion Fred Rompelberg of the Netherlands.

To complete the powered by women theme, the Range Rover Sport SVR pace car will be driven by professional driver Shea Holbrook. The 26-year-old is a 6-time Pirelli World Challenge winner and has competed in the International Hot Rod Association driving a jet dragster at 278 mph.

“Denise has unbelievable athletic ability and willpower like none other I’ve seen. From the moment we spoke over the phone there was an unexplainable connection and I knew I wanted to be a part of what will be a historical moment. I’m ecstatic to take on the responsibility of being Denise’s pace car driver. Ultimately, I will drive the car that literally bores a hole through the wind and allows Denise to draft at very high speeds. Something I cannot wait to do,” a thrilled Holbrook said of the opportunity.

Denise Mueller, equally as thrilled to have Shea Holbrook as part of the female team explained Holbrook’s importance to Project Speed.

“Shea fills the gap we were searching for making what I believe, a dynamic duo. Her expertise behind the wheel, ability to engage and fully understand what it will be like for me behind the Hoehn Range Rover and overall charisma fuels us toward achieving this goal,” said Denise Mueller.

Since 1899, motor pacing records have had a long tradition in elite cycling. Fewer than a dozen people have tried, all have been exclusively men that have accomplished the feat. Some attempts have ended in near disaster. Fred Rompelberg set the current paced record of 167 mph behind a modified race car in Bonneville, UT. He nearly died in the attempt, and needed three years to recover after initially crashing on the salt at over 140 mph.

Mueller and Holbrook will be coached by 3-time Olympic racer and cycling Hall of Famer John Howard. Howard set the world record of 152 mph in 1985 at Bonneville. In addition to being Mueller’s coach, he’s also her biggest supporter.

“Denise has extraordinary power, the highest wattage I’ve seen from a female. She is also an amazing bike handler, having made the podium at the worlds in downhill mountain bike racing,” Howard said of his athlete.

The goal is to get Mueller to beat her coach John Howard’s record by reaching 153 mph and Fred Rompelberg’s paced record by reaching 168 mph. Passion, precision and persistence will all be required to set Denise up for a wildly successful ride across the salt flats. With a best in class team on her side, Denise and Shea are poised to take the salt by storm in September, 2016.

Follow along as Holbrook and Mueller attempt Land Speed Record and learn more on how to get involved at www.TheProjectSpeed.com and/or www.SheaRacing.com. Project Speed is a special program of Perimeter Bicycling, a nonprofit organization (501c3) 100% of your contributions will go to Project Speed & is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.