Blog – Page 9 of 72 – Horsepower & Heels

Desert Storage sponsors land speed racer Valerie Thompson

September 26, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Desert Storage is the newest sponsor to announce support for Arizona resident and seven-time land speed record holder, Valerie Thompson.

Redefining the self-storage business category with a variety of solutions for customers facing the challenge of moving and downsizing, Desert Storage provides air conditioned drive-in storage access, covered outdoor facilities for RV’s/boats/automobiles, wine storage, mailbox rentals and document shredding in a safe and secure environment. A locally owned business headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, Desert Storage owns and operates 16 storage centers in Arizona and Nevada.

“When I needed a secure storage facility to keep our motor coach in Scottsdale, Desert Storage was an easy choice. They offer the widest variety of services at the best price,” said Thompson. “Scott Brawn and his staff at Desert Storage are very professional and attentive. They are my last stop after every race since they provide a well-lit cleaning/sanitary dump station and covered parking for our motor coach and motorcycle hauler. I never have to worry about security or access. They really take the hassle out of storing our most critical equipment,” added Thompson.

Thompson is an independent team owner/driver, fielding a record setting BMW S 1000 RR land speed racing motorcycle with plans to compete in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle class in 2017. In addition to 7-land speed records, she is a lifetime member of six-land speed racing 200 MPH Clubs, including the prestigious Bonneville 200 MPH Club and first female member of the Colorado Mile. She earned the title of world’s fastest female motorcycle racer with an average one measured mile speed of 304.263 mph and exit speed of 313 mph at the 2016 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials.

Anosh Vasani, Director of Marketing for Desert Storage, says, “We are really excited to support Valerie in her endeavors. She is a great athlete and we look forward to her breaking even more records.”

Christina Nielsen poised for GTD championship

September 26, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

24 year-old IMSA breakout talent, Christina Nielsen, is poised to make sports car racing history Sept. 29-Oct. 1 during Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. The GT Daytona (GTD) racer is on the brink of winning the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship class title.

If Nielsen completes her required minimum of three of the 10 hours of the final event of the season in the No. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3, she will become the first female driver to win a major North American sports car racing championship, including IMSA, GRAND-AM and ALMS.

The 10-hour event on Road Atlanta’s 12-turn, 2.54-mile course, located in Braselton, Georgia, begins at 11:10 a.m. (ET) Saturday, Oct. 1.

“Petit is definitely my favorite event of the entire year, but I think it’s also the event that I’m most nervous about,” Nielsen said. “I know I was last year because we were in contention to win the championship, and we’re going into the same position this year. We do have a much bigger lead this year, which makes me a little bit more calm.”

Following a third-place finish Sept. 17 in Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of the Americas, Christina Nielsen and Scuderia Corsa teammate Alessandro Balzan lead the GTD class by 32 points, 299-267, over the second-place duo of Ben Keating and Jeroen Bleekemolen.

The sixth podium finish of the season, at Lone Star Le Mans, is a career best for Christina Nielsen. Last season, she stood on the podium five times en route to a second-place finish in the GTD standings by just two points.

“I know we still need to bring it home,” Nielsen said. “We always want to finish on a good note. My dad (former Danish driver Lars-Erik Nielsen) used to say, ‘You’re never better than your last race,’ because people always remember the last race. It’s always great to do well at the end of the season. Road Atlanta is my favorite track. It’s the first track I ever raced on in America. It scared me, and I remembering thinking, ‘Is every track like this here?’ I’ve grown to love it, though; it has an amazing flow and setup. Plus I think a 10-hour race will be a great length for our team.”

Jeff Segal, the team’s third driver for endurance events, will join Christina Nielsen and Alessandro Balzan behind the wheel of the No. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3 at Petit Le Mans presented by Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.

The trio has been formidable this season, winning two of the three previous endurance races, the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida in mid-March and the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen in early July. Following the team’s success in these endurance races, Nielsen and Scuderia Corsa are also in the running for the IMSA Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup. Nielsen is in second place by just two points and the upcoming Petit Le Mans endurance race will determine the winner.

Event Info

Race: Petit Le Mans (IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

Date: Thursday, Sept. 28 to Saturday, Oct. 1

Venue: Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia. Turns: 12. Circuit Length: 2.54 miles.

Car: No. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3 (GT Daytona class)

Co-Drivers: Christina Nielsen, Denmark |Alessandro Balzan, Italy | Jeff Segal, United States

Race broadcast: Saturday, Oct. 1 – 11:00 a.m. to 9:10 p.m. (ET) on IMSA.tv; 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. (ET), FOX Sports 1, and 2:30 – 6 p.m. (ET), FOX Sports 2, FOX Sports GO; audio from all sessions live at imsa.com and radiolemans.com.

Live Timing: www.imsa.com, IMSA app for iOS, Android

Schedule (all times local, ET):

Thursday, Sept. 29 –

Practice 1: 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Practice 2: 3:25-4:25 p.m.
Practice 3: 7:30-9 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 30 –

Practice 4: 10:15-11:15 a.m.
Qualifying: 3:30-3:45 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 1 –

Warm-up: 8:40 – 9 a.m.;
WeatherTech Championship race: 11:10 a.m. – 9:10 p.m.

About Christina Nielsen

Christina Nielsen has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in global sports car racing since she began competition in North America in 2014.

Nielsen, 24, was a breakout star in 2015 during her first season in the GT Daytona (GTD) class of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the most prestigious sports car series in North America. She finished second in the championship standings, just two points behind the winner, and scored the most podium finishes in the class.

Denmark native Nielsen is racing for the GTD class championship in 2016 in a Ferrari 488 GT3 car. She earned her first career victory in the WeatherTech Championship in March at the 12 Hours of Sebring, becoming the first female class winner at that legendary race in a decade. She also is driving a Ferrari F458 Italia in the LM GTE class in the European Le Mans Series with Formula Racing.

A resident of Los Angeles, Nielsen is focused on being one of the most skilled, well-rounded drivers in global motorsport by also studying for a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management communication, as she aims to deliver results for her team and personal commercial partners both on and off the track.

For the latest news from Christina Nielsen, please visit christinanielsenracing.com.

For updates, like her on Facebook and follow @ChristinaRacing on Twitter.

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.