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NHRA

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Enders scores perfect weekend in Topeka

May 26, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Erica EndersErica Enders wins Topeka 2015 couldn’t have had a more perfect weekend for the 27th Annual NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas.   Her Elite Motorsports team scored a dominant victory, capping a perfect weekend with a top qualifying spot, the quickest performance of every round of racing-both qualifying and eliminations, and the championship points lead leaving the event.

The last time we did this was Norwalk (Ohio) last year: We qualified on the pole and were low e.t. every round of qualifying and every round of eliminations,” Enders said. “It’s definitely a feat, especially in Pro Stock, as competitive as it is. Hat’s off to my guys; they are absolutely incredible.  It speaks volumes of what they’re capable of when they’re given the tools that they need, and that’s what (team owner) Richard Freeman has provided them. I’m just really proud.”

Quickest qualifying Pro Stock

Erica Enders qualifying in TopekaShe began the weekend with a strong qualifying showing, nabbing the No. 1 position in qualifying in a rain-shortened three attempt program.    This brought back memories of 2006, the same place where she earned her first No. 1 qualifier to become the first woman to secure the Pro Stock pole.

It’s pretty cool,” Enders said. “I thought about that coming in here on Thursday, so it definitely was a fun memory here, becoming the first female No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock. We’ve gone on to do some really great things (with Elite Motorsports).”

Enders led all three qualifying sessions — the fourth was rained out — with her top pass of 6.150 seconds at 211.43 mph earning her the No. 1 spot. She earned nine bonus points by being the quickest in each qualifying session.

I’m always confident in my guys,” Enders said. “They give me a very consistent race car, and that makes my job a little easier, to where I just focus on driving and not wonder what the car is going to do — if we’re going to blow the tires off, if it’s going to hook right or left. Being low for every session is pretty exciting. We were able to do that some last year and accumulate those three bonus points per round that you’re low. Coming to the final race of last year, every point mattered, so we’ll take ’em when we can get ’em.”

Dominating Pro Stock Eliminations

First round, Enders was paired against No. 16 qualifier Mark Hogan.  She posted a 6.579 second pass at 209.10 mph, good for low of the round and beat his 6.855-second run at 201.58 mph.  In round number two, she faced off against noted starting-line ace Jonathan Gray, who left with a .005-second reaction time, but Enders .013 light and 6.586 at 208.78 mph run was enough to blow past Gray, beating his 6.607 at 208.68 mph.

Larry Morgan left with the starting line advantage against Enders in the semi-final round, cutting a brilliant .007 light, but Enders ran him down with a 6.579-second pass at 208.94 mph to beat his run of 6.609 seconds at 208.68 mph.

I missed the Tree a little bit against Larry Morgan,” said Enders, whose reaction time was .030. “I knew I was late and was looking over to see where he was. It was only a seven-thousandths margin of victory, so I guess if we had a lucky round, that was it, for sure.”

Erica Enders and her Elite Motorsports teamThen came long-time rival Greg Anderson, who had bested Enders in the semifinals at Atlanta Dragway in the previous event. This time, Enders ripped off a .009-second reaction time to Anderson’s .020 and then made a pass of 6.584 seconds at 209.33 mph to beat his 6.591-second run at 209.14 mph.

“He congratulated me down there,” Enders said. “He doesn’t like to lose to anybody; he’s got a very competitive spirit. We all do in Pro Stock. But everything’s cool, and I’m proud that we got the win. He got us (in Atlanta) and he outran us, so I was happy to pay him back just a little bit, but all in good fun.”

All of this on a relatively new car set-up, one that Enders just returned to one race previously.   This win marked the first for the new R&J Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro.    The Elite team began the season with the new car, but made the call early on to tackle new fuel/tires mandated by NHRA rule changes in the tried-and-tested championship chassis she campaigned in 2014, before switching back in Atlanta.

We’ve had an awesome weekend.  It’s a brand-new race car and our second race in a row with it. We’re just trying to get a handle on it, and my guys have done a great job.  To be honest, I didn’t want to let go of the car I drove last year because we had such an awesome relationship,” Enders said. “We had a lot of success together. We’ve had 29 runs on this car, and it’s still very new and we’re still learning all about her. Rick and Rickie Jones built it and it’s a tremendous masterpiece, and we’re just going to get better and better.”

Enders leaves Topeka with a 59-point lead over Jason Line, who lost in the first round, in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship chase after eight of 24 races.

Because I had never led the Pro Stock points in my career until last year, I remember I screen-shot it every week because I didn’t know if that would disappear or we’d ever get back in that position, but because of my guys and what Richard Freeman has given us, we’ve been able to accomplish a lot of great stuff together.  It’s cool to be back on top, but it’s been a long, grueling season. Pro Stock is so competitive, and we’ll do our best to stay on top.”

Category: Women in Racing NewsTag: Drag Racing, Erica Enders, NHRA, Pro Stock, Women Racing

Leah Pritchett lands first TF Final

May 17, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

 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.”

Category: Women in Racing NewsTag: Drag Racing, Leah Pritchett, NHRA, Top Fuel, Women Racing

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.

Category: Women in Racing NewsTag: Drag Racing, Karen Stoffer, NHRA, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Women Racing

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 AngelleJoin 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.

Category: Women in Racing NewsTag: Angelle Sampey, Drag Racing, NHRA, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Women Racing

Erica Enders doubles up on Racer of the Year

March 5, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Good news this week as Racer Magazine announces their annual Racer of the Year awards.     One of my favorite ladies in racing, Erica Enders captured not just one, but TWO Racer of the Year awards, gaining the ultimate overall category win as well as the Drag Racing award.

Congrats, Erica Enders!

It is really great to see her received the much deserved accolades that go with such a monumental win.   Not only is it big and inspiring news to see a woman win the World Championship, but to have done so in such down-to-the-wire dramatic fashion, is nothing short of amazing.   Thinking back to all the naysayers and the struggles she endured in her Pro Stock career, I’ll say that the awards are much deserved celebration to her feats.

Erica Enders-StevensRacer of the Year

The award is voted on by readers, which to me, is a strong indication of the loyalty of NHRA fans.   John Force won the top award in 2010, 2013, 2014.   Enders now takes the overall spot for 2015.  And someone tell me again why drag racing isn’t a good sponsor investment?  That’s some fiercely loyal fanbase there.  In fact, while she won Racer of the Year honors with 48.9% of the vote, the next closest competitor was Mr. Force himself with 9.7%.   That’s a landslide victory for Enders, and a lionshare vote for drag racing.

But what saddens me, was the pre-season announcement that her Elite team may not compete in all of the NHRA events again this season.   What is wrong with the world that the defending Pro Stock champion- a marketable, personable, history-paving woman- can’t get the funding she needs to compete in a full season?   That question may lie more in the NHRA’s programming than in her abilities as World champion.

Erica Enders-Stevens hoists Wally

Either way, here’s a big shoutout to Erica Enders-Stevens, Racer of the Year!

 

 

 

Category: Women in Racing NewsTag: Drag Racing, Erica Enders, NHRA, Pro Stock, Women Racing

Ladies of NHRA on the Red Carpet

November 19, 2014 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Its always nice to see my favorite ladies of NHRA on the red carpet for the annual NHRA Year-End Banquet and Awards Ceremony.    We don’t get enough chances to see them outside their fire suits or sponsor crew uniforms.   But make no mistake, these ladies are as fashion-forward as they come!    They all look absolutely stunning in their formal attire.  Safe to say, all of these ladies are my #WCW #WomanCrushWednesday

Ladies of NHRA on the Red Carpet 2014

Leah Pritchett at the NHRA Banquet
Leah Pritchett and husband Gary
Courtney Force at NHRA Banquet
Courtney Force and boyfriend Graham Rahal
Erica Enders Stevens at NHRA Banquet
Erica Enders-Stevens and husband Richie
Brittany Force at NHRA Banquet
Brittany Force and friend
Angie Smith at NHRA Banquet
Angie Smith and husband Matt

Video of the Mello Yellow Awards Ceremony

Photos: NHRA

Let’s hear your comments:   Who wore it best?

Category: Women in Racing NewsTag: Angie Smith, Brittany Force, Courtney Force, Erica Enders, Leah Pritchett, NHRA, Women Racing

Justin Bieber Street Racing and NHRA

January 31, 2014 //  by Horsepower & Heels

bieber drag racing mug shot
Justin Bieber’s now infamous drag racing mug shot

A child celebrity grows up and rebels into a hard-partying, wild mess just a few stumbles away from court-ordered rehab?  Its seems its the current tried-and-true formula for the current day child entertainment star.

Justin Bieber Street Racing Arrest

Justin Bieber’s latest shenanigans have roped my favorite sport, NHRA Drag Racing into the mix with his arrest in Miami Beach on January 23rd that the media has once again referred to as “Drag Racing”.

First of all, let me get on my soap box for a minute.   He was doing 60 in a 35.   I’d hardly call that break-neck racing speeds.   Illegal though it may be, a vast majority of soccer mom’s have done just that or worse running late to soccer practice, maybe after a mimosa or two.   He’s an idiot to be driving drunk.  And he’s an idiot for speeding in a residential area, but is this really worth a week full of headlines about *gasp* drag racing on a public street?   There are so many better things we could be talking about like,  I dunno, more important topics of healthcare and the economy?  <end soapbox>

Like every other illegal street racing activity that results in trouble, the media loves to title every headline with the term DRAG RACING as this dark, evil act of complete mayhem.    The problem is, what Justin and all of these other people were doing isn’t Drag Racing, its street racing.   This isn’t a new problem either.  Same thing happened when Nick Hogan (Bollea) was responsible for severely and permanently disabling his passenger during an illegal race in Pinellas, FL  back in 2007.

Besides the fact that the term is used incorrectly, by continuing to allow its use, people are associating drag racing with criminal activities instead of the sport NHRA has cultivated.    To the point that when you tell the average person that you are a drag racer, they respond with “Isn’t that illegal?”   That kind of reputation will pretty much kill any hope of corporate sponsorships wanting to get involved.

Why then, if you are NHRA, would you allow your image and your brand to be continually attacked and tarnished in this manner, instead of using it as the perfect opportunity to educate the mass media and become guardian of the sport and its roots as the safe alternative to illegal activities.

Competition Plus, posted a similar editorial on the issue, but also received a response from Graham Light of NHRA.   (Graham Light addresses NHRA’s actions after Bieber arrest- Competition Plus).   Basically, after a canned letter to the Miami and AP media outlets asking that they refer to the incident correctly as an illegal street race instead of a drag racing event, they were essentially told that “drag racing” was the terms used specifically in the police report, and that it was reported as such.    Graham goes on to tell Comp Plus that  “It is another challenge and a bigger challenge to try and communicate with all law enforcement agencies around the country. It’s an on-going process.”    So, does the effort stop there?

A two-minute Google search turns up all of the Florida Statues in relation or infractions that citizens can be charged with.  The one I could come up with was FS 316.191 RACING ON HIGHWAYS.    I was very quick to judge that the term “street race” would be a closer identifier than “drag race” in the illegal context, so naturally, the keyboard jockey in me wanted to say that it would be fairly easy to ask Miami to use racing on highways as the media reference instead of drag racing.

Except that when I actually read the full statue http://archive.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.191.html, it DOES indeed call it Drag Racing.   There is lengthy talk about a race, whether premeditated or spontaneous, and the spectators and participants.   The very bottom of the statue states in what is the equivalent to the fine print, that it doesn’t apply to  licensed or duly authorized racetracks, drag strips, or other designated areas set aside by proper authorities for such purposes.

“Drag race” means the operation of two or more motor vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other, or the operation of one or more motor vehicles over a common selected course, from the same point to the same point, for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of such motor vehicle or motor vehicles within a certain distance or time limit.    FS 316.191

So it is us racers who are wrong.   It IS called Drag Racing as a legal definition.   So what can we do to protect the sport from the black eye that is illegal street racing?

NHRA needs to really push the community service angle here.   Yes, a drag racing event illegally was held on the street.   So NHRA can respond accordingly:

Okay major media covering Justin Bieber Street Racing, here’s the nearest facility in YOURTOWN, USA.   They offer open time trials or “street” style racing on X, Y, Z days.     These are the safety precautions that make legal racing safer, etc.   B.R.A.K.E.S. is a program that was designed to teach and educate youth about this.      LEGITIMIZE the sport to the media.   SHOW them that NHRA cares and is fighting the good fight to make sure that we have a safe and legitimate sport.   Its your brand, you have to control the image.

There is no such thing as bad press…. if you can spin the coverage to your favor.    The best example I could come up with is UFC Fighting.   Fighting in the ring as a sport?  Legal.   Fighting in the street?   Criminal Battery/Violence.

What other ideas could help put the sport NHRA Drag Racing in the spotlight for the RIGHT reasons?

Category: Horsepower & Heels BlogTag: Drag Racing, NHRA

Sex sells, or does it? Courtney Force controversy examined.

July 11, 2013 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Nothing like a little skin to get the controversy rolling.    This one I’ve had my eye on since it was announced, waiting anxiously to see what reaction it generates.

Bold and Artful or Distasteful?

Courtney Force ESPN Body Issue

The Body issue is a yearly project that ESPN Magazine produces where it showcases various athletes in poses reminiscent of their sport genre, totally and completely nude.   The idea, is that you see and appreciate the exceptional physique that these athletes have created with all of their hard work.

Many famous athletes have taken part over the years.   In the racing world, Helio Castronieves was among the athletes featured.   Two years ago, NHRA icon John Force was featured after his critical accident in Dallas.  The gritty spread showed John’s scars from the accident and the years of abuse he has seen in his career.

Courtney Force ESPN Magazine Body Issue But this year, John’s 25 year old daughter Courtney Force dons the cover of the ESPN Body Issue, and this has started a media frenzy backlash.   The issue has barely been out a week, and already the internet is swirling with commentary around her photo spread.      Some label it an “objectifying publicity stunt”, while others are appalled that their children’s role model would appear like this and called it a “huge lack of respect for the sport”.    The crowd is divided, with just as many quick to defend it as great exposure at the mainstream level as those condemning it a desperate and feeble marketing attempt.     The Body issue began in 2009, and has been a very popular edition for ESPN Magazine.   Yet despite coming from such a respected news outlet and its overall acceptance in the sports world, the racing community is up in arms about Courtney’s involvement.

Courtney Force Controversy

Courtney Force ESPN Mag Body Issue

Some very well respected, elite athletes make up the list of both past and present participants.    Household names such as NBA Center Dwight Howard,  NASCAR’s Carl Edwards,  Heismann winner Herschel Walker, speed skater Apolo Ohno, UFC’s John Jones among many.    The women include a wide range of athletes:  US Olympic Soccer Keeper Hope Solo, Track and Field’s Lolo Jones,  Tennis champ Serena Williams, Professional snowboarder Elena Hight, Roller Derby star Suzy Hotrod, the ENTIRE US Women’s Water Polo team, even a very pregnant olympic volleyball star Kerry Jennings Walsh.        Do each of these athletes catch near the amount of backlash?   Seemingly not.  So why is it such a problem with the drag racing community?

Public Image Scrutiny

Its a precarious line that women involved with motorsports walk.    On one hand, you are marketed and  heralded for being uniquely feminine in a masculine-dominated sport.   The media immediately sees a public interest story in the “pretty girl” behind the helmet, with driving and talent often taking a back seat.    The obvious advantage is that marketing partners see instant coverage, where women receive attention and press regardless of finishing order.  In a fiercely competitive and expensive arena like racing, drivers will use whatever assets they can to obtain sponsorship deals.

But there is a fine line to that.   The pretty-girl dressed up with her helmet photo collage has been played out time and time again.  (See, I’m guilty too.)     Posters of hot girls in front of high horsepower cars line the walls of shops and tool boxes across the country,  but put the girl DRIVING the car in that very same scene, and suddenly we have a problem.

Danica Patrick Maxim
Danica took endless heat for this bikini photo shoot.

This isn’t the first time this problem has presented itself.   Think back to this FHM spread with Danica Patrick.    To me, it looks great.  Hot girl, cool car, and added bonus that she can drive the wheels off of just about anything.   Yet, the release of this photo spread created a massive wake of those who felt it discredited her as a driver and made her just another “novelty”.

Specialty vs. Novelty

The attention gets even more critical once the initial story wears off.    Women then are subjected to microscope-like scrutiny, and pressures mount for every rookie mistake they make.  Danica had countless demanding her firesuit because she failed to win a race in her rookie IRL season.    When has any other rookie been subjected to that type of ruthless benchmark?

Remember Ashley Force’s Seattle incident?   It was her first pedal experience in a Funny Car, one of the most difficult vehicles to control in drag racing, and it got away from her while it was spinning the tires.   Any other driver would have been told to chalk it up as a learning experience and shake it off, but scores of people questioned her driving capabilities and were calling her a danger to all racers, and whether she even had enough upper body strength to control the car.

That leaves the women involved in racing a tremendous burden to bear:  you must constantly prove yourself over-qualified just to be present.    I have seen personally how women are first regarded as nothing but a novelty, not taken seriously and pushed aside with a pat on the head regardless of how much tenacity and talent possessed.

A Double-Edged Sword

The age-old question still applies:  why the double-standard for women in sports?    Courtney Force has more than proven herself in the NHRA Funny Car ranks.   She won races in an ultra-competitive class, was voted rookie of the year for her first year, and lead the points chase at several points this season.   Why, after all of that, is a photo spread calling to question whether she belongs in the sport of NHRA Drag Racing?

The answer is that the “Good Ole Boy Network” is alive and well, and very difficult to break.  Women often are passed up for much needed sponsor support.   Lack of sponsor support equals sub-par equipment.   Sub-par equipment results in lackluster performances, and lackluster performances equal lack of sponsorship dollars.    So the vicious circle lives on.   The idea behind coverage such as this is to break the circle, gain exposure for sponsors and thereby attract more support.

John Force Racing viewed the Body Issue as great coverage and exposure for their sponsors.   They asked each of their sponsors prior to her involvement if this was a decision they would approve of, and all signed off on the idea.  But what about other potential sponsors?

What do you think about the Courtney Force controversy?    

Was this a good choice for Courtney or could this potentially hurt her image?  Do you think that this will hurt her sponsorship quest in the future?  How will this impact her image in the long-run?

Comment below with your views!

Category: Horsepower & Heels Blog, Women in Racing ResourcesTag: Courtney Force, Guide to Racing, NHRA, Women Racing

Alexis DeJoria gets a taste of a new speed…Mach 2

August 13, 2012 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Alexis DeJoria flies with the USAFRemember back a few years ago, when I told you all about my *real* passion as a kid?   Well it appears I have found my kindred spirit in the NHRA world…. none other than Patron Funny Car pilot, Alexis DeJoria.

I keep in contact with Alexis and her team regularly for my Women In Motorsports column over on Examiner.com, but this week’s email from the team included something WAY out of the ordinary (if you can ever really call 300mph nitro-burning funny cars ordinary).

Alexis had the chance to jump on board an F-16 fighter jet with the USAF Thunderbolts this week, shortly after leaving the Seattle race.    Apparently, it was also HER lifelong dream to have become a fighter pilot, but after something altered her course, she too would take to the land version of piloting a high-horsepower machine by drag racing.   Sound familiar?   I swear, I think I found my new BFF.

As if I didn’t already have mad respect for Alexis, what with piloting an 8,000HP nitro-burning funny car to 300mph in less than 4 seconds and all, but NOW I can also add that she’s one of the only gals I know that have not just been SUPERSONIC, but  MACH 2 no less.    That’s twice as fast as the speed of sound folks.   And if I thought that a 3G launch was pretty intense?  Oh no, Ms. DeJoria has experienced all the intensity of an 8.4G maneuver!

I. AM. SO. UNBELIEVABLY. JEALOUS.   

Alexis also spent about 25 minutes of her hour-long experience commanding the controls the F-16 herself.    As hard as it is to imagine getting to be inside that thing for a 0-20,000 ft take-off in less than 5 seconds, or speeding along in excess of 600mph, or the inversions, verticals, loops, split S’, low altitude flying, and barrel rolls that come with these amazing machines, I could not FATHOM being able to move her around the skies myself.

So to Alexis…. I’ll be your wingman anytime!

Category: Horsepower & Heels Blog, Women in Racing NewsTag: Alexis DeJoria, NHRA, Women Racing

Force and Enders share Seattle podium

August 6, 2012 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Wow!  What a weekend for the ladies in NHRA!

Enders and Force share the podium
Erica Enders and Courtney Force hoist their Wallys in the air after both scoring wins in Seattle.

Courtney Force landed her first NHRA Funny Car victory, a feat after climbing back from the #14 position at the bottom of the ladder.   This all coming in her rookie Funny Car season, in just her 15th start.   She’s definitely proving to be quite a Force to be dealt with (pun cheesily intended).

Force and Enders share Seattle podium

But for the first time in history, she would be joined by another gal on the PRO podium, with Erica Enders also landing her second career win in Pro Stock.   Erica’s win came just 3 races after her elusive first win in Chicago, but what makes it even more poetic to me, is that this win comes just one week after the crazy controversy between her and Greg Anderson in Sonoma.

The internet has been on FIRE with the backlash against Greg after he publicly declared Erica Enders “unprofessional” on his ESPN2 interview following the round in Sonoma.    Not only was he asked by his sponsor Summit Racing to apologize to Enders and her crew, the ill-karma he wished upon her came back to bite him.   In what can only be the most fitting form of proper karma dispatch, it was Enders who put Anderson on the trailer early in the race en route to her second career win.

Enders was quite the gracious winner.    The rest of us however, had a field day with that one.

Apparently, it didn’t stop with the fans either.   Matt Hagan made a remark during his final round interview that he didn’t mind losing to a woman.    John Force also was quoted saying how capable and talent the women of our sport are, with a special mention to daughter Courtney, Erica and Shirley Muldowney.

Its sad that there are people out there who still view women as inferior competitors.  Motorsports being the great equalizer- the cars don’t know gender- its really disappointing to know the amount of sexism that still lingers.

Kudos to the ladies for such a great weekend of racing!

 

Photo:  NHRA

 

 

Category: Horsepower & Heels Blog, Women in Racing NewsTag: Courtney Force, Drag Racing, Erica Enders, Funny Car, NHRA, Pro Stock, Women Racing

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