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!

NMRA Maple Grove 2002

June 21, 2002 // by Horsepower & Heels

Erica Ortiz debuts a new paint scheme at the NMRA Maple Grove 2002 event in Reading, PA. Her previously all-black Horsepower & Heels drag radial Mustang debuts a new, magenta-flamed paint job by Rick Doern. The pink and black livery paid tribute to her pride in representing women in racing.

Popular magazine, Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords, shot the car for a featured spread, landing Erica the cover of the November issue in a feature entitled Beauty and the Beast.

NMRA Maple Grove 2002

Ortiz however had a difficult race weekend, battling tire spin throughout the event. Her best performance time came during an early morning test session, where she ran a 9.51 @ 147 mph.

Plagued by tire spin and other slight technical problems, she qualified with an off-pace 10.7 @ 147 mph. Unable to sort out the problems in time, Erica fell to competitor Ty Krean in Round #1 with a 9.70 @ 148 mph.

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Fun Ford Weekend Sunshine State Nationals 2002

June 7, 2002 // by Horsepower & Heels

Erica Ortiz took her Horsepower & Heels Mustang to the Fun Ford Weekend Sunshine State Nationals event in Gainesville, FL June, 2002.

She competed in the True Street class, a unique class that challenges street cars to a 30 mile road cruise before returning to the drag track for 3 back-to-back passes. The key is, they have to complete the cruise and passes without servicing the car. Each of those passes is then averaged for a final score. The top score in each 9, 10, 11, and 12 second bracket was awarded a trophy, as well as the overall event winner with the fastest average.

Erica finished the passes, obtaining a 9.48 average at 150 mph. This took the top 9 second average category, and was also the over all True Street winner for the event.

2002 Fun Ford Weekend Sunshine State Nationals True Street Champion

The event marked Erica’s first victory in her drag racing career.

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NASCAR Cafe Car Show MMC

June 3, 2002 // by Horsepower & Heels

The Modern Mustang Club Orlando and Tampa Bay chapters gathered in front of the NASCAR Cafe in Orlando for a fun-filled evening in the middle of Universal’s City Walk. With over 100 cars in attendance, the NASCAR Cafe Car Show was a huge success and treated tourists to a unique experience.

NASCAR CAFE CAR SHOW

Erica Ortiz drove in and displayed her Horsepower & Heels Mustang center-stage along with teammate Todd Amandus in front of the popular racing inspired restaurant.

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World Ford Challenge 5

May 18, 2002 // by Horsepower & Heels

World Ford Challenge 5, May 2002

The World Ford Challenge (WFC), a long-standing independent annual race considered by many to be the Super Bowl of Ford Drag Racing, was held in St. Louis, Missouri in May 2002. Minutes from the famed arches, Gateway International Raceway filled with hundreds of competitors for the chance to be the top dog in a wide variety of classes.

Wild Street

Horsepower & Heels Racing driver Erica Ortiz gets in the seat for some Wild Street action. Wild Street is a unique class in which competitors must take their street-legal machines on a 30 mile road cruise before returning to the track for 3 back-to-back passes, without being able to lift the hood or service the car. The 3 passes are then averaged, giving the competitor their qualifying position for heads-up eliminations.

Qualifying Results

After the 30 mile cruise, Erica averages 9.891 @ 151.56 for the #4 qualified position. (Round 1: 10.60 | Round 2: 9.51 | Round 3: 9.48)

Average: 9.891 | Top MPH: 151.56

Elimination Results

9.48 @ 150.02 W – 1st Round

9.597 @146.32 W – 2nd Round

9.212 @ 149.78 L – 3rd Round

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NMRA Columbus 2002

May 3, 2002 // by Horsepower & Heels

New Turbocharged Drag Radial Entry

After a great run with her Paxton Novi 2000 supercharged entry, racer Erica Ortiz and the Horsepower & Heels team switched power plants to a turbocharged combination.

NMRA Columbus 2002

The National Mustang Racer’s Association (NMRA) Columbus event was the debut of Erica’s new turbocharged drag radial combination. Without time between swaps, Erica had the task of testing the new car straight off the trailer. The car responded well, running a 9.73 @ 145.17mph, and performed consistently throughout the weekend. Qualifying #8, she took a first round exit to Peter Champani, another Drag Radial competitor.

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2001 Ford Power Festival | MM&FF

March 1, 2002 // by Horsepower & Heels

Horsepower & Heels founder Erica Ortiz took on the EFI Renegade class at the 2001 Moroso Ford Power Festival. Her black 1991 Mustang LX Coupe was equipped with a 306 cubic inch, Novi 2000 supercharged powerplant, and a Sundancer Performance AOD transmission.

Although Erica was out-powered and exited in the 1st round, she put together a string of consistent, low 10 second passes. Her 2002 plans include some NMRA Drag Radial competition and FFW True Street events.

2001 Ford Power Festival

Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords
Written by: Michael Johnson
Published: March 2002

View Article: 2001 Ford Power Festival