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Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 List

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Drag Illustrated 30 under 30Drag Illustrated Announces 1st Annual 30 under 30 List

Drag 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.”

Ladies of Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30

Seven talented women of drag racing made the inaugural Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 list out of nearly 5,000 nominations received.

  • Brittany Force, NHRA Top Fuel Driver
  • Leah Pritchett, NHRA Top Fuel Driver
  • Megan Fessel-Schumacher, NHRA Blogger/Social Media, DSR
  • Ashley Sanford, NHRA A Fuel Driver
  • Mia Tedesco, NHRA A Fuel Driver
  • Lizzy Musi, PDRA Pro Modified Driver
  • Tera Wendland-Graves, Nostalgia Driver
  • Audrey Worm, Nostalgia NFC Driver, Business professional

Congratulations to all of these hard-working, talented young ladies!

Ladies of NHRA Red Carpet 2015

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It’s the end of the season, and that means the annual 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Awards Ceremony has arrived!   All of our favorite stars of the NHRA series gathered Monday after the finals in Pomona to Hollywood’s Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Vineland for a year-end banquet and the crowning of the 2015 champions.   This formal event is always a crowd favorite, because we get the rare chance to see our favorite personalities outside their fire suits and crew uniforms, dressed to the nine in formal attire.

For 2015, the ladies didn’t disappoint, hitting the NHRA Red Carpet all looking stunning.   Check out their red carpet fashion below!

Ladies of NHRA Red Carpet 2015

Leah Pritchett and Angie Smith on NHRA Red Carpet
Top Fuel’s Leah Pritchett and Pro Stock Bike’s Angie Smith
Erica Enders on NHRA Red Carpet
Pro Stock World Champion Erica Enders
Courtney Force and Graham Rahal on NHRA Red Carpet
Funny Car driver Courtney Force and fiance, open wheel driver Graham Rahal
Angie Smith Karen Stoffer on NHRA Red Carpet
Pro Stock Bike’s Karen Stoffer and Angie Smith
Brittany and Courtney Force on NHRA Red Carpet
Top Fuel driver Brittany Force with sister Courtney.
Alexis DeJoria Jesse James on NHRA Red Carpet
Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria, husband Jesse James, and sister.
Jenna Haddock at the NHRA Red Carpet year end banquet
Top Fuel driver Jenna Haddock and husband Terry

WHO WORE IT BEST? Ladies of NHRA Red Carpet – Vote in Comments below!

Video: Awards Ceremony    |  Last year’s Ladies of NHRA 2014 Red Carpet Album 

Dote Racing not returning in 2016

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Dote RacingThe NHRA Top Fuel Dragster team Dote Racing, just announced that they will not be returning to NHRA competition in 2016.   The Ohio-based operation, active in the class since 2009, takes a hiatus from the sport on the heels of a decision by primary sponsor, Gumout, not to renew their sponsorship of the Dote Racing team.

This leaves current driver Leah Pritchett in search of a new ride for 2016.    Pritchett joined Dote Racing in 2013, competing the majority of 2014 and 2015 in the NHRA Mello Yello Series with Gumout as primary sponsor.

Pritchett and the Dote Racing team recorded their career best performances this season, hitting a competitive stride with a runner-up finish at the NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta, and qualifying second at the NHRA Keystone Nationals in Pennsylvania. Pritchett clocked her career-best elapsed time in the Dote Racing dragster (3.73 seconds) during the NHRA Summernationals at Englishtown, N.J.

Dote Racing has been a family racing legacy for three-generations.  Beginning in the mid-80s with Lynn & Sue Dote purchasing a 1951 “Henry J” drag car, the family tradition was continued by their son, Mike Dote, and his wife, Connie.

Mike, Connie and their daughters, Camie and Joanna, began competing weekly. After fulfilling their bracket racing goals and building great family memories, the team decided to take their passion to the ultimate level, Top Fuel.

“Our decision to take a hiatus from the sport comes on the heels of Gumout’s decision to pursue their major marketing efforts in a different direction, outside of the NHRA,” said Mike Dote. “It is very difficult to walk away at this point, but ultimately we do not have the funds in place for a competitive 2016 season. We have made incredible progress on the track, and have Leah, one of the most talented and marketable drivers in the series at our wheel. It has been a tremendous experience for our whole family and the racing team to work with Gumout and the other ITW brands. We are proud to have raced at such a competitive level against some of the biggest and most accomplished names in drag racing. We want to thank everyone with our team, our sponsors, NHRA, Mello Yello and the outstanding NHRA fans.”

Leah Pritchett Head ShotPritchett, a 27-year-old California native, will begin exploring new opportunities for the 2016 Mello Yello Season after impressive performances the past three years in Top Fuel.

“Working with the Dote Racing team has been a great experience for me, and I am beyond thankful to the Dote family for believing in me,” said Leah. “Mike, Connie, Doug (Kuch, crew chief), Rob (Flynn, tuner) and the entire team have been outstanding with me as a newcomer to Top Fuel three years ago. Beyond driving, I believe my responsibilities within Dote Racing have equipped me with an expanded skill set that will enable me to continue success on and off the track. This experience has been invaluable, and I wish them the best in the future. I am pursuing more drag racing opportunities including my continued work with Gumout. I’m very excited to see what the future holds for me in NHRA Mello Yello drag racing competition.”

Leah Pritchett in Black Magic Top Fuel

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Black Magic Top Fuel DragsterWith just two races left in the 2015 season, NHRA drag racing standout Leah Pritchett will have some “Black Magic” ready for the Halloween weekend in Las Vegas.

The 27-year-old California native will enter the 15th Annual NHRA Toyota Nationals at the “The Strip” at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway debuting  new Black Magic Top Fuel livery on her Dote Racing dragster on the Halloween weekend (Oct. 30 – Nov. 1).

“This new Black Magic livery is awesome and brings another great paint scheme for the 2015 season,” said Pritchett, runner-up at this year’s Southern Nationals. “Black Magic® car care products are a sister company to Gumout, but it’s a great tie-in with Halloween in Las Vegas. I’m hoping a little Black Magic potion gives us a strong performance at ‘The Strip.’”

Black Magic Top Fuel Dragster livery

Gumout has been the primary sponsor for the Dote Racing team this season, with Leah Pritchett at the controls, and Black Magic® car care products are among the automotive directory of ITW Global Brands which also manufactures and distributes Gumout and Rain-X brands.       Black Magic’s variety of car products include tire, wheel, interior and exterior care.

Leah Pritchett, the Dote Racing team led by crew chief Doug Kuch and tuner Rob Flynn, and the new Black Magic Top Fuel Dragster return to “The Strip” for the first time since last year’s impressive semi-finals finish (losing to event winner Spencer Massey) and qualifying in the fifth position for the 16-driver Top Fuel ladder.  The team opted out of the first 2015 Vegas event in April.

“The Strip” has always been lucky for Pritchett, having earned multiple wins as a youngster in the Junior Dragsters and an NHRA Pro Modified national event win in 2011.   Most recently, Leah competed in her first road racing event at nearby Pahrump, Nev., (the Spring Mountain Motorsports Resort) in the Formula Ford category.

“I have been coming to Nevada to race since “The Strip” was first opened back in late 1990s,” said Pritchett, who also gives advice to young female racers trying to follow in her footsteps in the Junior Dragsters. “I was winning races there as a teenager and then won in the ProMods (2011) too. Wow, I would love to win my first Top Fuel national event at Las Vegas too.”

Pritchett’s various Top Fuel liveries have proven popular with the drag racing fans this year, earning her “Best Appearing Car” with the Bristol debut of her flashy, all-gold Gumout livery.  She also debuted the  “Lady in Red” red chrome scheme in Indianapolis for the US Nationals and was another “fan favorite.”

“Now we think this new Black Magic livery will be another favorite for the NHRA fans at Las Vegas,” Leah said. “We have taken a little of the red chrome and the black paint to form an outstanding look for the Dote Racing dragster. Since our strong showing last year at ‘The Strip,’ I think we’ll can have a great weekend with the new Black Magic machine. With Halloween coming up, maybe we get that special potion and I can be the ‘Black Magic Woman’ who takes that NHRA ‘Wally’ trophy in victory lane Sunday.”

Pritchett and the rest of the Top Fuel racers will begin action at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway “Strip” with qualifying set for 1 p.m. PDT on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015. Qualifications are scheduled Friday (Oct. 30 – 1 and 4:30 p.m.) and Saturday (Oct. 31 – 1 and 4:30 p.m.) with final eliminations set for Sunday (Nov. 1) at 11 am PDT.

Leah Pritchett Open Wheel debut

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Leah Pritchett Formula Ford Despite a shortened main event, Leah Pritchett’s open wheel debut proved to be a great experience for the NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel dragster driver this weekend at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Resort Ranch and Country Club during the VARA Racing “Shootout at the Ranch.”

The veteran drag racer had a smooth transition from her 325-miles per hour, nitro-burning dragster to the open-wheel vintage Formula Ford racecar at the Nevada racing facility. Impressive practice sessions on the 3.4-mile, 30-turn permanent road circuit helped Pritchett improved throughout the weekend behind the wheel of her 1979 Gumout Van Dieman racer.

Leah Pritchett Open WheelAfter qualifying for a fourth row start in the event, Pritchett’s road racing feature was cut short with a car issue. The 27-year-old California native was forced to start from pit lane in the 30-minute main event.

“My first official open-wheel race is in the books,” said Leah. “But wasn’t without some adversity and a less than desired result. A car issue resulting in me missing the rolling start. We got the car fired and I had to begin from pit lane while the field took the green at over 100mph, leaving me to hit the track from the back of the field. But I still wanted to run the race and gain experience.

This meant Leah would be taking the green flag in last position, and would not get the advantage of the rolling start.    She didn’t let this discourage her, as Leah quickly went to work and gained three positions, looking comfortable behind the wheel of the open-wheeler.

In-car for Leah Pritchett open wheel debutUnfortunately, Pritchett was forced to park her Formula Ford racer early in the event when car issues continued to plague her Gumout open-wheeler.   After such a promising start, the Avon, Ind., driver finished the race watching from the pit area for the rest of the Formula Ford event.  Though she had problems, Pritchett views her open wheel debut a success.

“I passed three cars in the first lap, but our Formula Ford had a problem later and I couldn’t finish the race. You gotta love racecars sometimes. But overall, I had a great experience in working with a variety of nice people who really helped me with the transition to road racing. While we didn’t finish as we wanted, I would love to give it a try in the near future again.”

Pritchett, driving for Dote Racing, enjoyed her career best Top Fuel qualifying performance recently at Maple Grove Raceway by take the second position in the NHRA Keystone Nationals.  Earlier this season, she was the Top Fuel runner-up in the NHRA Southern Nationals race.  Pritchett continues to improve, looking for her first Top Fuel victory in an ultra-competitive class.

Leah Pritchett races at Showdown at the RanchLeah is scheduled to return with her Gumout Top Fuel dragster at the NHRA Toyota Nationals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway “Strip” on Oct. 30-Nov. 1. Qualifying will take place Friday (Oct. 30) and Saturday (Oct. 31) with final eliminations set for Sunday (Nov. 1).

Leah Pritchett in Formula Ford

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Leah Pritchett in Formula FordNHRA racer Leah Pritchett is trading in her Top Fuel firesuit for a thinner road racing variant next weekend (Oct 9-10).  The Gumout standout is set to drive a vintage Formula Ford open-wheel car in the Vintage Auto Racing Association “Shootout at the Ranch” at Spring Mountain Motorsports Resort Ranch and Country Club, in Pahrump, Nevada.

Leah Pritchett in Formula Ford

Pritchett, a semi-finalist in the “Gumout Lady in Car” Top Fuel dragster at the NHRA Carolina Nationals two weeks ago, switched gears to train in a Formula Ford testing session at Willow Springs Raceway north of Los Angeles recently, in preparation for her road racing debut in the ‘Shootout at the Ranch.’

“Going from a 325-mile per hour Top Fuel dragster to a tiny 135-mile per hour Formula Ford road racing car is a drastic change for me,” said Pritchett, runner-up in this year’s NHRA Southern Nationals near Atlanta. “But I really have enjoyed the challenge of hitting the apex and shifting through the gears. In the Top Fuel car, the race is over quickly…. Under four seconds.  In the Formula Ford, you have to concentrate much longer and hit your marks. The racing is different but just as tough mentally.”

Pritchett, the 27-year-old California native who resides in Avon, Ind., began her racing career at age eight in the Junior Dragster division and worked her way through the smaller ranks before making it to the ultimate drag racing class, Top Fuel, in 2013.

Road Racing limited future

Leah Pritchett in Formula Ford competitonNHRA fans can relax, as Pritchett has no plans to abandon her drag racing roots.    The veteran drag racer will return to the Las Vegas area three weeks after the Formula Ford event to compete in the NHRA Toyota Nationals at the ‘Strip” at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway when Pritchett drives the Gumout ‘Lady in Red” Top Fueler for Dote Racing on Oct. 30-Nov. 1. Last year, Pritchett qualified fifth and took her mount to a semi-final finish at the “Strip.”

“I am not changing my career to move into the road racing ranks,” Leah said. “I’m a drag racer through and through. It’s something I wanted to do since I was six or seven years old. At age 12, I knew I want to race professionally. Now, this Formula Ford race is a unique opportunity to try another racing skill set. I have enjoyed the new challenge already.”

Switching from the incredible g-force on acceleration of the 1,000-foot straight line track in the National Hot Rod Association, to the 3.1-mile road racing complex will be pushing new limits for Pritchett.  The road racing track at Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club has a combination of fast sweeping corners, quick esses, off-camber turns, and over 125-foot of elevation change.  But the course features four high-speed straights that should be more familiar to the drag racer.   The new racing facility northwest of Las Vegas incorporates replicas of some of racing’s most famous corners including Mosport’s 5a and 5b, Watkins Glen’s “Bus Stop”, and Road Atlanta’s turn one and Laguna Seca’s “Corkscrew.”

“I know this Nevada track will pose a variety of challenges,” said Pritchett, a Cal State University communications graduate. “I have been thinking about the Formula Ford race almost every day recently as the weekend approaches. The training I received at Willow Springs was a great asset as I prepare for the Formula Ford race. It is a different mindset from the drag racing experiences but I feel I can use some of my racing thoughts and reflexes from the drag racing to the road course. I’m very excited about this new challenge.”

Practice and qualifying are set for Friday (Oct. 9) and the Formula Ford main event is scheduled for Saturday (Oct. 10).

Watch Leah Pritchett in Formula Ford Teaser

Leah Pritchett ready to take on the Big GO

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Leah Pritchett preparing the nitroTop Fuel dragster driver Leah Pritchett has been dreaming of racing at the NHRA U.S. Nationals since she began her racing career at age eight.   The 27-year-old Redlands, Calif., native has set her sights on the world’s biggest drag racing event for nearly twenty years when she started competing in her family’s Junior Dragster at the Pomona Raceway.   Though she has been to Lucas Oil Raceway many times, even in her Junior Dragster at age 12, she has always wanted to race at the Clermont, Ind., motorsports facility on Labor Day during the hallowed U.S. Nationals.  Now in the top drag racing division, Top Fuel, it looks like Pritchett has finally reached her goal.

 “I haven’t been able to race on Labor Day yet at Indy,” said Pritchett, who’ll wheel her bright, chrome red Gumout Top Fuel dragster for Dote Racing next week (Sept. 3-7) in the 61st annual drag racing extravaganza. “I just missed out last year when (former NHRA champion) Antron Brown nipped me by .001 of a second (for the 16th starting spot).”

Leah Pritchett’s frustration of missing the U.S. Nationals 16-driver Top Fuel lineup in 2014 was especially cruel since it was so close, Brown’s 3.845 to Pritchett’s 3.846 seconds.

“Hey, that’s drag racing,” she explains. “The track conditions are always tough at Indy. With so many race cars there, the track surface becomes very tricky. We’ll have five qualifying runs next weekend for the U.S. Nationals and two will be at night. We need to get the night runs down to put the Gumout dragster into the field this time.”

Leah Pritchett Head ShotLeah Pritchett has experience beyond her age

Pritchett, despite her age, is one of the most experienced pro drivers in the NHRA pit area including holding four different professional racing licenses in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Heritage Funny Car and ProMod. Leah is a former Heritage Funny Car world champion and a three-time NHRA national event winner in the wild ProMod division.

“When I was a kid racing in Junior Dragsters, I wanted to drive in the Top Fuel division,” said Pritchett, whose husband, Gary, is a mechanic on the Steve Torrence Top Fuel car. “So I drove just about anything I could to get up to the top ranks. I tested in the Funny Cars at Indy and drove the unpredictable ProMod cars on the national NHRA circuit. Finally, the Dote family offered me this Top Fuel ride and we brought in Gumout as our primary sponsor. It was a dream come true. I’m competing against the likes Antron (Brown), Tony (Schumacher), Shawn (Langdon) and Larry (Dixon) and all have been Top Fuel champions. Ultimately, that is my goal too, winning the NHRA Mello Yellow Top Fuel title.”

And a good start in Leah Pritchett’s goal would be a victory at the NHRA U.S. Nationals.    Her Dote Dragster has been consistently going rounds this season,   Pritchett finished runner-up to Brown at the Southern Nationals in Atlanta and has posted qualifying efforts of third, fourth and fifth this season.

“The U.S. Nationals are our Indy 500,” Leah said. “It’s the biggest drag race in the world and it is an honor just to qualify for the Top Fuel field. But I feel our Dote team can go a lot further than that this year. The Gumout car has been strong throughout the year and we want to be contender for the win at Indy.  Last year, we just missed the show on Monday,” she said. “Now, with the new red chrome Gumout car, we want to put this new paint scheme in the winner’s circle at the world’s biggest drag race. Led by Doug Kuch (crew chief) and Rob Flynn (tuner), we feel positive about our chances this time.”

Dote Gumout Red Chrome dragsterThis year’s event marks the 61st Annual U.S. Nationals for the NHRA.     Pritchett’s first qualifying attempt will take place on Friday, Sept. 4, at 7:30 p.m. EDT.  Then there are two additional runs each on Saturday and Sunday for the Top Fuel dragsters. The final eliminations are set for Monday, Sept. 7, at 11 a.m. EDT.

Best of luck to Leah Pritchett!

New Gumout Dragster Livery unveiled

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Leah Pritchett Solid GoldNHRA Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett and her Dote Racing team unveiled the new “Solid Gold” Gumout dragster  Friday afternoon prior to this weekend’s 15th Annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

The new gold livery will adorn the dragster for the next three NHRA national events –  this weekend’s Bristol, Tenneesee event,  Norwalk, Ohio (NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals July 2-5) and Joliet, Ill (NHRA Route 66 Nationals July 9-12).

Solid Gold Gumout Dragster

The new livery is representative of the Gumout Expert Series, with its signature gold packing, an exclusive line of Gumout premium performance additives and kits available only at AutoZone.   The Expert Series includes products formulated with the most advanced cleaning and conditioning agents on the market. From single use products to specialty kits, the Gumout Expert Series lineup offers solutions to drivers looking to maintain newer vehicle performance as well as those with older vehicles who wish to restore lost engine performance.

We, at Gumout, are very excited to debut the new “Solid Gold” Gumout dragster Friday for Leah and the Dote Racing team at Bristol,” said Rusty Waples, Global Group Brand Manager at ITW Global Brands. “When we discussed our idea with Leah, she asked if we could really go gold and we told her, “absolutely!”  That said, it’s about as gold as you can get and it mimics our new packaging for the Gumout Expert Series. We’re enthusiastic to see the reaction of the NHRA racing fans as they get the chance to see the car close-up in the pits.”

Leah Pritchett Solid Gold UnveilingFor nearly 70 years, Gumout has been vehicle owners’ trusted source for automotive performance products and made a successful return to NHRA professional drag racing in 2014.

“We went back and forth on how to do this gold dragster and finally just decided lets be all-in and go big – and gold, bullion-style,” laughed Pritchett, recent runner-up at the NHRA Southern Nationals. “I love the red dragster, but this, this is going to be fun to roll out to the lanes the next three events for Gumout. Even more fun to roll out of Bristol with a Wally!”

Solid Gold Gumout dragsterPritchett enters the event after recording the quickest elapsed time of her 18-year racing career with a sensational 3.736-second clocking at Englishtown. This is on the heels of advancing to her first Top Fuel final round at Atlanta Dragway last month.

Qualifying for the 16-driver Top Fuel field will begin tonight with two rounds at 5:30 and 8 p.m. EDT. Final eliminations for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals is scheduled Sunday (June 21) at Noon EDT. The ESPN telecast of the eliminations will be live on June 21 starting 3 p.m. EDT.

Leah Pritchett lands first TF Final

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 Leah Pritchett- Atlanta 2015Leah 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.

Leah Pritchet 2nd Rd Win Atlanta 2015In 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.”

Post Final Antron Brown/Leah PritchettPritchett’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.”