Leah Pritchett lands first TF Final

May 17, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Leah Pritchett and her Dote Racing team had a stellar weekend, filled with many memorable firsts for the 26 year-old driver. After a career-best qualifying performance Saturday, she made her way through the tough 16-car Top Fuel field to her first ever final round appearance in Sunday’s eliminations. The Gumout dragster came up just short in the final against former NHRA Mello Yello Series champion Antron Brown in the 35th annual Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

Now residing in Avon, Ind., California native Leah Pritchett started off her Sunday by clocking a 3.805 second elapsed time at 317.64 miles per hour to defeat drag racing legend Chris Karamesines 3.998 second at 305.15 mph run in the opening round.

In the second round, Leah scored victory over J.R. Todd with another strong 3.813-second pass at 319.29 mph. J.R. had problems in the other lane, running just 5.433 second E.T. at a coasting 132.19mph. This placed Pritchett in the semi-final round, the third semi-final appearance of her Top Fuel career.

Pritchett would take on three-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon in the semi-finals. She scored a major upset victory, running a 3.936 second E.T. after Dixon ran into trouble down the track and had to abort the run. The former Heritage Funny Car world champion advanced to her first final round in Top Fuel against Antron Brown.

It was an incredible run through the Top Fuel field today,” said Pritchett. “I even got my husband, Gary (a crew member on Steve Torrence’s Top Fuel team), to help me before the final round. Gary helped me pack the parachute and mix the fuel today. Everything worked well for the Dote Racing team and the Gumout dragster. It turned into a one-lane (right) track at the end and Antron had the right lane. We tried to stay with him but we hazed the rear tires at the 330-foot mark. Overall, it was a great showing with a little one-car team against the big squads.”

Pritchett’s search for her first NHRA national event title came up short, as she lost to Brown’s 3.887 second charge with an off-paced 4.202 second attempt at 260mph. Though she wasn’t able to land her first Top Fuel win, Leah has three NHRA national titles in the Pro Modified class.

It was a tricky track with the final round having a 126-degree track temperature,” she said. “So it was tough going against Antron who had the better lane. But everything worked well up until that point of the day. You needed a ‘hot track’ setup here and you might in Topeka next week too. I’m anxious to get the Gumout dragster back at the track after this weekend.”

Hot-streak ends in Atlanta for Enders

May 17, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Erica Enders was on a hunt to win three NHRA national events in a row, but fell a little short after a semifinal loss at the 35th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. The NHRA Pro Stock reigning World Champion pushed her streak of elimination round-wins to 10 in a row, the longest such streak of the season in any pro category.

It’s hard to be disappointed with a semifinal round showing, but I kind of feel that way because I know we have the car that can win,” said Enders, driver of the Elite Motorsports Camaro. “You can’t win them all, but it sure is addictive when you get on a roll. You feel so much confidence that it’s really weird when you come up a little short.”

Tie for No. 1 qualifying spot decided by MPH

Enders started the weekend off right, tying the quickest elapsed time of the qualifying with a 6.546-second blast, but nabbing the second spot due to Jason Line’s slightly better top speed. Line, who posted an identical 6.546,edged out Enders in MPH, a 211.23 to 210.28 mph by Enders. The strong qualifying improvements come after the team’s surprising decision to switch over to the new Elite Camaro build for Enders at the start of the season, a car that hadn’t been proven in competition.

We actually started the year with this car, but the new fuel and tires they have us running put us a touch behind, so we brought out last year’s championship car and started gathering data. I have such a special place in my heart for that car, and I know how she runs and how she reacts to every little thing, so we were able to use her to figure out the fuel and the tire and apply that to this new car. This new one is absolutely the smoothest, most drive-able car I’ve ever driven. It’s the next generation, and I know it’s going to take us to a new level.”

Semi-Final Finish for Erica Enders

She posted a 6.543 at 211.49 mph in beating first-round opponent John Gaydosh and used a 6.561 at 210.97 mph opposite Shane Gray in the quarterfinals. In a class where races are routinely decided by thousandths of a second, Enders was consistent, continuing her hot-streak and proving quicker than everyone at the track during eliminations- except Greg Anderson. Anderson was fractionally better each time, running a 6.541 in Round 1 and a 6.560 in Round 2.

Lane choice can be critical on race day, and Anderson’s thousandths-of-a-second advantage was just enough to earn the critical decision in the match-up against Enders. Anderson would take the win, 6.562 to Ender’s losing 6.582.

That thousandth of a second he got us by in Round 2 was enough to give them lane choice in the semi’s, and when a track is as hot and tricky as this one you need every little edge you can get,” Enders said. “I think that right lane was just a touch better and our race pretty much proved that. I could have been better on the Tree, but it may not have mattered because he had a .015-second light. This is a Summit race and I know those guys put a premium on winning their title sponsor’s races. We spun a lot and the car moved around and we ended up with a 6.582 to his 6.562. Game over. I’m still really proud of this team, and winning 10 rounds in a row is special. We’ll have to just start another streak.”

Enders won’t dwell long on the loss, as she and her fellow Pro Stock driving husband Richie Stevens, head onto the midwest for next weekend’s NHRA Kansas Nationals in Topeka, Kan.

I love Topeka,” Enders said. “The first ever national event was in Kansas and there is some question whether we’ll race there again after this year, so it would be extra special to get another Wally there. We’ll stop by the shop in Oklahoma and freshen everything up. We did switch to our new Rick Jones car this weekend and it was perfect every time down. It’s like driving a Cadillac the thing is so smooth. We’re just getting to know each other but so far, so good. We’ll definitely be ready for Topeka.”

Karen Stoffer out first round in Atlanta

May 17, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

An early exit for Pro Stock Motorcycle veteran, Karen Stoffer at the 35th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia this weekend. Stoffer, who is still running a limited schedule due to lack of sponsorship, started the weekend off well in qualifying but was just too aggressive off the line, losing at the tree on Sunday.

Karen Stoffer out 1st round in Atlanta — Photo: NHRA

All-female opening round

During qualifying, the 2015 Gatornationals winner was able to post an impressive 6.875 second elapsed time at 195.59 mph, earning her the top qualifier position. The pole marked Karen Stoffer’s third career No. 1, and the first this season. This would pair her first round against No. 16 qualifier, Angie Smith. Though Stoffer carried the advantage entering the first round of eliminations, a 7-0 record over Smith, she was a touch too early off the starting line, turning on the red light and handing the win to Angie. Karen left 0.002 seconds before the tree, a false start making her 6.861 second 195.3 mph pass invalid. Meanwhile, Angie would have trouble down track, running a slower but winning 7.199 second E.T. at 162.98 mph.

Seeking Sponsorship: Help Karen Stoffer

Karen entered Atlanta Dragway No. 3 in points, but is still lacking sponsorship to put together a full-schedule. Despite her position in the championship points chase, she is unsure of where her “limited schedule” will take her for the 2015 season. The team is still aggressively seeking marketing partners to secure a full-time schedule.

Early exit in Atlanta for Alexis DeJoria

May 17, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Alexis qualifies at dusk in Atlanta — Photo: Gary Nastase/ Alexis DeJoria Racing

Alexis DeJoria still hunting for her 1st win in 2015

Drag Racing Funny Car driver, Alexis DeJoria and her Patrón XO Cafe Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car team went into the 35th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals hoping to pick up their elusive first event win of the 2015 season. Unfortunately for three-time Funny Car winner, Atlanta Dragway would not become the dry-spell breaking victory for the Kalitta affiliated team.

DeJoria ready to run in Atlanta — Photo: Gary Nastase/ Alexis DeJoria Racing

After qualifying in the No. 8 spot with their 4.064-second run from the second qualifying session, Alexis and the Patrón team faced No. 9 qualifier Ron Capps in the first round of eliminations on Sunday morning. The two went head-to-head in the final pairing of Funny Cars. DeJoria made a good clean run in her Toyota Camry, but her 4.091-second pass didn’t stand up against Capps’ 4.081-sec run, ending Team Patrón’s day much earlier than they had anticipated.

It was a close race against Ron Capps. I really had a good feeling about this weekend but at least we don’t have to wait long until we’re back racing again. We’ll be in Topeka, Kan. next weekend and we’ll get back after it,” said DeJoria, who has raced to two semi-final finishes so far this year.

Chutes out in Atlanta Alexis DeJoria — Photo: Gary Nastase/ Alexis DeJoria Racing

The Kalitta Motorsports Patrón XO Cafe Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car team heads to the midwest from Atlanta for the series’ first back-to-back race of the season. They will enter the 27^th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals, May 22-24, in 9^th place in Topeka with 361 points.

Career best qualifying effort for Leah Pritchett

May 17, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Leah Pritchett starts 3rd in Atlanta

NHRA Top Fuel racer Leah Pritchett recorded her best career Top Fuel qualifying performance Saturday during the Summit Racing NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Leah took the Gumout dragster to the third qualifying spot in the 16-driver field for Sunday’s elimination drag races.

The 26-year-old veteran driver from Avon, Ind., drove her nitro-burning Top Fuel car to a 3.792 second elapsed time at the Commerce, Georgia drag racing facility during Friday’s round, a time that would hold the No. 3 position secure through two rounds on Saturday.

Pritchett’s third starting spot in Sunday’s final eliminations places her behind former NHRA Mello Yello Series champions Antron Brown and Tony Schumacher in the 16-driver Top Fuel division. Brown notched the No. 1 spot at 3.758 seconds followed by Schumacher’s 3.767 and Pritchett’s 3.792.

In addition, Pritchett’s third qualifying position was best of the female drivers in the nitro classes at Atlanta Dragway which included Brittany Force (10th) in Top Fuel and Alexis DeJoria (8th) and Courtney Force (10th) in Funny Car

Again the track conditions are tricky here at Atlanta Dragway,” said Pritchett, who’ll take on drag racing legend Chris Karamesines in the first round of eliminations Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. EDT. “it was difficult to get all of the horsepower to the pavement Saturday but we still ran a 3.88. And that was one of the best passes of Saturday. Now, we’ll concentrate on winning rounds in eliminations. Looks like almost anyone could get to the final round on Sunday. I want to be in that position on Sunday afternoon with a chance to win the race.”

Pritchett posted three consistent qualifying runs at Atlanta Dragway – 3.792, 3.809 and 3.887, some of the most consistent numbers in the class. Pritchett is looking for her first Top Fuel victory in her third season in the Top Fuel class, having captured three NHRA national events previously in the ProMod

ESPN2 will televise the final eliminations of the 35th NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday.

Ashley Sanford throwing KC first pitch

May 16, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Ashley Sanford to throw opening pitch in KC Royals home game

Rising NHRA Drag Racing A/Fuel sensation, Ashley Sanford will be the guest of honor at the Kansas City Royals home game on Wednesday, May 20th. Sanford will be throwing out the opening pitch in their game against the Cincinnati Reds in front of the hometown crowd at Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City.

I am so honored and blessed to be given such a memorable and amazing opportunity! I’m currently crossing my fingers that I won’t trip or throw the ball at someone’s face,” says Sanford about the game opening first pitch duties.

Ashley Sanford’s Gelish A/Fuel drag racing team arrives in Kansas for the NHRA Topeka National event, where she will be competing.

Join Team Angelle

May 16, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Star Racing and three-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Angelle Sampey just announced a crowd funding fan sponsorship campaign called Join Team Angelle designed to provide fans with unique opportunities to get closer to the action and the inner workings of the drag racing team. Today at the 35th Annual Summit Racing NHRA Southern Nationals, Star Racing team owner George Bryce and Angelle Sampey-Drago, the winningest female motorsport athlete in history held a press conference at the Atlanta Dragway to share the details of the new campaign.

Join Team Angelle

The team announced that through a new website JoinTeamAngelle.com, visitors will have access to latest news and behind-the-scenes perspectives from Sampey and Bryce, through team blogs, YouTube videos and social media posts from the track, the shop and testing grounds. JoinTeamAngelle.com also allows fans a chance to get involved in the action, with details on sponsorship opportunities that have been designed to deliver enhanced access to the team and one-of-a-kind collectables from Team Angelle and Star Racing.

When I was asked to return to the NHRA circuit last year by George and Jackie Bryce of Star Racing, the overpowering pull that ultimately brought me back to the track was my connection with our fans. At Star Racing, we believe that the time has arrived to change the dynamics involved with funding a race team. Through this campaign, we are striving to provide our fans with opportunities to enjoy unmatched experiences,” said Sampey.

One of the crowd favorites, Angelle regularly interacts with fans online and at the track between rounds, sharing information about her life on the road, her family and other interesting aspects of her colorful personality. Faced with an uncertain future in funding of her program, she was bombarded by fans who wanted the opportunity to help.

Over my more than 40 years in racing, I’ve lost count of how many fans I’ve met who have a deep love for our sport and also have the desire to get as close as they possibly can to it. The passion people have for our sport and the support our fans continually provide for our Star Racing Team continues to amaze me,” said Bryce. “Those fans who become members of Team Angelle will have access to unique experiences that promise to bring fans closer to our team in a significant way.”

From a $100 Join Team Angelle membership to event sponsorships of $7,500 and above, the crowd funding program offers a range of options which seek to provide fans with memorable benefits. The team has structured its sponsorship levels to place experiences within reach of fans and it has also designed the upper-level sponsorships packages with smaller and mid-sized businesses in mind.

Through the success of this campaign, we believe that we will consistently race to the Winner’s Circle and we will be in the hunt for the Championship this season,” said Sampey. “We also believe the time has arrived to give fans the opportunity to see the inner workings of a NHRA team. The packages we are offering to our fans as memberships have been designed to provide unique experiences that will take our fans behind the ropes of our race operation.”

There is no doubt that Angelle has what it takes to return to the winner’s circle and capture the winningest driver in the class, a feat she trails by 4 wins. She has already overcome a season-ending injury late last year, powering through rehabilitation and training to return to the bike in time for the season opening Pro Stock bike race. Since her return from retirement, there has been a different vibe surrounding her team. The vibe is a more personal feeling, a closer connection to fans that may be attributed to the old adage, “absence only makes the heart grow fonder”. Her long awaited homecoming has been a treasure appreciated on both sides.

I’ve been in winner’s circle and held the championship trophy many times in my career, but our success this year promises to be the sweetest one of all. This year, we will have a special opportunity to share our victories in the most meaningful of ways with our fans,” said Bryce.

Watch Angelle and George’s Announcement

For more information on the fan sponsorship campaign, visit JoinTeamAngelle.com.

Monster Energy Top Fuel unveiled

May 15, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Brittany Force debuts new Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster

Brittany Force and John Force Racing just unveiled their new Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster at the 35th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Commerce, GA. The unveiling took place in the Force Racing pits amidst the media and spectators.

The 3 year sponsorship announcement for the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster was made Wednesday by Monster and the John Force Racing team.

Photos: Gary Nastase Photography/ John Force Racing

Monster Energy last appeared in NHRA competition with the support of Kenny Bernstein’s Monster Energy Funny Car. Brittany and Courtney are credited with landing the sponsorship deal for John Force Racing, presenting their motorsports / female racer pitch to the company themselves and working out the details of the arrangement. Company executives were so impressed by the women’s business savvy and presence, they were sold on the idea. John Force himself had tried many times for a meeting with Monster related to sponsorship, but was unsuccessful at ever even gaining a meeting.

Brittany Force lands Monster Sponsorship

May 13, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

The long-awaiting announcement of the primary sponsorship on the Top Fuel dragster of Brittany Force was just announced. Monster Energy Drinks has come on-board at John Force Racing to fully-fund the program, starting at this weekend’s 35th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta, GA. The contract with Brittany and the Top Fuel operation will extend for the next 3 years as a primary sponsor, with associate billing on the rest of the John Force Racing camp.

Monster Sponsorship

VP of Sports Marketing for Monster Energy, Mitch Covington, is excited for the company’s return to drag racing, having previously backed veteran driver, Kenny Bernstein in 2006.

““You can’t even mention drag racing without including John Force and John Force Racing,” said Monster Vice President of Sports Marketing Mitch Covington. “Their winning dominance and high performance heritage are simply unmatchable. John is a personality that actually transcends the sport and his daughter Brittany is every bit the fierce competitor as her dad – and she’s a lot prettier than John. The next generation of JFR, Monster Energy is thrilled to have Brittany at the controls of the Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster this season. Monster is all about unleashing the beast, and there is no other beast like a 10,000 horsepower, asphalt wrinkling, Nitro guzzling dragster.”

Having tried to make in-roads himself with Monster previously no to avail, news of a meeting from persistent efforts by Brittany and Courtney left him skeptical. But the girls were able to put the presentation and pitch together, landing a deal that pleasantly surprised Force.

John Force first approached us about this deal over a year ago, but it wasn’t his presence that sold this opportunity,” said Covington. “The credit for this goes directly to Brittany and Courtney Force, who were the ones that really delivered the presentation, and put this deal into motion.”

“When the meeting finally occurred with Monster, you could already feel an electricity in the room. It was as if they were already Brittany’s best friends. I am so proud of this next generation, because they are showing they have what it takes not only on the racetrack, but that they are doing what it takes on the business end as well.” John Force, CEO of John Force Racing, Inc.

Monster’s activation of their brand and their athletes is also a great added bonus to the partnership between the companies. Known for the cross-promotion of their athletes across a wide variety of different extreme sports, Brittany’s likeness would join that of Ken Block, Rob Dyrdek, Vaughn Gittin Jr and many more in the Monster camp. The expected involvement with NHRA Drag Racing will be similar to their presence with NASCAR in terms of marketing activation, with some limitations in respect to the series title sponsor, also a beverage company.

Brittany Force could not be more pleased with the pairing, saying that her entire team are huge fans of Monster, stocking the drinks in their pits long before the announcement was made.

I am so excited to be teamed up with Monster Energy as the primary sponsor on my Top Fuel Dragster. You see the Monster logo on everything from NASCAR to Action Sports and to have them back in the NHRA seems like a perfect fit. The great thing about partnering up with Monster is how easy it will be for me to promote their brand because my team and I love to drink Monster. I can’t wait to get them into the winner’s circle. My whole team is fired up and we will definitely unleash the beast starting this weekend,” said Brittany.

The team is expected to debut their full Monster Energy livery at this weekend’s NHRA event in Commerce, GA .

Helping Cale Aronson

May 7, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Cale and Tinzy Aronson are two of the hardest working people I have had the pleasure of meeting in the drag racing world. I originally met them back in the Fun Ford Weekend days, when they were just dating, and was always proud to see how far they had come, both as a couple and in the Pro Stock ranks.

A few weeks ago, I got an opportunity to chat with them at the Bradenton IHRA race, where they were competing in Pro Stock. We caught up and reminisced some on the Fun Ford Weekend days, and discussed some ideas for the possibility of a Fun Ford Reunion.

Sadly, just one week later, on April 25th, at the IHRA Palm Beach Nationals in West Palm Beach FL’s PBIR, Cale was involved in a terrible accident, with the car crossing the track and impacting the wall before rolling onto its roof and sliding down the track. Initial reports were that Cale was alert and ok, but he was airlifted to the hospital and things got really quiet about his condition, until now.

Competition Plus.com just released the family’s statement. Cale has suffered some very serious injuries to his spine, and is recovering from surgery to fuse vertebrae damaged in the crash. Good news is that he has tingling sensations across his body, showing there is connectivity, but is still limited on the amount of movement he has over his upper body. For now, he must let his body heal before beginning a long road of therapy to regain his strength and mobility.

The family has had an outpouring of support from the racing community since the accident, and continues to draw on that strength during this difficult time. The Gwynn Family (of the Darrell Gwynn Foundation) stepped in to provide the Aronsons guidance and support, having experience with Spinal Cord injuries.

Helping Cale Aronson and Tinzy

Cale remains in the hospital in Florida, surrounded by his family, all displaced from their Missouri home. They will need support during this difficult recovery, helping them to offset the costs of his care and the family’s accommodations in Miami. Godspeed Ministry, the official chaplain for the IHRA, has set up a Bridge the Gap fundraiser for the Aronson Family to help defray medical expenses.

For anyone wanting to send the family care packages or get well notes, they can mail these to:
Bupa International Patient Services Center
DTC Building, Ground Floor Central 152 for patient Cale Aronson
1080 NW 19th Street
Miami, FL 33136

Details of the Crash

Cale remembers every moment of the crash, and vows to help make these cars safer upon his recovery. All the details can be found on Competition Plus. Please visit their story for more.