Haley James takes final Coyote Modified win

October 4, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

NMRA drag racer Haley James takes final Coyote Modified win of the 2016 season at the 18th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA All-Ford World Finals. The second-year racer has had a difficult season, beginning with a jump to the Renegade class, before returning to the class in which she claimed the 2015 series championship title.

James qualified in the No. 4 position in the rain-shortened qualifying program, with a 7.907 second, 173.41 mph effort. In Sunday’s opening round, she was paired with the 2004 Mustang of No. 7 qualifier, Timothy Lapinski, where she would cross the finish line solo with a 7.944 at 172.41 mph pass.

Round two, James would face No. 3 qualifier, Jeff Polivka’s 2013 Mustang. The Hellion B-Team driver would get the startling line advantage with a 0.062 reaction to Polivka’s 0.074 light, taking a holeshot win at the finish with a slower 7.932 second at 173.29 mph pass to Polivka’s losing 7.928 at 175.21 mph effort.

In the semifinal round, Haley would get a competition bye run into the finals, dropping her 93 Mustang into the 7.888 zone at 173.43 mph. This effort awarded James lane choice in the deciding round against the 1985 Mustang of Joe Guertin.

Both cars staged together in the exciting final, but with the first jump at the tree and never looking back, Haley James takes final Coyote Modified win of the season at the World Finals. Her 7.857 second, 173.45 mph performance bested Guertin’s 7.872 at 172.45 mph pass.

“Bowling Green was an amazing way to end a very trying year,” said Haley of the Coyote Modified win. “I’m very grateful for all of the support, help, and teamwork that’s at my constant disposal. We found some very much needed, well overdue power this weekend.”

Video | Haley James takes final Coyote Modified win

Ladies Wrap Up: NMRA Bradenton 2016

March 9, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

A busy weekend for the ladies at NMRA Bradenton 2016 for the 22nd Annual Spring Break Shootout. A beautiful weekend of racing in the Florida sunshine – and the ladies were out and representing well in over 10 different classes of NMRA Bradenton action. Check out some of the women we caught up with over the course of the 3-day weekend and how they fared at NMRA Bradenton.

NMRA Bradenton 2016

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Note: We know there were more ladies on the premises, and unfortunately, we just ran out of time to track down each one. If you would like to add your coverage, please email us at [email protected].

Mid-race class switch for Haley James

March 8, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Reigning NMRA Coyote Modified champion, Haley James and team showed up in Bradenton for the 22nd Annual Nitto Tire NMRA Spring Break Shootout ready to defend her title for the 2016 season. The Horsepower & Heels 2015 Female Rookie of the Year winner would begin her sophmore season of drag racing in qualifying for Coyote Modified on Friday. With a strong 8.438 second E.T. at 155.60 mph pass, Haley would take the provisional No. 4 position entering Saturday’s qualifying sessions. The team stayed busy in the pits making a few changes under the car Friday evening, and many presumed that they would return on Saturday to climb the CM qualifying ladder.

Haley James swaps to Renegade — Gone is her hard-earned CM1 decals, replaced with her new Renegade class designation.

Mid-race class switch

But in a surprising move, Saturday morning word began to circulate that the CM class designation and Haley’s No.1 champion decal had been removed from the copper Hellion B-Team coupe, replaced with a new class and number – a mid-race class switch for Haley James to the Renegade class. Though they had contemplated a switch during the off season, Haley stated that the decision to move up wasn’t decided until after the opening round of qualifying.

“Knowing that I am wanting to go faster and move up, we just decided that now was the time to do it since it is the first race,” Haley said of the sudden change of class between Friday and Saturday qualifying rounds.

Haley James engine program — Outpowered in Renegade trim, Haley’s CM program will be revised to meet the new Renegade class requirements.

Though not prepared to the Renegade class rules, Haley opted to race her former Coyote Modified entry in the Renegade class for the weekend to pick up the opening event points in the class. The smaller mandated turbo, heavier base weight, air-to-air intercooler setup and other Coyote Modified restrictions would put James at a significant disadvantage in the faster, 7 second class. But the Spring Break Shootout in Bradenton is one of six NMRA championship events, and by qualifying and racing in the class with her former CM program, Haley gives herself a chance to contend for the Renegade championship by accumulating some points at the opener.

Starting over in Qualifying

After a few minor adjustments and her new Renegade class number in place, Haley headed into Saturday qualifying for a shot at the eliminations ladder. She posted a best of 8.217 seconds at 164.29 mph, good enough for the No. 6 qualified position in the class out of 7 competitors. Unfortunately, this placed her on the wrong side of the ladder, taking on her Hellion B-Team teammate and reigning Renegade class champion, Frank Varela in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday.

B-Team Showdown

First round of eliminations would be a Hellion B-Team showdown, and the teammates decided to have a little fun and put on a show for the fans.

“We knew I didn’t have the power to take on Frank in Coyote Modified trim, so we decided to have a little fun on the starting line and during the burnouts,” Haley said of her first round in Renegade.

Both cars pulled into the water box and jumped on the throttle, rolling out a pair of crowd-friendly John Force-style smokey burnouts that carried well beyond the starting line. Haley edged Frank out by rolling hers just a bit further, to the cheers of fans watching on the sidelines. In staging, the concentration was on for reaction time bragging rights, and BOTH drivers posted identical 0.084 second reaction times.

But Frank quickly put some distance between them, posting a 7.730 second, 180.94 mph run across the finish line. Though she would run her best of the weekend, Haley’s 8.181 second, 166.38 mph pass wasn’t enough to keep up with the Renegade class champion.

The team will return to their Albuquerque, New Mexico base and begin work on getting the car into Renegade trim. Their next stop will be the 8th Annual NMRA/NMCA All Star Nationals presented by Miller Welders, April 7-10, 2016 at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA.

Friday Qualifying, NMRA Bradenton

March 5, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

It is a beautiful day in sunny Bradenton, Florida as NMRA Spring Break Shootout qualifying officially is underway. Horsepower & Heels is here covering the event to check-in with the drag racing ladies of the National Mustang Racers Association.

Friday Qualifying, NMRA Bradenton

Haley James CM1 Friday — The 2015 reigning Coyote Modified champ, Haley James suits up for her first qualifying pass of the 2016 season. They made very few changes to their program over the offseason, and arrived in Bradenton ready to defend the championship title. Haley qualified #4 with an 8.438 @ 155.60 mph in the opening round.

Sondra Leslie Factory Stock — Factory Stock racer Sondra Leslie debuted a new look on her 2006 Mustang, wrapping her Race Strange sponsored ride in a new pearl blue. Hoping to get a jump start on improving her 3rd place 2015 overall Factory Stock finish, Sondra opened qualifying with a 11.718 @ 112.82, as she works out some traction issues.

Husband and wife duo, John and Melissa Urist are commonly found together in the staging lanes, but this time it’s Melissa behind the wheel of her 2015 Hellion Turbo Coyote Shootout entry, with John standing by as crew. Melissa ended last season with solid 8 second ETs, and the team found even more power in the offseason. A boost mix up on line and Melissa’s first qualifying run resulted in an off-pace 10.398 @ 130.02 mph.

Miss Laughridge Cobra jet Shootout — Missy Laughridge was ready to go in her beautiful white Cobra Jet. She is taking on the field in the NMRA’s competitive Cobra Jet Shootout class.

Other sightings include: Susan McClenaghan and Roxanne Shepard in Modular Muscle; Stephanie Davis, Cindee Hall, Carole Lissy in Ford Muscle; Kennady Jones and Nina Gusler in Truck & Lightning; and Super Stang’s Becki Belcher.

Stay tuned tomorrow as we bring you more from the ladies of the NMRA.

Female Rookie of the Year 2015

December 30, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

The Female Rookie of the Year category received 40 nominations and 268 votes for the Horsepower & Heels Women of the Year Awards. Voting was neck and neck throughout the 10 day voting period, but a late rally helped push ahead the leader by almost 10%.

2o15 Female Rookie of the Year – Haley James

Horsepower & Heels is proud to announce the winner of the 2015 Women of the Year Female Rookie category – NMRA Coyote Modified racer, Haley James!

Her first ever pass in the car came just a day before her racing debut, but that didn’t slow down the 19 year-old New Mexico resident and recent high school graduate.

In her first ever heads-up competition season, Haley James not only won 3 out of 6 events, but appeared in all of the final rounds. She captured the Coyote Modified 2015 class championship and was named NMRA’s Rookie of the Year.

Runner Up – Heather Carter

Florida Drag Racer, Heather Carter was your Rookie of the Year Runner-Up for the 2015 Horsepower & Heels Women of the Year Awards.

Female Rookie of the Year Nominees

Jenna Haddock
Jamie Elrod
Melanie Salemi
Leah Pritchett
Janette Thornley
Michele Abbate
Emily Shapiro
Leilani Tindall
Megan Meyer
Kayli Barker
Cassie Simonton
Alex Taylor
Journee Richardson
Cassie Gannis
Sarah Cornett-Ching
Audrey Worm
Ashley Sanford
Amy Tate
Kat Moller
Nellie Kitterman
Harli White
Macy Causey
Heather Capano
Natalie Decker
Allison West
Madelyn Marconi
Madyson Mulligan
Tiana Berkeley
Sarah Burgess
Mia Tedesco
Kelly Dill
Yvonne Grace Potter
Shea Holbrook
Samira Rached
Elvira Karlsson
Tatiana Calderon
Tera Wendland

NMRA Rookie of the Year Haley James

December 16, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

NMRA 2015 Class Champions — Photo: NMRA Digital

Capping a monumental season that saw her first-ever heads-up drag racing competition, first event win, a trip to all 6 event finals and her first National Mustang Racers Association class championship, it is no surprise that drag racing upstart Haley James would be shoe-in for the NMRA’s Rookie of the Year honors.

It seems like just yesterday we flew to Bradenton where I’d let go of that trans-brake for the first time and feel that addicting adrenaline rush that we’re all too familiar with,” said James of her whirlwind season.

At the annual NMRA awards ceremony, held in conjunction with the PRI show in Indianapolis, Haley James would take the stage to claim her Coyote Modified Class Championship recognition for a dominant season in the CM class. James, who scored 3 event wins and appeared in all 6 event finals during the NMRA season, earned the top points total with her fox-bodied turbocharged, Coyote-powered coupe.

She would also receive the coveted special Nitto Class Championship ring, a jewel encrusted drag racing Christmas tree class ring traditionally bestowed onto each NMRA class champion at the close of the season to celebrate the honor.

NMRA Rookie of the Year Haley James

The Hellion B-Team would continue to rack up trophies in the special award categories. Haley’s father and crew chief, Dwayne James, would receive the Crew Member of the Year award, beating out other nominees Susie Wiker and Bruce Hemminger.

None of this would have been possible without my team and their unequivocal dedication, my dad especially, for not only funding everything but also for being the most bad-ass tuner ever.”

And it would be tough to argue with the selection of NMRA’s new Rookie of the Year Haley James, who claimed the award over nominees Steve Daniels and Ryan Jones.

I never thought I’d see myself in Race Pages, or Drag Illustrated, or standing here, not only with the title of 2015 Coyote Modified Champion, but also 2015 Rookie of the Year.”

2016 plans for #1 Coyote Modified Champ

What’s next for NMRA Rookie of the Year Haley James? Will she return with the #1 on her window next season to defend her title in Coyote Modified? Or perhaps take her shot at moving up the ranks into another NMRA class?

The future isn’t decided yet. James stated that her and her Hellion teammates are awaiting the outcome and official announcement of 2016 NMRA rule changes before solidifying their 2016 race plans. Could we see the new hot shoe champ return to defend her dominating championship run or perhaps take on a new challenge, moving up and seeking a rookie debut in another class?

One thing is for sure, we have only seen the beginning of Haley James’s drag racing career.

Leave a comment below to congratulate NMRA Rookie of the Year Haley James!

Women of Racing PRI 2015 Photos – Day 2

December 12, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

The Women of Racing PRI 2015 march continues on Day 2 of the Performance Racing Industry tradeshow.

All of our favorite female drivers, crew and professionals are working hard to network with new connections, catch up with old friends, and thank their 2015 partners.

Check out what they’ve been sharing on their social media platforms!

Missed Day 1? Check out our Ladies of Racing PRI 2015 Photo Gallery

Have photos you’d like to share? Tag us on Facebook and Twitter #horsepowerandheels [Source: Facebook/Twitter]

Women of Racing PRI 2015 Day 2 Photo Gallery

Haley James 2015 Coyote Modified Champ

October 5, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

NMRA Rookie Sensation, Haley James, landed her third win of the 2015 season at the 17th Annual Nitto Tires NMRA All-Ford World Finals. The first-year driver has appeared in all six Coyote Modified finals of 2015, dominating the competition all season long. With half the class victories to her name, there was no questioning Haley James Coyote Modified Champ in 2015.

Fairy tale Rookie Season for Haley James

Haley James began her fairy tale season stepping into a brand new Coyote Modified (CM) Hellion Turbo prepared fox body coupe. Her prior racing experience limited to just a year in the junior dragster ranks when she was twelve and some time behind the wheel of her turbocharged fox-bodied Mustang on the street, the busy high school senior attended Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School to earn her NHRA Competition License so she’d be ready for the season opening event. Haley’s first time in the car came just a day shy of her Bradenton debut, where she wasted no time setting low E.T. of the event en route to a runner-up finish in her first ever drag racing competition at the National Mustang Racers Association (NMRA) Spring Break Shootout event in Bradenton, FL.

Her first career win would come at just her second event, the 7th Annual Borla Exhaust All Star Nationals held at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA, where she raced into the Aerospace Winner’s Circle for the first time against NMRA veteran Johnny Lightning Wiker.

During the 15th Annual SCT NMRA Ford Nationals in Budd’s Creek, Maryland, Haley again made it to the final round of Coyote Modified competition, this time against Ronnie Reynolds. Though she had the performance advantage over Reynolds, who was campaigning his wife’s street car for the event, an error at the tree cost her the race. A staging battle on the starting line would rattle James, and she wound up leaving before the tree activated.

Between races, Haley would return home for her graduation commencement ceremony from Albuquerque, NM’s El Dorado High School. And as summer racing action heated up, the new graduate would really hit her stride as she transitioned into college studies at the University of New Mexico.

Her second career win would come at the 12th Annual McLeod NMRA Super Nationals event at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. She again faced familiar foe Johnny Lightning Wiker in the final, where she improved her record against the multi-class champion racer when a broken throttle cable caused him to shut off early. She would leave the event leading in points.

Haley James final Bowling Green — Photo: Brandon Reed

Haley James would continue the hot streak into the 10th Annual NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL. She would battle it out again with Johnny Lightning in their fourth final round meeting of the season, taking her third career victory, and scoring a Super Bowl ring for her part in the NMRA’s victory over the NMCA.

That all lead up to the final race of the season, the 17th Annual Nitto Tires NMRA All-Ford World Finals at Beechbend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY. Another rain soaked event, that didn’t meet its conclusion until Monday morning, where it would be an all-too familiar final between class rivals Johnny Lightning and young Haley James. This time, the weather and lack of passes would mean that Haley’s dad, Dwayne James wouldn’t have much data on the tune for the final round in the colder, damp weather. Unfortunately, James would smoke the tires, giving her competitor Wiker the last win of the season.

#1 in Coyote Modified Points

Despite the runner-up finish, Haley had scored enough points to earn the top spot for the 2015 Coyote Modified class championship. She becomes the youngest Coyote Modified Class Champion in NMRA history, and carries the honor of wearing the No. 1 on her window as the class champion into 2016- All as a rookie to heads-up drag racing. The young driver has proven quite a talented protege of the Hellion B-Team, and if this rookie season is any indication, she’s just getting warmed up to a long, successful drag racing career.

Congratulations, 2015 NMRA Coyote Modified Champion, Haley James!

Haley James picks up second career win

June 17, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Haley James Norwalk — Photo: NMRA Digital

Norwalk Coyote Modified Victory for rookie James

National Mustang Racers Association Coyote Modified drag racer Haley James picked up the second win of her career at the 12th Annual McLeod Racing NMRA Ford SUPER Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio this past weekend. The 18 year-old recent high school graduate began this season in Bradenton, FL as a complete drag racing rookie. Since then, she has made quite a statement, securing the top spot in the ultra-competitive Coyote Modified class.

Weather would prove to be a big factor in the weekend’s events, as Haley and the Hellion Racing team would fight hot and muggy tuning conditions, with frequent racing rain delay interruptions. Friday’s first test pass resulted in no-traction, and Haley blew the tires off in an aborted run. Round one of qualifying, she was able to post an off-paced 8.483 second elapsed time at 162.18 mph, but rain would stop the round before the class completion and end the day’s racing action.

When racing resumed Saturday, Haley improved her position slightly, earning the No. 1 qualified position with an 8.400 second E.T. at 162.12 mph. This would give the rookie a competition bye in round 1 of eliminations on Sunday. She would use the round to blast off an 8.524 second at 161.44 mph performance, securing lane choice for round number two.

For the next pairing, James would face the 2014 Mustang of No. 4 qualified Ronnie Reynolds. Reynolds had ousted Haley in the previous Maryland race during a staging battle that saw her ‘creeper button’, the button used to initiate the staging sequence for the turbocharged car, malfunctioned. Haley was anxious to avenge the loss, and earn her way into the final. Both racers would leave the starting line together, but Haley quickly powered her way out front to a 8.442 second E.T. at 161.96 mph to his losing 9.389 at 151.14 mph.

Norwalk Coyote Modified Final

The win in round two would pair her in the final round against veteran racer Johnny Lightning, the number two qualifier. Rain continued to plague the event, but between rain clouds, the two top-ranked competitors were able to face off and complete the final round. Johnny Lightning would leave with a slight starting line advantage, and the two were side by side until the eighth mile marker. But a faulty throttle cable would cause Lightning to abort, and Haley thundered on to the win with a 8.463 at 162.16 mph to his losing 9.051 at 120.32 mph.

Watch Haley James vs Johnny Lightning in the CM Norwalk Final

Haley James leaves the event with the No. 1 position in NMRA Coyote Modified championship points. The next event for the team will be the 10th Annual NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois on July 30th-August 2nd, 2015.