Celebrating, promoting and supporting women in motorsports and Moto Enthusiasts
It’s time for the 2015 Performance Racing Industry tradeshow, and the women of motorsports are out working the business side of racing, networking with contacts, and showing support for their sponsors.
Check out these cool social shares of photos from the ladies of racing working the show floor at PRI 2015!
This Gallery is from Day 1…. stay tuned tomorrow for highlights from Day 2!
[SOURCE: Facebook/Twitter]
NMRA Driver, Bridgett Davis has many goals in mind when it comes to Drag Racing. Taking on her 2013 GT Mustang in the Roush Performance Super Stang class, she has high hopes to making it to the top or at least take on the top five entering into the 2016 season. After Bridgett’s finances allowed her to pursue her love for Drag Racing, she would hit every track in a hundred mile radius whenever there was a Test and Tune. A friend suggested to her in 2014 that she should take on her first competitive competition for the Muscle Mustang and Fast Fords all female shoot out class of the NMRA.
I would follow this up with competition in local events and would finish out 2014 with a 2nd place finish in the 14 second class of True Street.Upon my completion of the the 2014 season I made the decision that I would make my rookie season appearance in the 2015 NMRA class of Super Stang.”
With an index based format, she felt this class would serve as a good next step in her evolution. As her Mustang serves as her daily driver, Bridgett needed to enter in a street legal class. Finishing out in an 18th place point finish out of a 41 driver roster for the year, she felt good about her overall first season.
Fast cars always honestly attracted me. Something about them. The power, the sound, the speed. Growing up in Indianapolis, Indiana from an early age most weekends were spent cruising, at the local car show, or at the track. I always knew someday I would take my passion for racing from the spectator perspective to behind the wheel.”
2nd place finish in 14 second class of 2014 NMRA Bowling Green Kentucky
2015 NMRA/ Super Stang 18th place finish out of a 41 driver roster
Personal Magazine Article and Radio Appearances:
I also hope to begin to venture into oval track racing as well as a run in the upcoming 2016 Great America Road Rally.”
Being A Woman Of MotorsportsVenturing her first time into racing, Bridgett had felt very intimidated by the other woman. She never realized how many woman were into Motorsports. As she befriended Stacy Lynn Butler, “Stacy took me under her wing and began to show me the ropes. She was happy to help and without her I could have not made it through that first pass. She was patient and enjoyed helping me.” Bridgett said.
I think staying humble and approachable is so important. We can all learn from each other and help each other up the ladder. Success in my mind is determined by how many you helped up the ladder. This is true measurement of personal success. If I have something to share with other females that can help them in their journey as others may have helped you, you should always share the wealth. Through TAG the online forum I assist in running, I am able to connect with many women via conversations and posts. We provide a forum in which women are able to come together, ask questions and share experiences.
The great thing about cars is there are so many aspects you can take an interest in. With the varies of forums and sites Bridgett’s been involved in or worked for. Taking the opportunity now to pay a little of that back to other women, whether they have a question or need some advice. Bridgett says, “I try to be there to assist in whatever way I can. If I cannot help them I make sure I direct them to someone who can. I don’t seek to be a role model just a friend to other girls in the scene.” While continuing on Bridgett’s love for Drag Racing, she also has great support from her loving family and friends.
Never come into anything with an attitude or thinking you know everything. As the newbie it is important to stay humble and know you are the student. The more information you have the more skilled you become with each pass. Everyone has an experience or story to tell you can learn from.”
NHRA Top Fuel driver, Leah Pritchett just announced that she will be joining the Bob Vandergriff Racing team in 2016 to field a second Top Fuel dragster with the support of Quaker State. Pritchett, who became a free agent last month when her Dote Racing team lost the Gumout sponsorship, pairs with teammate Dave Connolly, who returns driving the C&J Energy Services dragster for the full 2016 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.
This will be Pritchett’s first full season since joining the Top Fuel ranks in 2013. Leah began her racing career in the Junior Dragster ranks at the age of eight before moving on to a successful Nostalgia Funny Car and Pro Mod driving career.
The opportunity to run a complete NHRA Top Fuel season has been a goal that I have worked towards for a very long time,” said Pritchett. “I am beyond excited for the opportunity to focus on making the countdown next season, competing for a Championship, working alongside Bob Vandergriff Jr., and re-introduce the Quaker State brand back into the NHRA. This dream is now a reality, thanks in large part to the vision of Bob Vandergriff Jr., as well as the support of great companies and people along my way to this personal and professional milestone, and of course my fans.”
Quaker State will be the primary sponsor of five NHRA races with associate sponsorships on both BVR Top Fuel Dragsters. Vandergriff is working hard in the off-season to secure more sponsors for the remaining races on the schedule. Quaker State has a long history with NHRA dating back to the ‘80s. The last car they sponsored was Tony Pedregon’s Nitro Funny Car which won the 2007 NHRA Funny Car Championship.
Bob Vandergriff Racing has presented Quaker State with an opportunity to get back into the NHRA, and we couldn’t be more excited for the 2016 season,” said Gita Gidwani, Quaker State Global Brand Manager. “Quaker State is a hardworking motor oil that has great synergies for working with a hardworking and dedicated driver like Leah Pritchett and we look forward to backing her as she continues her impressive NHRA career.”
We have two young drivers with extensive racing backgrounds, so 2016 should be an exciting year for BVR,” added Vandergriff. “Our goal is to put both Dave and Leah in the top 10 and take home the championship this year.”
If you’re in Indianapolis for the Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) annual tradeshow, you can check out NHRA A/Fuel dragster driver-in-training Marina Anderson and her custom-built dragster at the Marriott Downtown this week. The display, which started on Sunday and will be in place until Saturday, December 12th.
I’m really excited about the opportunity to have my dragster in the lobby of the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown for the PRI Show. The PRI Show is always a great experience for us to both show appreciation for current partners and meet with potential sponsors. This display is a unique opportunity to expose the Anderson Family Dragster (AFD) brand and our partners to the show attendees and Marriott guests,” said Anderson.
The AFD dragster has been a four-year long family project for the Anderson family with Competition Fabrications. They completed most of the chassis fabrication, tinwork, wiring and plumbing in-house, leaving the engine preparation to noted A/Fuel tuner Jerry Darien. Marina is planning for a 2016 competition debut upon completion of the NHRA licensing process.
After testing the car for the first time this fall, we can’t wait to see what 2016 brings for the team. We learned a lot this year and I appreciate the way other A/Fuel teams have been open to teaching me and evening allowing me to work on their cars. I am also thankful for my team’s hard work to get to this point. I know next year will be a rewarding year because we plan on attending a few of the NHRA regional events.”
The PRI Show opens on Thursday, Dec. 10, and runs through Saturday, Dec. 12. Marina Anderson will be available to answer questions and sign autographs by her car display from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday of the show.
Blending the love of driving with the ultimate challenge of precise navigation, the Rebelle Rally is an all female off-road navigation rally that covers more than 2,000 kilometers across the Nevada and California desert over 7 days of competition. The rally is not a race for speed, but a unique and demanding event based on the elements of headings, hidden checkpoints, time, and distance using maps, compass, and roadbook.
It is designed as a hybrid of serious competition and the ultimate road trip comprised of dirt roads, double tracks, trails, and sand dunes. The course includes off-road recreational vehicle venues and iconic landmarks, and will be contested in two classes:
4X4 Vehicles – 4-wheel drive vehicles that have a two-speed transfer case (low range) -and-
Cross-Overs – Unibody construction with all-wheel drive (no low range).
Women from around the globe are encouraged to participate, and professional driving experience is not required.
Rebelle Rally InformationDATE: October 13-22, 2016
Website: http://www.rebellerally.com/
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Technical Inspection & Welcome – Lake Tahoe, CA
Friday, October 14, 2016
Rally review & transfer to Base Camp_1 – Nevada desert
Friday, October 21, 2016
Competition Finish – Southern California dunes
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Prize Ceremony & Black Tie Gala – Del Mar Race Track, San Diego, CA
Teams will self-camp at a designated location during the marathon leg. This means that you will have other teams around you along with some rally staff.
NHRA rising upstart Megan Meyer is following in her father’s big footsteps. Randy Meyers, driver and tuner of some of the quickest and most successful A/Fuel dragsters in the NHRA’s Top Alcohol Dragster class history, has been grooming his 22 year-old daughter to follow in the family TAD legacy. After two years of training and a successful regional event debut earlier this year, the NHRA Central Region Rookie of the Year nominee will join her father on the NHRA circuit in 2016 as teammate and driver for a full national campaign.
Meyer drove to her first final-round finish in her Top Alcohol Dragster debut at the St. Louis regional event in August. Pleased with the promising performance, she is now poised for the 18-race schedule in 2016, with 10 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series (LODRS) national events and eight LODRS regional races.
Entering the Lucas Oil national points series is such a dream come true for me. I’ve been looking forward to this my entire life and now that it’s almost here, it seems surreal. After watching my dad take home a national points championship back in 2003 with Alan Bradshaw driving, and getting a first-hand look at what it takes to become a national points leader, I have complete faith our team will be a front-runner in 2016. My dad has instilled the skills of dedication, determination, sacrifice, and hard work in my upbringing, and I believe having him as crew chief of our amazing crew, consisting of my mother and little sister, is going to be the best combination in 2016,” Meyer said assuredly.
Megan Meyer graduates from Kansas’ Pittsburg State University this month, and will hit the road in 2016 across the country. The Herbalife 24 team will compete at NHRA national events in Gainesville, Charlotte, Houston, Norwalk, Chicago, Brainerd, Indianapolis, Reading, and Dallas. In addition, Megan will run the full NHRA Central Region schedule, with races in Belle Rose, Tulsa, Topeka, Earlville, and Noble – and the North Central Region events in Chicago, St. Louis and Bowling Green.
I am determined to end up number one or two in the Central Region points series, and would like to win my very first NHRA national event. Also, I cannot wait for the chance to finally race my dad – hopefully in a final round! I still plan on bracket racing my Super Comp dragster next year at a few local E.T. Races with my sister to stay sharp between NHRA races. Finally, I will be launching my own freelance design business offering my services to other race teams,” added Meyer, a graphic design student.
Though Meyer and her father are still finalizing 2016 sponsorship partners, a new apparel company called Racers Evolved has come on board with Megan that will focus on the needs of racers in all types of motorsports.
I am excited to partner with Racers Evolved because it’s created by racers, for racers. As a female racer, I think there is a big demand for certain ladies textiles that aren’t available for drag racing, because it’s a male dominant sport. With Racers Evolved, we will have all sorts of clothing options that are handpicked by me and available to anyone in 2016 to provide the female racers with proper form-fitted garments,” said Meyer.
After a record breaking season, two-time NHRA Pro Stock World Champion, Erica Enders was recently named to espnW’s IMPACT 25 list featuring athletes and influencers making big moves for women in sports.
Enders joined many other famous women in sports athletes such as World Cup champion Carli Lloyd, tennis star Serena Williams and UFC fighter Ronda Rousey. The list was selected by a panel of sports experts and former athletes, split into two categories: Athletes and Influencers. Honorees were captured in a special commemorative “Super” illustration by Marvel Comics. Erica’s capture depicted her as Racer XX – a tilt to her double X chromosomes.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be on this list of the best athletes in the world,” Enders said. “Thank you to ESPN and espnW for recognizing the contributions of women in sports, and thank you to the pioneers like Shirley Muldowney and Angelle Sampey for helping to pave the way for other women like me in drag racing.”
Enders has a storied career in NHRA Drag Racing, with 2015 being her most impressive season to date. She took home nine event wins in 2015, had 11 final-round appearances, six No. 1 qualifying performances, and made history with three consecutive wins by holeshots, a first for the sport. Her 2015 dominant World Championship was her 2nd career Pro Stock title. Her nine wins also eclipsed Angelle Sampey for the most wins by a female in a single season.
Erica Enders has 21 career victories, making her the 39th driver on the NHRA All-Time win list. She trails Angelle Sampey for 2nd most winningest female driver by 20 wins
IHRA Pro Mod World Champion, Dina Parise is set to appear on an upcoming episode of Power Nation TV with her 3,000 horsepower Pro Mod Cadillac CTS-V “Bella” and husband/crew chief Andrew Parise. Show host Katie Osborne will talk to the newly crowned champion about her transition from Ice Capades star to Drag Racing Champion.
Excitement builds for Dina Parise on Power Nation TV as the team recently welcomed new sponsors Lucas Oil and Eastwood Company for the 2016 season, and will be debuting the new additions to the car/team on the show.
Two-time NHRA Pro Stock World Champion, Erica Enders announced today (via NHRA.com) that her Elite team will be carrying the MOPAR banner in 2016. Enders and her Elite Motorsports teammate, Jeg Coughlin Jr. will be leading the factory backed MOPAR team in the Pro Stock ranks, campaigning a new fuel-injected Elite Motorsports Hemi-powered Dodge Dart GT.
The Mopar brand is excited to announce that two proven champions, Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin Jr. will fly the Mopar colors in the NHRA Pro Stock class next season,” said Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service for Mopar. “We couldn’t ask for greater competitors or brand ambassadors to represent us at the drag strip.”
Enders is fresh off a dominating season that saw nine event wins, 11 final-round appearances, and six No. 1 qualifying spots en route to her Back to Back Championship in 2015. She bested Angelle Sampey for the most wins by a female in one season with her nine victories. Erica last competed in a Dodge during her 2006-2007 season, and is excited to chase her third consecutive World Pro Stock title in 2016.
“We’re entering a new era of Pro Stock and it’s going to be awesome to take a new Mopar-powered Dodge Dart into 2016 and beyond,” said Enders. “We won the last two championships with carburetors and now the goal is to win the first one with fuel injection. The Dart Pro Stock cars look awesome and I’m already very familiar with Mopar because I’ve driven for them in the past. It’s an honor and a privilege to represent them moving forward.”
Drag Illustrated Announces 1st Annual 30 under 30 ListDrag Illustrated magazine announced its inaugural ‘30 under 30’ Who Make a Difference list celebrating drag racing’s young talent. The 30 honorees will be featured in Drag Illustrated’s ‘Tomorrow’ Issue, released at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) tradeshow on Thursday, December 10.
A special press conference to honor the 30 members will be held on Thursday at 1:30PM EST in the PRI media center. The Tommorrow Issue will be available in the Drag Illustrated booth #3449 while supplies last.
“This has been one of the most exciting projects we’ve ever tackled, “ Drag Illustrated Editor-in-Chief Wes Buck said. “We set out to reward and celebrate the most talented young people the sport of drag racing has to offer, and I could not possibly be more proud of this first-ever Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 class.”
Seven talented women of drag racing made the inaugural Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 list out of nearly 5,000 nominations received.