Horsepower & Heels and Erica Ortiz got the honor of a half-page photo op in HPT Magazine along with a mention of their Pro 5.0 efforts for the 2006 season.
The series that just keeps accelerating
HPT Magazine
December 2006
Multimedia Archives
Read news articles, features and interviews about the Horsepower & Heels Racing team in the press. View the Horsepower & Heels photo galleries full of shots from Erica's racing career dating back to 2002. Watch videos from Horsepower & Heels TV as you get a behind-the-scenes view of drag racing from the ladies in charge!
World Street Nationals
Orlando, FL–
The annual World Street Car Nationals is the Indy of heads-up doorslammer racing in the country. Erica attempts to qualify in Pro Street, running into problems with a broken rack, and a loose track at the top end. She takes the #23 position out of 67 cars, but exits first round with a blown ignition fuse.
[imagebrowser id=11]Photo Credits: Lauren Ortiz; Ian Tocher; Adam; Competition Plus; Jeffery Dunn
Fun Ford Weekend World Finals
Ennis, TX–
The final stop on the FFW 2006 tour was less than stellar for the Horsepower & Heels Thunderbird. Ignition problems plagued qualifying attempts, and a broken transmission on the starting line during the first eliminations round sent Erica home early.
Despite the lacksluster finish, Erica Ortiz becomes the 2006 Fun Ford Weekend Pro 5.0 Championship Runner-Up.
[imagebrowser id=10]Photo Credits: Aspen Tarkington, Chris Parisi
Fun Ford Weekend Heartland Nationals 2006
Topeka, KS–
Switching to new larger 88mm turbos before the race with no test time made it a tough learning curve for the weekend. Erica hauled the Horsepower & Heels Thunderbird from Alabama all the way to Topeka alone, as her normal crew were out testing a Pro Mod in Valdosta, GA.
Dennis Lugo flew in from Orlando to assist Erica over the weekend. The pair sorted through some tough timing issues before qualifying #4 with a 6.88 @ 203mph. That pass provided Erica’s best career 1/8th mile ET of a 4.44, but timing retard stayed on in high gear resulting in a less than average top half.
This paired Erica first round with David Schorr again. Though Erica took the advantage at the tree with a 0.032 to his 0.103 light, she lost traction down track and Schorr went around. Erica did move into the #2 position in the 2006 points championship entering the final race of the season in Ennis, TX.
[imagebrowser id=9]Photo Credits: Gabe Wittig
Bristol FFW Thunder Valley Nationals, Eliminations Round 1
Erica Ortiz from Horsepower & Heels Racing, takes on Chuck Samuels in Round 1 of Pro 5.0 eliminations at the 2006 Fun Ford Weekend Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, TN. Erica leaves first, but is out-powered by Samuels who takes the win. Ortiz runs a career-best ET of 6.85 @ 207 mph to Samuels’ 6.57 @ 216 mph.
Watch the video from the Round 1 match-up below.
Fun Ford Weekend Thunder Valley Nationals
Bristol, TN–
After a weekend full of problems, Erica Ortiz had a tough qualifying session in the Horsepower & Heels Thunderbird, finishing #5 and at the bottom of the ladder. Though an early exit in the first round against Chuck Samuels, Erica posts a new career best running a 6.85 @ 207mph.
[imagebrowser id=8]Photo Credits: James Pickett-Modified Mustangs; Eric Hamilton
Fun Ford Weekend Buckeye State Nationals
Norwalk, OH–
A weekend of firsts for Horsepower & Heels driver Erica Ortiz, as she becomes the first woman in Fun Ford Weekend history in the 6’s, the first female over 200 mph, and the first female to runner-up in Pro 5.0 when she blasts a 6.88 @ 205 against David Schorr in the final of this race.
[imagebrowser id=7]Photo Credit: Greg Andrea, Mike D.
Fun Ford Weekend Peach State Nationals
Commerce, GA–
Becoming the first ever female in the history of the Fun Ford Weekend Pro 5.0 class, Erica qualifies the Horsepower & Heels Thunderbird in the #15 position, with a problematic 7.85 @189mph.
[imagebrowser id=6]Photo Credits: Heather Sinks, Sarah Spears, Debi Shepard, Justin
Dixie Pro Mods
April 2, 2006
Macon, GA | Twiggs Co. Dragstrip
Horsepower & Heels Racing becomes the first turbocharged entry in the longstanding Dixie Pro Mods association, a racing organization that had previously limited cars to only the nitrous assisted variety. Erica fell just short of making the tough 8-car field.
Photo Credit: Dixie Pro Mod Association
NMRA Silver Dollar Raceway
Reynolds, GA–
Erica makes her maiden voyage down the 1/4 mile in an exhibition test pass at the NMRA Reynolds event. With a detuned combo, the Horsepower & Heels Thunderbird ran a 7.51 @ 187mph E.T. on a rail-straight pass. Further passes were not so lucky, as the Thunderbird developed a strange electrical problem which stalled the motor on the starting line
[imagebrowser id=4]Photo Credits: Chris Johnson, John Fore