Celebrating, promoting and supporting women in motorsports and Moto Enthusiasts

Representing: Jeff Leonberger

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Jeff leonbergerCheck out Ignite Team Elite member Jeff Leonberger sporting his Horsepower & Heels Pin up T-shirt at a Hot rod gathering in Maryland.

Jeff Leonberger – Representing Horsepower & Heels

Jeff is one of the key contributors who made our Clutchfunded campaign a success.   He has been a friend and a long-time supporter of Horsepower & Heels Racing, and always is there to support and encourage the team.

Thanks for all your support,  Jeff!

 

Wanna get in on the action?

Help us get the Horsepower & Heels word out! Just pick up a Horsepower & Heels decal, or some other Horsepower & Heels merchandise from the E-Store and send us a picture!

Jessica Kennedy aims high with Shotgun Shock

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Jessica KennedyOn the main firing line for industry-leading motorcycle air suspension manufacturer, Shotgun Shock, Jessica Kennedy blows away customers with her hands-on technical skill and knowledgeable customer service.

Ready.

Growing up, Jessica Kennedy wasn’t afraid to dig into the family business and get dirty.   The Riverside, California native spent her childhood around the family’s machine shop, where they crafted bullets and ammunition.

Aim.

Motorcycles have always been a part of her life, and Jessica has always enjoyed the Harley scene.  Her first experience in the industry was working with JD over 15 years ago in a custom build shop they worked.    She handled mostly the office side of the business, but loved the industry and riding culture.   Though the two would move on to other ventures, they remained friends.

shotgun logoIt wasn’t until their paths would cross again in 2010, that Jessica and JD would team up and solidify their bond.   JD had been working on the development of Shotgun Shocks for a number of years, but with Jessica’s support, the duo have turned the family business into the premiere air suspension manufacturer for Harley Davidson Softtail and Bagger motorcycles.

Jessica didn’t start with the firm understanding of the products.  She took it upon herself to familiarize herself with the technology and really learning the ropes behind all aspects of the business.

When I first started going to shows (with Shotgun Shock), I would just talk to people and show them the buttons and demo unit.  For technical stuff, I would hand them over to JD, because I didn’t know all the other things that made up the shock, much less installation.    But, I got in there and learned every little detail about them, and before long I could answer any of the questions.”

Fire.

Jessica now handles all aspects of the South El Monte, California business.   She regularly attends shows, handles material procurement, installations, customer support and warranty administration as the ‘Go-To’ gal for Shotgun.   The family business is her passion, and something that she is happy to involve her children and other family in, adding that they intend to always keep Shotgun family-owned, despite opportunities to go corporate with their rapid success.

It has been great to share with the kids and all of our family.  My nephew is the CnC programmer, the kids are always around in all that we do- we fully intend to keep Shotgun a family owned and operated business, we never want to sell out.”

Customers have grown accustomed to interacting with Jessica at shows and in Shotgun’s social outreach, being the leading voice that offers support to customers worldwide.  Yet still, when installation time comes around, Jessica enjoys seeing the look of surprise on customer faces when she rolls up on the garage creeper.

I love seeing the shock on their faces when I pull a jack out and start lifting their motorcycles for the install.  The look of disbelief that I am the one completing the install really catches them off-guard.   By the end though, they are all expressing how impressed and happy they are with the results.”

On average, installs can take about 3 hours to complete, ranging in complexity by the model and year of the bike.   Jessica has performed hundreds of installs to date, and takes great pride in her work, adding that her record install was completed in under 45 minutes.

I’ve done hundreds of these, and have the process down.   Some take longer than others, but my record is 41 minutes on a softtail.    That turns some heads.”

The self-taught entrepreneur is proud of the success she shares with JD and Shotgun Shock.   The experience has been especially meaningful personally to Jessica, given the hardships she endured early in life.   Overcoming great adversity and instances of personal abuse, her story is a more personal one of perseverance and victory over her struggles.  Her dedication to the company and her customers has been instrumental in the booming success, and she has no intention of slowing down.

We can’t wait to see what the future holds for hard-working Jessica Kennedy and Shotgun Shocks!    

Shotgun Shock

Erica Enders nominated for ESPY Best Driver

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Erica Enders wins Topeka 2015Reigning NHRA Pro Stock World Champion Erica Enders was just recognized as an ESPY nominee for the Best Driver category.  Awarded by sports network giant ESPN, the ESPY awards recognize individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding at the annual ceremony.

Enders nominated for ESPY in Best Driver category

Enders is in the running against Kevin Harvick from NASCAR, Juan Pablo Montoya and Wil Power from IndyCar and Lewis Hamilton from Formula One for the Best Driver award.  The official nominee announcement was just released today.

Everyone always says it is an honor to be nominated for an award like this, and that is absolutely the case,” Enders said. “I am truly humbled to see my name alongside the greatest in the world, and I am honored to represent my Elite Motorsports team and NHRA at the ESPYS.”

Enders had a remarkable 2014, earning her nomination by winning the Pro Stock championship in thrilling fashion in the final round of the final race.     In winning, she became the first female to win the title in drag racing’s ultra-competitive Pro Stock class, and she did it in clutch fashion, coming from behind in the points standings and winning the last two races of the season.

For her efforts in 2014, she has also been honored with Racer Magazine’s prestigious Racer of the Year Award, beating out competitors across all forms of motorsports. She won the magazine’s Drag Racer of the Year, and All-American status from the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association.

Enders joined Elite Motorsports, owned by Richard Freeman, for the 2014 season. Led by crew chiefs Rick and Rickie Jones, Enders won six races and was fastest qualifier six times in 2014. She led the points standings for 15 of 24 races and set the national elapsed time (6.464 seconds) and speed record (215.55 mph) in Englishtown, N.J.

My guys are absolutely incredible,” Enders said. “They never cease to amaze me. I wouldn’t be where I am without them. This is the first team I’ve ever worked for where we’ve had a unified front and they have my back. I’m blessed to have an incredible group of men, and the chemistry is there. It’s always a positive environment.”

Fans can vote for Enders in the ESPY Best Driver category here:  http://espn.go.com/espys/2015/

The 2015 ESPYS awards show will be broadcast live on ABC July 15 at 8 p.m. Eastern time from the Nokia Theater L.A.  in Los Angeles. Enders will attend the ceremony, which will be hosted by comedian Joel McHale.

 

 

Triple podium finish for Amy Castell

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Amy Castell triple podium
Photo Brian Graham

A strong triple-podium finish for 19 year-old Amy Castell at this past weekend’s Canadian Historic Grand Prix at Bowmanville, Ontario’s Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.   The Waterloo, Ontario native would capture her first win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in the Club Ford, Formula Ford, and modern Formula 1600 mixed feature.   She also landed two third place finishes in the Toyo Tires Formula 1600 Championship features on Saturday and Sunday.

The Canadian Historic Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious events on the Vintage and Historic Racing Calendar in North America.   The largest and most popular event of its kind in Canada, it is considered a “Major Spectator Event” at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park since 1999.

Amy Castell Open Wheel
Photo Brian Graham

Amy Castell would compete with the Open-Wheel Formula Ford Racers, the “Featured Marque” for 2015 where racers battle for the Oliver Clubine Trophy in honor of Ollie Clubine, a champion and pioneer of Canadian Road Racing.

The Toyo Tires Formula 1600 Championship began with their first race on Saturday afternoon.  A mid-race incident in Turn 10 would send the field to a safety car. With only one lap of green to the checkered flag, and an A-class car separating Castell from the top two B class cars, Castell would have to settle for third.

Sunday’s race would prove to be a dramatic battle between three cars for 2nd position. For the entire race, the cars of Steve Bodrug, Connor Wagland, and Amy Castell would trade positions and be nose-to-gearbox – all within striking distance at any corner. Starting the last lap in fourth position, Castell set up a stunning crossover pass in the final corner that led to a drag race down the front straight where she would finish third by half a car length.

In addition to the normal double-header format of the Toyo Tires Formula 1600, there was a feature race bringing together Club Ford, Formula Ford, and modern Formula 1600 vehicles. After qualifying on pole for the race, Castell and fellow racer David Clubine had a hard fought battle for the lead. They kept fans on their toes as they change places countless times; often going through numerous corners side-by-side. A crash by one of the front running cars would lead to the race being ended under safety car.   Castell would lead the field to the checkered flag and earn her first win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

Overall this was an amazing weekend! I learned a lot about strategy and planning ahead and I think that’s what allowed us to earn 3 podiums this weekend. The car was on point this weekend and provided me with the confidence to push harder, and make the passes on the outside of corners,” commented Castell. “I also have to thank Matt Garwood for being on the radio with me and my dad for making the car a dream to drive. We will build on this weekend’s successes and keep pushing to be the best we can be.”

The Toyo Tires Formula 1600 Championship Series – the premiere open wheel series in Ontario, sanctioned by CASC Ontario Region. The series is comprised of six double-headers and competes at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Shannonville Motorsport Park and Calabogie Motorsports Park.

 

Shea Holbrook headline speaker at WIA conference

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WOmen in AutomotiveThe Women in Automotive Conference announced the addition of 25 year-old racer Shea Holbrook as one of the headline speakers for the event.

The conference is set for August 18-20, 2015, at the Ballroom at Church Street in downtown Orlando, Florida. The three-day conference includes a recruiting event, speakers, breakout sessions, workshops, and booth displays – all centered on the goal of educating and inspiring women in all areas of the automotive industry.

Shea Holbrook on passion for women of motorsports, marketing and mentorship

Shea HolbrookShea Holbrook  is not only a professional female racecar driver, but also business woman and co-owner of Shea Racing, spokeswoman and entrepreneur with a passion for motorsport, marketing, and mentorship.

Fear is a state of mind, will is an action taken.” Shea lives by this quote and believes through commitment and determination, anything is possible.

Her first mark in the sport was earned when she won the Long Beach Grand Prix in 2011 becoming the first female to win a major Touring Car race at the venue. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and a minor in Marketing from the University of Central Florida in May of 2012. That same year, she became a part of the TRUECar Racing Women Empowered Initiative.  She is currently competing in the Pirelli World Challenge as well as piloting a jet dragster in the IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series at speeds approaching 300mph.

Enders defends Bristol event title in Pro Stock

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Enders wins in Bristol againNHRA Pro Stock driver Erica Enders entered the 15th Annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals as the reigning event champion, and successfully defended that title Sunday at Bristol Dragway.   The 2014 World Champion fought her way to her fourth final round in five races, ending in the winner’s circle for her 16th career win, the fourth of the 2015 season.

 It’s always been good to me,” Enders said. “I guess every driver has tracks where they go that no matter what you do wrong, it ends up right. But today we earned it. We made really good runs for the heat; it was really hot and tricky out there.

With temperatures in the low 90’s all weekend and an altitude adjustment for the naturally aspirated category Pro Stock class, crew chiefs Rick and Rickie Jones and Mark Ingersoll had their hands full as they guided Enders to four quick passes.

My crew chiefs were stressing, but they have this cool, calm, collected attitude, and their confidence comes over the radio in my ears. That in turn gives me the confidence I need to go out there and drive to the best of my ability.”

Enders started off by grabbing the No. 1 position in qualifying, running a 6.632 second elapsed time (E.T.) at 207.59 mph in her Elite Motorsports Camaro.  This would be her 16th career pole, and would match her against John Gaydosh Jr. in the opening round of eliminations.

In round one, Gaydosh Jr. would take the slight starting line advtange with a 0.010 second reaction time (RT) to Erica’s 0.027 second RT.   But Enders would regain the lead by the 330′ clocks, crossing the stripe with a 6.695 at 206.51 mph to his losing 6.787 at 196.27 mph.   She just missed the quickest pass of the round by 0.001 seconds to Chris McGaha, but would earn lane choice over Jason Line entering the round two match-up.

Enders and Line have a tough rivalry going, with Erica holding a 13-12 career advantage over Jason in previous meetings.   Both drivers know they have to bring their A-game to the starting line, adding to the pressure.   But Line would jump just a fraction to quick, turning on the red light with a -0.027 RT and handing Enders victory.   Her 0.017 RT on the way to a solid 6.698 second ET at 206.64 mph, again just missing the quickest pass of the round by 0.001 seconds to McGaha, but maintaining lane choice into the semi-final round.

She would face Shane Gray in round three, cutting a stellar 0.007 light against him and never trailing for the win, 6.703 at 206.45 mph to his 6.724 at 206.20 mph.  This time, she was able to capture the fastest pass of the round and critical lane choice into the final against McGaha, who was able to best her performances in each prior round by a mere fraction of a second.

As expected, it was a close race in the final against McGaha.   But Enders handled the pressure like a true champion, posting a 0.025 second RT against his 0.055 second RT, as they both ran side-by-side, her 6.685-second pass at 206.95 mph to his 6.689-second run at 207.46 mph.    At the finish line, it would be Enders with the win, the margin of victory 0.0349 seconds (approximately 11 feet).

You have to learn to win, and that’s something I never understood until we did it,” Enders said. “Greg Anderson and Jason (Line) had mentioned that to me when I was first starting, and I didn’t get it until we finally did it. You just learn how to handle yourself in those high-pressure situations. It’s a challenge, for sure, and you’ve got to remain positive in your thoughts, and that’s been a huge part of our success.”

Securing the back-to-back Bristol victory would propel her into the No. 1 position in the Pro Stock points chase leaving the event.   She holds a 14-point lead over rival Greg Anderson heading into the next event on the tour:  the upcoming Independence Day weekend 9th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.

My guys are absolutely incredible,” Enders said. “They never cease to amaze me. I wouldn’t be where I am without them. This is the first team I’ve ever worked for where we’ve had a unified front and they have my back. I’m blessed to have an incredible group of men, and the chemistry is there. It’s always a positive environment.”

Female Racer: Sondra Leslie

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Sondra Leslie

Dating back to when she was just a teenager, 28 year-old Sondra Leslie has followed in the family drag racing tradition.   The sister of NMRA Factory Stock racer John Leslie Jr and Street Outlaw Crew Chief Melissa Urist, the Munster, IN native began her racing experiences over 15 years ago, learning the family racing habits.  Since then, she’s graduated to her own NMRA Factory Stock race operation, adding another accomplished driver to the family tree. 

Racing in the Blood

I was almost inevitable that Sondra would follow in the family footsteps.  Sondra LeslieMuch like her other siblings, Sondra would spend her teenage years at NMRA events across the country, helping and learning from her brother.   Before she was even old enough to drive, Sondra knew that she wanted to race herself.   She was dedicated to learning everything it took to be successful- from the upkeep and mechanical aspect, to the responsibilities of being a team owner and driver.

Breaking into the sport wasn’t always the easiest for Sondra,  who despite years of experience at the races, still had to overcome some skeptics within the community.

It’s very hard to get your start in this sport as a women because you are not taken very seriously at first. It’s been a unique experience showing everyone I’m just as dedicated as the next person,” she said of the early critics.

Her big break would come in 2009, when best friend and current crew chief, Ken Bjonnes handed over the keys to his supercharged 2005 Mustang GT and offered her a dream-opportunity: a chance to compete in the NMRA Super Stang class for the entire 2010 season.

Ken Bjonnes has been my teacher since day one. He knew I was a fast learner and with his years of experience behind this sport he was eager to teach me the ins and outs of drag racing,” said Sondra of the valuable coaching he provided.

Sondra wouldn’t let him down, indeed proving to be a fast study that would end her rookie season in the No. 5 position overall in the class.  She spent 2011 in the Super Stang class as well, finishing just outside the top ten.

Moving Up- Factory Stock

Sondra LeslieAt the end of her sophomore season, Sondra had the urge to move away from the index racing format of Super Stang and into a heads-up category.  With so much family experience in the Factory Stock class, she felt it would be a fitting match.  Together with her team and family’s input, the car was completely rebuilt for the 2012 season meeting the Factory Stock rule requirements.

Not all competitors were as supportive of her move into heads-up racing.   She was met with vocal critics that unfairly questioned her abilities, and as a result had to learn how best to manage these antagonists.

Several people would give me a hard time because I was a female entering ‘their’ class and would always try to discourage me and question my ability to race, say things like ‘I will never be competitive – I should not even try and come run with them.’  It was difficult at first to handle but you develop some tough skin being in this industry and you learn to just keep at it and always strive to do your best to prove the non-believers you are just as capable as them.”

She has been a staple of the class for the past four seasons, finishing in the top ten every year since her 2012 debut.    Her rookie Factory stock season, Sondra would finish No. 7 for the year, improving every year with a 6th place finish in 2013, and up to the No. 4 position at the end of 2014.  Much of this she attributes to her family.

So many times my family has stepped up to help me when I needed it the most. My parents for trailering my car to the events, my dad for cooking for us and making sure we ate throughout the day and making sure the car was always clean, my mom for video recording every pass I have ever made, my sister for filling in as crew chief when Ken was not able to make the event and always cheering me on, my brother for all his assistance and advise.”

Sondra Leslie Factory StockThis season, Sondra and her team upgraded her Factory Stock Mustang with a MPR Racing Engines built Coyote powerplant and C4 transmission.   Crew chief Ken and Lund Racing provide all the tuning, and Power by the Hour helped to assemble the car for its season opening debut in Bradenton, Florida for the NMRA Spring Break Shootout.    Strange Engineering, her largest sponsor, has been on-board with the program for the past 5 years, and Pappa Shine provides all the cleaning and detailing supplies to ensure the car is always photo-ready.   She is currently in the No. 2 position for points in the 2015 season, with 2 events remaining.

Future Goals for Sondra Leslie

Sondra plans to continue working on improving her Factory Stock program, fine-tuning the combination and improving her race day results.  Her goal is to put the car into the winner’s circle this season, and is constantly working on ways to improve as a driver.

Most challenging thing about racing for me: Not being so hard on myself. I am always looking for ways to become a better driver and even after having an awesome season opener weekend, there is always that ‘if I didn’t do this…’  or ‘I could have done this better…’ that plays over and over in my mind.   My ultimate goal in racing is to be as successful as my brother-in-law, John Urist, and my brother, John Leslie Jr.  I have some pretty big shoes to fill, but with their guidance I know I can achieve that goal.”

One of the most important aspects she has learned being a female driver in the sport is to work with people you can trust and always staying humble.   There are always people out there who don’t have the best intentions in mind, and this can put a racer in a compromising situation.

Work with people you trust. That’s good advice for anyone, but being a woman in this sport opens you up to certain issues that I’m sure you can imagine.”

Sondra Leslie Factory StockFor Sondra, continuing the family tradition of drag racing has been a rewarding adventure she cherishes with her family.    Not only has she added another branch to the Leslie family racing tree, but she also gets the pleasure of teaching the next generation of racer the ropes, involving her two nieces as much as possible at the racetrack.

Many people dream of following a race circuit and competing in it, I actually live that dream and I’m very grateful for this opportunity.”

We can’t wait to see where Sondra Leslie will go in the future!

New Gumout Dragster Livery unveiled

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Leah Pritchett Solid GoldNHRA Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett and her Dote Racing team unveiled the new “Solid Gold” Gumout dragster  Friday afternoon prior to this weekend’s 15th Annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

The new gold livery will adorn the dragster for the next three NHRA national events –  this weekend’s Bristol, Tenneesee event,  Norwalk, Ohio (NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals July 2-5) and Joliet, Ill (NHRA Route 66 Nationals July 9-12).

Solid Gold Gumout Dragster

The new livery is representative of the Gumout Expert Series, with its signature gold packing, an exclusive line of Gumout premium performance additives and kits available only at AutoZone.   The Expert Series includes products formulated with the most advanced cleaning and conditioning agents on the market. From single use products to specialty kits, the Gumout Expert Series lineup offers solutions to drivers looking to maintain newer vehicle performance as well as those with older vehicles who wish to restore lost engine performance.

We, at Gumout, are very excited to debut the new “Solid Gold” Gumout dragster Friday for Leah and the Dote Racing team at Bristol,” said Rusty Waples, Global Group Brand Manager at ITW Global Brands. “When we discussed our idea with Leah, she asked if we could really go gold and we told her, “absolutely!”  That said, it’s about as gold as you can get and it mimics our new packaging for the Gumout Expert Series. We’re enthusiastic to see the reaction of the NHRA racing fans as they get the chance to see the car close-up in the pits.”

Leah Pritchett Solid Gold UnveilingFor nearly 70 years, Gumout has been vehicle owners’ trusted source for automotive performance products and made a successful return to NHRA professional drag racing in 2014.

“We went back and forth on how to do this gold dragster and finally just decided lets be all-in and go big – and gold, bullion-style,” laughed Pritchett, recent runner-up at the NHRA Southern Nationals. “I love the red dragster, but this, this is going to be fun to roll out to the lanes the next three events for Gumout. Even more fun to roll out of Bristol with a Wally!”

Solid Gold Gumout dragsterPritchett enters the event after recording the quickest elapsed time of her 18-year racing career with a sensational 3.736-second clocking at Englishtown. This is on the heels of advancing to her first Top Fuel final round at Atlanta Dragway last month.

Qualifying for the 16-driver Top Fuel field will begin tonight with two rounds at 5:30 and 8 p.m. EDT. Final eliminations for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals is scheduled Sunday (June 21) at Noon EDT. The ESPN telecast of the eliminations will be live on June 21 starting 3 p.m. EDT.

Haley James picks up second career win

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Haley James Norwalk
Photo: NMRA Digital

Norwalk Coyote Modified Victory for rookie James

National Mustang Racers Association Coyote Modified drag racer Haley James picked up the second win of her career at the 12th Annual McLeod Racing NMRA Ford SUPER Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio this past weekend.    The 18 year-old recent high school graduate began this season in Bradenton, FL as a complete drag racing rookie.  Since then, she has made quite a statement, securing the top spot in the ultra-competitive Coyote Modified class.

Haley James' Hellion Pit in NorwalkWeather would prove to be a big factor in the weekend’s events, as Haley and the Hellion Racing team would fight hot and muggy tuning conditions, with frequent racing rain delay interruptions.   Friday’s first test pass resulted in no-traction, and Haley blew the tires off in an aborted run.    Round one of qualifying, she was able to post an off-paced 8.483 second elapsed time at 162.18 mph, but rain would stop the round before the class completion and end the day’s racing action.

When racing resumed Saturday, Haley improved her position slightly, earning the No. 1 qualified position with an 8.400 second E.T. at 162.12 mph.  This would give the rookie a competition bye in round 1 of eliminations on Sunday.   She would use the round to blast off an 8.524 second at 161.44 mph performance, securing lane choice for round number two.

For the next pairing, James would face the 2014 Mustang of No. 4 qualified Ronnie Reynolds.   Reynolds had ousted Haley in the previous Maryland race during a staging battle that saw her ‘creeper button’, the button used to initiate the staging sequence for the turbocharged car, malfunctioned.    Haley was anxious to avenge the loss, and earn her way into the final.    Both racers would leave the starting line together, but Haley quickly powered her way out front to a 8.442 second E.T. at 161.96 mph to his losing 9.389 at 151.14 mph.

Norwalk Coyote Modified Final

The win in round two would pair her in the final round against veteran racer Johnny Lightning, the number two qualifier.    Rain continued to plague the event, but between rain clouds, the two top-ranked competitors were able to face off and complete the final round.   Johnny Lightning would leave with a slight starting line advantage, and the two were side by side until the eighth mile marker.   But a faulty throttle cable would cause Lightning to abort, and Haley thundered on to the win with a 8.463 at 162.16 mph to his losing 9.051 at 120.32 mph.

Watch Haley James vs Johnny Lightning in the CM Norwalk Final

Haley James leaves the event with the No. 1 position in NMRA Coyote Modified championship points.   The next event for the team will be the 10th Annual NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois on July 30th-August 2nd, 2015.

Transmission failure ends Enders day in Epping

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Erica Enders EppingElite Motorsports driver Erica Enders is no fan of the Grateful Dead, and after the 3rd annual NHRA New England Nationals on Sunday at New England Dragway, she’s even less so.  In drag racing, the term “deadhead” refers to a mis-alignment of gears inside the transmission, resulting in a failed pass down the racetrack.   And that’s exactly what happened on Sunday in the semifinals after Enders had the quickest car on the property in the previous two rounds.

The 2014 Pro Stock champion, Enders had the dominant car on Sunday in Epping. She qualified No. 4, but crew chiefs Rick and Rickie Jones and Mark Ingersoll tuned the red Chevrolet Camaro to a pass of 6.513 at 214.69 mph in the first round against V. Gaines. That was the quickest and fastest pass of the round, and the speed broke Jeg Coughlin Jr.’s year-old track record.

She went even quicker in the next round against Vincent Nobile. While Nobile made a pass of 6.546 seconds at 213.47 mph, Enders blistered the track with a 6.506-second run at 214.66 mph to advance to the semifinals.

But round number three is where her luck would run out.   Fellow competitor and good buddy Allen Johnson made a pass of 6.537 second at 213.33 mph, a run that Enders could have easily covered if she had matched her first- and second-round runs, but during her normal shifting procedure, Enders’ transmission deadheaded and her pass was 6.540 seconds at 214.21 mph. That gave Johnson a narrow victory to the final round.

It’s disappointing, for sure,” Enders said. “Instead of the gears lining up and going into the right gear, it just misses when it’s supposed to align and it doesn’t shift. It’s no one’s fault and it happens every now and then in Pro Stock, but that doesn’t take the sting out of it.”

Next on the NHRA schedule is the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals next weekend at Bristol Dragway.

It just wasn’t our day, but we had the quickest car on the property today thanks to my guys,” Enders said. “They’re the best guys out here, and I have complete faith in them all. We’ll be back in Bristol next week, and we’re the defending champions there, so our heads are held high.”