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Shea Racing announces 2017 schedule

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Shea Racing announces 2017 scheduleTouring driver, Shea Holbrook and her team, Shea Racing announces 2017 schedule to kicking off another season of Pirelli World Challenge racing.   

This weekend, the team has a scheduled test session with suspension partner, KONI Shock Absorbers at Sebring International Raceway.   They will follow up with a second test session before the season opener at Virginia International Raceway, April 28-30th.  

Fielding 4 Honda entries this season, Shea and returning teammate Jason Ficher will compete in the Accord Touring Cars.   Tom O’Gorman and a yet-to-be-announced 4th driver will team up to campaign Honda Civic SIs in the TCA category.  

With the team and series growth we look forward to a successful year both on and off track,” says Holbrook.

Shea Racing 2017 schedule

  • April 28-30, Virginia International Raceway
  • May 19-21, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
  • May 26-27, Lime Rock Park
  • August 11-13, Utah Motorsport Campus
  • September 1-3, Circuit of the Americas
  • October 13-15, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Larsen Motorsports partners with Space Coast Tourism

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Larsen Motorsports partners with Space Coast Office of TourismPalm Bay, Florida based Jet Dragster Super Team, Larsen Motorsports announced they have aligned with the Space Coast Tourism Office in order to help promote tourism and careers on Florida’s Space Coast in 2017.

Florida’s Space Coast is a family-friendly destination located 45-minutes east of Orlando.  Encompassing Cocoa Beach, Melbourne & the Beaches, Port Canaveral, Titusville, and Palm Bay, it is home to the world’s second busiest cruise port and 72 miles of beaches, the longest stretch in the state; as well as 190,000 acres of wetlands and waterways full of habitat found nowhere else. Plus, Florida’s Space Coast is where rockets still soar into orbit from Kennedy Space Center.

Larsen Motorsports fields a 3-car exhibition jet dragster team at over two dozen premium venues across the country – from drag racing track locations, tradeshow venues, corporate appearances and more.  

As our teams travel across the country, we have the opportunity to help promote Florida’s Space Coast to a multitude of people” said Chris Larsen, co-owner of Larsen Motorsports, “Our vehicles and staff directly represent a large number of the initiatives Brevard County wishes to promote. With our teams’ home right here on Florida’s Space Coast, Larsen Motorsports is perfectly positioned to help deliver the Space Coast Office of Tourism message to a very large audience across North America.”

Space Coast - Elaine LarsenElaine Larsen, co-owner of Larsen Motorsports and driver of the Florida Institute of Technology Jet Dragster, has made incredible contributions to not only the drag racing community – helping to train many young dragster pilots such as Kat Moller, Shea Holbrook, Kat Redner, Allison West, Marisha Falk, and many other ladies in the sport; but also on the crew and engineering side with their Jet Developmental Center focused on hands-on training in jet car engineering, fabrication and more.    Elaine holds several World Championships in the Jet class, aided by her crew chief Paige Sanchez.    Larsen Motorsports has been known previously as the “Fastest Girls in Town” for the team’s strong history of helping advance women in motorsports.  Their emphasis on training and development, research and hands-on engineering/fabrication advancements reflects their highly successful partnership with the Florida Institute of Technology and their dedication to giving back to the sport and their local community.

 “I am so excited about this newest partnership!” said Elaine Larsen.  “When I am not racing, it is good to come home to Florida’s Space Coast, where there is always something to do.  This paradise may be home for me, but a destination for others to enjoy as well.”

For more information, contact the Space Coast Office of Tourism at (877) 572-3224 or VisitSpaceCoast.com.

Most Improved in 2016

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The Most Improved Woman of the Year category received 30 nominations and 53 votes for the 2016 Horsepower & Heels Women of the Year Awards.    This recognizes women who have made significant strides at their trades.  

Most Improved - Aileen Collins-LoveMost Improved Woman of the Year 2016 –  Aileen Collins-Love

Horsepower & Heels is proud to announce the winner of the 2016 Women of the Year Most Improved category – Sprint Car Owner/ Driver Aileen Collins-Love!

Aileen finished in 3rd place for the Eagle Jet Top Gun Series Points for the 2016 season.  She improved upon her 10th standing in 2015, and worked hard all season to showcase her talent behind the wheel.

Most Improved Runner Up 2016 –  Megan Meyer

Top Alcohol Dragster Drag Racer, Megan Meyer, was your Most Improved Woman of the Year Runner-Up for the 2016 Horsepower & Heels Women of the Year Awards.

Most Improved Woman of the Year 2016 Nominees

  • 2016 Horsepower & Heels Women of the YearHeather Carter
  • Leah Pritchett
  • Janette Thornley
  • Brittany Force
  • Natalie Waggoner
  • Shannon Giust
  • Aileen Collins-Love
  • Angelle Sampey
  • Kayli Barker
  • Cheryl Hyrn
  • Mia Tedesco
  • Angelle Sampey
  • Amber Balcaen
  • Michelle Furr
  • Danica Patrick
  • Marina Anderson
  • Randi Lyn Shipp
  • Laura Landry
  • Lacey Martin
  • Sarah Burgess
  • Sondra Leslie
  • Sarah Boyce
  • Michele Kato
  • Shea Holbrook
  • Brooke Storer
  • Sarah Edwards

 

 

Project Speed: Holbrook and Mueller attempt Land Speed Record

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Project Speed Holbrook and Mueller attempt Land Speed Record

Project Speed: Holbrook and Mueller attempt Land Speed Record

Motorsport hot shoe Shea Holbrook will join fifteen USA national Cycling champion Denise Mueller in attempt to be the first woman in cycling history to break the paced bicycle land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats.  Holbrook will pilot the pace car in which Mueller will draft, to bore a hole through the wind at very high speeds.  In what they are calling Project Speed, the duo of Holbrook and Mueller will  attempt Land Speed Record run this fall.

Project Speed is one woman’s story of athletic empowerment.  The spirit of Project Speed began in 1899, when Charles “mile-minute” Murphy paced the world’s fastest train-the Long Island express- to 60 mph on a single speed track bicycle.  Newspapers of the day reported “women fainted at the news!”  In the 117 years since that feat, the ultimate bicycle speed record has changed hands eleven times, always by men.

That final bastion of male dominance ironically may fall at the hands of one of the most powerful cyclists in the world, who happens to be a woman who has never fainted.  Denise Mueller owns fifteen USA Cycling national championships and is gunning for the ultimate paced speed record of 167 mph set nearly 20 years ago by world motor pacing champion Fred Rompelberg of the Netherlands.

Holbrook and Mueller attempt Land Speed RecordTo complete the powered by women theme, the Range Rover Sport SVR pace car will be driven by professional driver Shea Holbrook.  The 26-year-old is a 6-time Pirelli World Challenge winner and has competed in the International Hot Rod Association driving a jet dragster at 278 mph.

“Denise has unbelievable athletic ability and willpower like none other I’ve seen.  From the moment we spoke over the phone there was an unexplainable connection and I knew I wanted to be a part of what will be a historical moment.  I’m ecstatic to take on the responsibility of being Denise’s pace car driver.  Ultimately, I will drive the car that literally bores a hole through the wind and allows Denise to draft at very high speeds. Something I cannot wait to do,” a thrilled Holbrook said of the opportunity.

Denise Mueller, equally as thrilled to have Shea Holbrook as part of the female team explained Holbrook’s importance to Project Speed.

“Shea fills the gap we were searching for making what I believe, a dynamic duo. Her expertise behind the wheel, ability to engage and fully understand what it will be like for me behind the Hoehn Range Rover and overall charisma fuels us toward achieving this goal,” said Denise Mueller.

Since 1899, motor pacing records have had a long tradition in elite cycling. Fewer than a dozen people have tried, all have been exclusively men that have accomplished the feat. Some attempts have ended in near disaster.  Fred Rompelberg set the current paced record of 167 mph behind a modified race car in Bonneville, UT.  He nearly died in the attempt, and needed three years to recover after initially crashing on the salt at over 140 mph.

Project Speed: Holbrook, Mueller, HowardMueller and Holbrook will be coached by 3-time Olympic racer and cycling Hall of Famer John Howard. Howard set the world record of 152 mph in 1985 at Bonneville. In addition to being Mueller’s coach, he’s also her biggest supporter.

“Denise has extraordinary power, the highest wattage I’ve seen from a female. She is also an amazing bike handler, having made the podium at the worlds in downhill mountain bike racing,” Howard said of his athlete.

The goal is to get Mueller to beat her coach John Howard’s record by reaching 153 mph and Fred Rompelberg’s paced record by reaching 168 mph. Passion, precision and persistence will all be required to set Denise up for a wildly successful ride across the salt flats. With a best in class team on her side, Denise and Shea are poised to take the salt by storm in September, 2016.

Follow along as Holbrook and Mueller attempt Land Speed Record and learn more on how to get involved at www.TheProjectSpeed.com and/or www.SheaRacing.com.   Project Speed is a special program of Perimeter Bicycling, a nonprofit organization (501c3) 100% of your contributions will go to Project Speed & is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Shea Holbrook is ready for Canadian Tire Motorsports Park

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Shea Holbrook canadian tire motorsport parkSix-time event winner and Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car class competitor Shea Holbrook is ready for Canadian Tire Motorsports Park this weekend.    Her Shea Racing team will compete in Rounds 3 and 4 of the Pirelli World Challenge Championships May 19-22 at the Durham, ON race facility.

The Shea Racing team has seen both success and defeat at the high-speed 10-turn road course. Both Shea Holbrook and teammate Jason Fichter have made podium appearances previously at the daunting track, and hope for repeat performances in the Touring Car class this weekend.

Cool Jobs in Sports – espnW feature

Shea HolbrookHolbrook was recently honored with a special feature in espnW Magazine’s “Cool Jobs in Sports” spotlight.   Shea shared her career path in motorsports, including her start as a competitive water skier, and how a NASCAR ride-along changed her direction.

She also shared her experiences as a cross-over driver into the IHRA Drag Racing scene, and what driving a jet-powered dragster to her first win was like.

In addition to her responsibilities as Shea Racing team owner and driver, the University of Central Florida graduate also is an instructor for the SCCA Track Night in America program.   The program is an easy and inexpensive way for nearly anyone who loves cars or motorsports to get on a racecourse in their own vehicle on a weeknight.   As Track Night coordinator, Holbrook provides driving advice to participants, coaching them to improve their skill and performances.

Shea Holbrook returns to touring

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Shea Racing - Shea HolbrookMulti-discipline driver Shea Holbrook returns to touring car racing to campaign a two-car team of Honda Accord V6’s in the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) championships.    The 6-time PWC winner climbs back into a Touring Car seat after a successful season of drag racing a 250+ mph jet dragster in the IHRA Nitro Jam Series with Larsen Motorsports.    Her Shea Racing teammate will be  2015 Trans Am TA3 “Rookie of the Year,” Jason Fichter.

The 2016 season marks Shea Racing’s seventh year competing in the various touring car classes, their first year back since 2012.

With the help of our partners and successes in the TCA and TCB classes we’re ecstatic to be back in the Touring Car class with 2016 Honda Accord V6’s alongside my new teammate, Jason Fichter. We certainly look forward to getting these cars on track and are grateful to our partners, the crew and Honda Racing HPD for providing the momentum we needed during the off-season to make this possible,” said Shea Holbrook, co-owner and driver.

 

Holbrook took the podium twice at Circuit of the Americas last season between events in her 14-race schedule driving the IHRA Jet Dragster. Anxious for her return to a full season in PWC,  she is set to pilot the No. 67 BUBBA Burger, Lucas Oil, KONI Shock Absorber Honda Accord.

I am incredibly thrilled to be representing BUBBA burgers, the household freezer brand with 100% additive free meat for our all-natural products. As well as, Lucas Oil, our American manufacturer and distributor for automotive oil, additives, and lubricants and KONI Shock Absorbers, the world’s leading manufacturer of shock absorbers for the OEM and aftersales market,” said Holbrook.    “This is a pivotal year for the team as our partnerships and technical relationships are the backbone of our operation.”

Shea Holbrook podiumThe Shea Racing team has expanded their technical partnerships this season to include CCW Custom Wheels and Rims, and will debut the newly launched TS12 Corsair R-Spec wheels engineered for track performance on the Accords.  Shea’s Accord will also be outfitted by MOMO’s safety gear and driver cockpit components.

Both Shea Racing entries will exert braking confidence with StopTech High Performance Brake Systems STR-40 four piston Trophy Race Calipers. CoolShirts Systems will maintain driver safety and comfort by keeping the Shea Racing drivers cool with the Pro Air and Water System. Heeltoe Automotive has also joined the team as the official Performance Parts Supplier of the Shea Racing Accord duo.

The first outing for the Shea Racing team will be the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge season-opener March 4-6th at the Circuit of the Americas.

Larsen Motorsports wins Innovation award

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IHRA Jet Drag Racing super team, Larsen Motorsports, was recently recognized by the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast as their 2016 Innovation Company of the Year.

Larsen Motorsports wins Innovation awardThe award selects a business who demonstrates innovation in product or service offerings, manufacturing productivity or processes, sales and marketing approach that result in increased investment.     Larsen Motorsports, Inc was selected for carrying out the goal of bringing new talent in driving, design, engineering, maintenance and development of their jet drag racing development program.    The program, which was recently expanded, reaches talent from around the world from their Brevard County, Florida location in Palm Bay.

Founders  Elaine Larsen and Chris Larsen accepted the award on behalf of the company at the EDC’s Investor Update Meeting on January 20th, where companies were displaying locally made products in the Made in Brevard showcase exhibit.

“Our passion is to create a unique hands-on training experience that will inspire the next generation of learners into STEM related majors”, stated Chris. “With a unique business focus, a niche home as the anchor of Florida Tech’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Design (CAMID), and a team of innovators creating new and inventive product designs, we are honored to be a part of this business community and appreciate the EDC’s recognition as an innovator making a difference.”

Larsen Motorsports 2015 Team of the YearThe Larsen Motorsports team trained and provided development for the four jet dragsters teams in the program, nicknamed the “Fastest Girls in Town”.   As driver, Elaine Larsen won the IHRA Jet Dragster Championship for 2015, aided by her crew chief and engineering student, Paige Sanchez.   Other development program drivers in the program: Shea Holbrook, Kat Moller, Allison West, Dawn Purdue and Marisha Falk – all drove the 250+ mph jet dragsters.   The Larsen Motorsports team also won the Horsepower & Heels Female Motorsports Team of the Year for 2015.

Female Motorsport Team of the Year 2015

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The Female Motorsport Team of the Year category received 45 nominations and 263 votes for the Horsepower & Heels Women of the Year Awards.    Votes were counted twice and three times in this category, in what ended up the closest race of the awards program.   Only TWO votes decided the winner.

2015 Female Motorsport Team of the Year – Larsen Motorsports

Larsen Motorsports 2015 Team of the YearHorsepower & Heels is proud to announce the winner of the 2015 Women of the Year Female Motorsport Team category – Jet Dragster Super Team, Larsen Motorsports!

They are known as the ‘Fastest Girls in Town’ for a good reason.   Larsen Motorsports is home to 2015 IHRA Jet Dragster Champion, Elaine Larsen; her crew chief Paige Sanchez, and regular Jet drivers Kat Moller, Allison West, Marisha Falk, and Shea Holbrook.    Larsen Motorsport recently opened their own Jet Development center, and is known for mentoring new jet drivers and crew members, especially young ladies, through their educational programs.

Their commitment to helping women excel in the sport is unsurpassed.

Runner Up – Elite Motorsports

2015 Team of the Year AwardThe two-time reigning Pro Stock World Championship team behind Erica Enders, Elite Motorsports is your Team of the Year Runner-Up for the 2015 Horsepower & Heels Women of the Year Awards.

Female Motorsport Team of the Year Nominees

  • Miss Behaving Racing
  • Dream Chaser Racin’
  • Hellion B Team
  • Team Elrod
  • Dote Racing
  • John Force Racing
  • Dina Parise Racing
  • Team Patron
  • Horsepower & Heels Women of the YearMelanie Salemi Motorsports
  • Performance by Fisher Racing
  • Meyer Sisters Racing
  • Amy Tate
  • GRR Racing
  • Team Haddock Racing
  • Kayli Barker
  • Meehan Motorsports
  • Jami Weimer
  • Ashley Sanford Racing
  • Emily Shapiro
  • Heidi Steele
  • Stewart-Haas Racing/GoDaddy
  • Tina Pierce Racing
  • Grace Autosports
  • Kendra Adams Motorsports
  • Martha Lee Motorsports
  • Mia Tedesco Racing
  • Teryx Girls
  • Madelyn Marconi
  • Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing
  • Bayde Motorsports
  • Terry Chandler
  • Ruman Racing
  • Haase Racing
  • Jessi Combs
  • Bunny and the Boys
  • CFH Racing
  • Alex Taylor
  • Cassie Gannis
  • Samira Rached
  • Audrey Worm
  • Volvo Ocean Race Team
  • Musi Racing
  • Sauber F1 Team

Ladies of Racing PRI 2015 PHOTOS

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It’s time for the 2015 Performance Racing Industry tradeshow, and the women of motorsports are out working the business side of racing, networking with contacts, and showing support for their sponsors.

Check out these cool social shares of photos from the ladies of racing working the show floor at PRI 2015!  

This Gallery is from Day 1…. stay tuned tomorrow for highlights from Day 2!

[SOURCE:  Facebook/Twitter]

Ladies of Racing PRI 2015 Photos – Day 1 Gallery-