Celebrating, promoting and supporting female racers and women in motorsports

You are here: Home / Archives for PDRA

Melanie Salemi’s rookie Pro Mod season

//  by 

Melanie Salemi Pro BoostPDRA Pro Boost racer Melanie Salemi will celebrate the end of her rookie Pro Mod season at the PRI Show this week in Indianapolis, IN.    Melanie and her beautiful G-Force Racing 1968 Pro Boost Firebird will be on display in the Ross Pistons Booth #1801 December 10-12, 2o15 at the racing industry’s largest tradeshow.

Melanie Salemi’s Rookie Pro Mod Season

Melanie Salemi wins Dragstock XII in Pro BoostMelanie took on the tough competition all season long in the PDRA’s Pro Boost class, earning her first win in just her second start in the class at the Dragstock XII event in Rockingham, North Carolina.   Salemi qualified #3 at the event, before running consistent 3.86 second elapsed times through the eliminations rounds, taking out Anthony Disomma in the final to become the first woman to earn a professional victory in the PDRA’s Pro Boost class.

It’s been an awesome experience to say the least. I know it’s cliché but my team is so great. I don’t really feel that there is another team as versatile as ours. Every aspect of this car is built and maintained under our own roof. Engine, chassis, tuning, maintenance and management, It really is a one stop shop.  Without the effort from my entire team this just wouldn’t be possible. I feel it’s huge advantage and has all of us very excited for 2016 and beyond”, stated Salemi.

Melanie Salemi G-Force 68 Pro Boost FirebirdSalemi plans for 2016 season

The Melanie Salemi Racing team isn’t sitting idle during the off-season.   They plan to switch their combination to an electronic fuel injection system with the support of Fueltech USA to maximize engine efficiency and allow them better tuning control and management on the track.   They plan to begin on-track testing in January with the new combination after they conclude extensive dyno testing on their in-house engine dyno.

Salemi to debut new Firebird in Memphis PDRA

//  by 

Melanie Salemi Rendering 68 Firebird
Rendering: Rod Burke
15 year Top Dragster veteran, Melanie Salemi is set to debut a striking new 1968 Firebird at the PDRA Memphis Drags this weekend.   Salemi stepped into the Pro Boost class earlier this season, earning her license and competed in 3 races with Tommy Zarella’s 2004 C5 Corvette.
“I am so thankful to Tommy Zarella of TT Motorsports, he had faith in what we were doing and without him I wouldn’t have been able to get the experiance behind the wheel before our new car was finished” explained Salemi. “Tommy has been a big part of our race team for the past couple of years and we couldn’t be more proud to have him on board continuing to supply us with the drivetrain for this new car.”
This weekend, she will showcase her  brand new G-Force Race Cars built 1968 Firebird in the Pro Boost category with the Professional Drag Racing Association.   The project is the result of a collective vision put forth by Mike Stawicki (MSR Performance), Jim Salemi (G-Force Race Cars), Jon Salemi (Resolution Racing Services) and Melanie on what they wanted to do with their team, and the group is proud that it has now become a reality.
“Although we didn’t start working on the car until late spring, things moved quickly. We wanted to make sure we had this car ready for this season and a lot of effort on everyone’s part is what it took. Late nights and early mornings but we are all really happy with the outcome” stated Jim Salemi. 
The rendering was designed by popular hotrod/racing designer Rod Burke of Burke Designs.   Paint on the beautiful pro mod was sprayed by Scott Jahren of Scott Jahren Paint from Tonawanda, New York.
Melanie Salemi 68 Firebird
Photo: Pumice Mendola 33.33 Marketing