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Horsepower & Heels Photo Galleries

View the Horsepower and Heels photo galleries, full of shots from Erica Ortiz's racing career dating back to 2002.

Fun Ford Weekend Heartland Nationals 2006

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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.

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Photo Credits:  Gabe Wittig

Fun Ford Weekend Thunder Valley Nationals

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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.

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Photo Credits:  James Pickett-Modified Mustangs; Eric Hamilton

Fun Ford Weekend Buckeye State Nationals

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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.

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Photo Credit:  Greg Andrea, Mike D.

Fun Ford Weekend Peach State Nationals

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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.

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Photo Credits:  Heather Sinks, Sarah Spears, Debi Shepard, Justin

Dixie Pro Mods

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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

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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

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Photo Credits:  Chris Johnson, John Fore

ADRL Winter Drags

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Valdosta, GA–

Erica Ortiz takes the Horsepower & Heels Thunderbird out for the first Pro Mod event of the year. Competing for the first time in the ADRL Pro Nitrous class, she is the lone turbocharged car and the only female racer at the event. A valvetrain issue keeps her sidelined during qualifying.

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Photos by: Sarah Spear; Jason Sharp; Roger Richards

Promo Shoot- OPI, Focus Firm 7/2005

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O.P.I, one of the hottest nail polish manufacturers around, recently launched their “Driven by Color” promotion to debut their new Ford Mustang color-matching nail line in shades such as “Revved up and Red-y”, “You make me Vroom”, and “Gone Platinum in 60 seconds”.

Embodying the very essence of “Driven by Color” , Erica displays her “You make me Vroom!” nails can stand up to the power.  These shots were submitted to OPI as part of a sponsorship proposal.  Fingers crossed!

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