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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.”

Erica Enders clinches 2015 Pro Stock Championship

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Erica Enders Pro Stock Champion 2015She’s had storybook season in 2015, and it seems her fairy tale just continues to re-write itself to an even happier ending.  
NHRA Pro Stock racer Erica Enders entered Vegas with a sizable points lead, broke several track records while qualifying No. 1 for the event, clinched the 2015 Championship, and extended her 4 race Vegas streak with a perfect-reaction victory in the finals.   It seems as though Erica Enders truly is the “Girl on Fire” in Pro Stock.

Enders clinches the 2015 Championship

All the mathematicians were watching the points tally for the NHRA Toyota Nationals closely, with calculations flying on when Enders would be able to snag that back-to-back championship title in Pro Stock.  They knew she needed to leave the event with a 154 point lead to be out of reach from any of her competitors, but that metric could change by how closest competitors Greg Anderson, Chris McGaha, and Drew Skillman fared in relation to her own progress through the elimination rounds.
“We came into the weekend and everyone was talking about the championship — what we have to do, crunching points and all that. My crew chiefs (Rick and Rickie Jones, Mark Ingersoll, and Brian Self) and I decided we weren’t going to talk about that and just take things one round at a time. Our goal was to make it 22 (in a row). It’s an incredible thing to accomplish. The streak we have here is incredible. I’m excited to be part of such a great group like Elite Motorsports.”
 In the second round of eliminations, Greg Anderson was eliminated by Elite teammate, Vincent Nobile.   McGaha also fell to Butner, and that left just one more key round win for Erica to seal up the points tally in her favor.
“After watching my teammate Vincent beat Greg second round, I got excited, of course, because I knew what could happen,” Enders said. “Then I thought, ‘We have to win this round.’ I fire the car, pull into the waterbox, and all my guys are jumping around, clapping, and I’m just trying to get my composure and get my heart rate down.”
She proceeded to knock out Shane Gray with a round-low pass of 6.596 seconds at 209.39 mph, and finally locked it up.   Erica Enders clinches 2015 Pro Stock Championship, her second consecutive championship in the class, one race before the close of the season.     She became the 33rd driver in NHRA history to win multiple championships and the ninth in the Pro Stock class. She’s also the first back-to-back champion in NHRA since 2011-12, when Eddie Krawiec won the Pro Stock Motorcycle title, a sight not seen in Pro Stock since Jeg Coughlin Jr. accomplished the feat in 2007-08.

A perfect victory to extend Vegas streak

Erica Enders wins VegasWith the championship sealed up, Enders knew her day was far from over, as she set out to defend her winning streak at the Vegas facility.    She defeated Skillman in the semifinals when he left .004-second too soon, setting up a final-round match with Butner.     To the disbelief of all who watched, she proceeded to cut a perfect 0.000 reaction enroute to her 6.595 second at 208.97 mph victory over Butner, with a 6.610 second at 209.33 mph effort.
“I knew it was going to be a tough race against a drive like Bo, who I know is hungry for his first win,” Enders said. “To be able to cap the second championship off with another win in Vegas is just crazy.   It’s just an incredible day,  I’m kind of speechless. Vegas has always been really good to me, and it’s nice to keep our streak going with now 22 consecutive round-wins. It’s mind-boggling.”
 Enders has won the last four national events and the last two K&N Horsepower Challenge races in Las Vegas, running her consecutive round-win streak at ‘The Strip’ to 22.   The victory marked the ninth win of the season and 21st of her career.   Enders has hit her stride, taking the victory in 15 of the last 45 races she’s entered with the Richard Freeman-owned Elite team.
“Finally I feel like I’m home with this group of guys,” Enders said. “I couldn’t have dreamed up a better crew. We truly get along, we have such great chemistry, and most importantly we have fun together. That’s why we’re so successful on the racetrack. Horsepower doesn’t hurt, but we don’t have the biggest budget. We get it done because of the people. It’s been a long road, but I’m glad to be where I’m at. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”
Though the championship is hers, Enders and the Elite team don’t intend on resting, and hope to defend their 2014 win at the Finals in Pomona.

Watch video as Erica Enders clinches the 2015 Pro Stock Championship

Erica Enders resets track record in Vegas

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Erica Enders resets track record in VegasErica Enders reset both ends of the track record in the second qualifying session of the NHRA Toyota Nationals on Friday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, earning her the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot.   Enders  has the opportunity to clinch the championship in Pro Stock if she can leave Las Vegas with a 151-point lead.  She began the race with a  154 point lead, padding that by three based on qualifying points from the first two sessions.
Her 6.559 seconds at 210.28 mph run set track records for elapsed time and speed at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and it was the fastest corrected run in Pro Stock history — taking into account altitude and other factors — at 6.381 seconds at 216.65 mph.
“I’m glad we were able to accomplish it,” Enders said. “Having said that, we’ve got two more important runs tomorrow. We need to scoop up all the qualifying bonus points we possibly can and try to stay on the pole. We need to go into Sunday with our heads down and get to work. We’ve got a lot to accomplish still, and I want to win the race. I want to make it four in a row. I couldn’t be more proud to be their driver; they’re an awesome group of men.”
 Las Vegas has been good to Enders, with dominant performances at The Strip over the past two years, sweeping both national events in 2014 and winning here in April. To go along with those two victories, Enders has won the special K&N Horsepower Challenge here the last two years.
“I think we have 18 consecutive round-wins here, and the goal is to get to 22,” Enders said. “Having said that, we go back to taking things one at a time. My guys performed really well here, and my crew chiefs seem to have a good handle on this track and the dry air.   Our race car is working. We stumbled onto some stuff in Dallas that we had been working really hard to figure out. As most people watched, they could see our performance change a little bit on Sunday. We certainly translated that to here. I’m excited and cautiously optimistic to be in the position we’re in.”
 Enders posted the quickest ET in both qualifying sessions this weekend, but her Q2 pass was the most impressive, netting her the track record in Vegas.
“We made a good run in the first session,” Enders said. “The weather (for Q2) was actually not as good as it was for the first session, so we really just stepped on it. I could not be more proud of my team. Our Elite Performance horsepower is really showing through right when we need it most. Pair that with our excellent teamwork, and my driving has been pretty decent lately. The sky is the limit for us.
Qualifying will continue today at 12:15PM and 3:45PM Pacific Time (UTC-08:00).  Eliminations are scheduled to begin at noon on Sunday.

Fast Women Friday #2

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It’s  FAST WOMEN FRIDAY #2!

Thanks for a great first week for #FastWomenFriday!  We had a great turnout for the inaugural link-up party!  A few highlights if you missed it:

  1. Tribute to Marie LaurentRachel from SpeedQueens sent over a great tribute on French rally racer Marie Laurent.   Marie pioneered the rally racing circuits in 1970’s, and Rachel’s post about Laurent highlights her career in the sport, her departure from racing in the early 1980’s for family, all the way to her death in 2015 at the age of 71.  The piece is a beautiful tribute to ensuring Marie’s legacy is never forgotten.
  2. Megan Meyer Drag IllustratedMegan Meyer shared with us her Drag Illustrated blog that talks about her shift into licensing for Top Alcohol Dragster, her successful class-debut this summer, and her 2016 racing plans- including the launch of an “augmented reality” marketing program with her team that she developed to make it even easier to interact with fans at the racetrack.
  3. Shea HolbrookRoad racing/drag racing crossover racer, Shea Holbrook represented Women in Motorsports at the Annual Women’s Sports Foundation Salute in NYC this week.  She joined 7x Indy 500 driver and mentor, Lyn St. James, to represent motorsports in the salute.   Holbrook is a past recipient of the “Women’s Sports Foundation’s Women in the Winners Circle Project Podium Grant,” designed to help young racers overcome the business challenges unique to motorsports.
  4. Open Road RadioWide Open RadioCourtney Lambert from Wide Open Radio and Gina Woods from Open Road Radio both stopped by to share their pages.  Both ladies are longtime popular radio personalities on two of the largest motorcycle enthusiast radio programs on the air for the biker community.

There were plenty more great posts from McKenna Haase, Elaine Larsen, Girls N Garages, and Michelle Abbate you don’t want to miss, so be sure to check them out.

Fast Women Friday Linky Party #2

Fast Women FridayHorsepower & Heels is passionate about celebrating, supporting and promoting Women in Motorsports and Automotive.    This Fast Women Friday Link Party  is hosted to feature more amazing content and resources that help and highlight female racers, women working in motorsports, and any of the ladies in the automotive/gearhead spaces.

Got something interesting to share?   This is a great way to mingle and discover others around the net who are just as passionate about Women in Motorsports!    Join up below!

How this works

  1. The party will be open through next Wednesday evening to share your posts and other content related to or helpful for Women in Motorsports.
  2. Each week, we’ll feature the most popular finds from the party scene + share them to our social circles. Sharing is caring, it’s how we all grow!
  3. To enter your posts, just click the You’re Next link below (under the party posts).   They will automatically update onto the party space.   You can share your race news posts, your personal pages, or anything that relates to women racing, but please NO SPAMMING.
  4. Be sure to visit other party goers blogs and comment – mingle with the party attendees!   Fast Women Friday is about connecting and interacting with others!
  5. I’d love for you to give a little share love to this party post and invite your friends!   Feel free to use the graphic above and link back to this post.
  6. HAVE FUN!

Fast Women Friday Link Up Party Posts



Brittany Force transporter wreckage

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Brittany Force Transporter Wreckage
Photo Source: Facebook

The Monster Energy transport hauler of NHRA Top Fuel driver Brittany Force was spotted wrecked on the side of Interstate 70 West in Missouri around mile marker 99 heading towards Kansas City.

Brittany Force transporter wreck
Photo Source: Facebook

Witness accounts of the mangled transporter reported on Facebook that the hauler, traveling westbound on I-70 near Boonville, MO to this weekend’s Toyota NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, took evasive measures when an east-bound traveling vehicle crossed the median into the path of the 18 wheeler. The Monster Energy transporter, carrying Brittany Force’s Top Fuel Dragster and service equipment for the team, struck the railing and lodged itself beneath the concrete support pilings of an overpass.

Brittany’s team driver and the hauler’s occupants are all reported to be ok.

The tractor was found on its side with extensive damage, but it appears that the contents of the trailer may have weathered better in the scary collision.  No other details have been released.

[Source: Dragzine.com]

Brittany Force currently sits in the #4 position in points following the Dallas event.   She is 207 points behind leader Antron Brown, but the remaining top 5 contenders are close in points.

Video of Brittany Force Transporter Wreckage

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.

Eighth historic win for Enders

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Eighth historic win for EndersErica Enders shattered yet another record on Sunday, taking the victory at the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals in Dallas, TX.    She bested Angelle Sampey’s 2001 7-race record of the most wins for a female in one season, beating her nearest two rivals in the Mello Yello points to power to a massive 154-point advantage with just two races left. The eighth historic win for Enders marked an NHRA-leading feat for the season, and first victory of her career in Dallas.
“I am so glad we were able to get this eighth win here in my home state,” said Enders, who grew up in the Houston suburbs. “You know, I have been talking about a cowboy hat for months, just waiting to come here and win a cowboy hat, so I’m excited to be able to get that done in front of all of our friends and family. It’s just a huge blessing.”
 A cowboy hat is the traditional winner’s gift at the Texas Motorplex, a complex owned by former Funny Car driver Billy Meyer. This year, the winner’s also got a belt buckle to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the event.
The stage was set early for a decisive race, as the top three contenders in the Pro Stock championship chase were paired early, ensuring a shake up in the standings.   Though Enders carried a good cushion into round one, a win here would really help distance her from the competition.   After qualifying 4th with a 6.480, Erica would face Vieri Gaines in Round 1, taking the win with a career-best 6.467 second E.T. at 214.25 mph.  This feat tied as the 8th fastest pass in the history of Pro Stock.
This set up a big match up with bitter rival Chris McGaha, who is third in the points. McGaha had defeated second-ranked Greg Anderson in his opening race.  Behind the scenes, this match-up was steeped in conflict and, for both teams, was personal.
“Those first two rounds were very significant,” Enders said. “First round, we watched (McGaha) beat Greg right in front of us and then we crushed his ET by .400s to earn lane choice in our race against him. We didn’t want to give him anything.  There is a lot of stuff that goes on behind the scenes that people don’t know about and (McGaha’s) team has been running their mouths. I said from the beginning we’ll let the scoreboard do the talking.”
Enders was 12-2 in career meetings against McGaha entering the second round.   With both teams on edge, the two began their burnouts and staging.   McGaha entered the beams first, bypassing common  courtesy staging and “double bulbing” Enders.   But it didn’t seem to rattle the reigning Pro Stock World Champion, who cut an impressive 0.008 reaction at the tree, en route to a new career-quickest E.T of 6.467 seconds at 214.25 mph.
“There’s no need to argue with ignorant people, so when I went up there and he double-bulbed me, I said ‘bring it on, I don’t care,’ and I was able to drill him with a .008-second reaction time and then totally out-run him. I think we sent a big message. I definitely wanted to beat him, and my guys wanted to beat him even more so that was a nice deal for us.”
 From there, Enders went on to take the wins against Drew Skillman and Jonathon Gray for the historic victory and the big edge in the NHRA Pro Stock points standings.
“We just have such great team chemistry and great horsepower so I’m a happy girl,” Enders said. “(ESPN top-end reporter) Gary Gerould said in our interview, that we have an eight-round lead with only eight rounds of racing left, and that’s really cool, but I don’t care. I want all the points that we can get.  We go into every race wanting to win more than anything in the world and we do our best to step up to the plate. You know, I talk about my guys all of the time but I’ll put my money on them every single Sunday, every single round of qualifying, because they are the best. They bring it and I bring it and together I think the sky is the limit for us.”

Resume Development 101: Int’l Women’s Auto Society

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Check out this beneficial online training session hosted by the International Women’s Automotive Society.

Resume Development 101Resume Development 101

This is a FREE online educational training session, hosted by the International Women’s Automotive Society.    Moderator Bianca Huerta will help you sharpen your skills in developing an impressive resume that will leave a lasting impression on potential employers.    Looking to advance your career and land your dream job?   Your resume is what gets you in the door to a better opportunity.

The event is FREE and open to all with PC, Mac, iOS and Android equipped devices.

Monday, October 19th   7:00 PM  EST

More details and login information will be available on IWAS Resume Development 101 Facebook Event.    Please RSVP and join others in this informative session.

International Women’s Automotive Society

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International Women's Automotive SocietyI recently stumbled upon a fantastic new organization geared to women in the automotive industry called the International Women’s Automotive Society that really impressed me with the work they are doing, and I wanted to be sure that I shared with you.  It’s definitely a MUST for Women in the Automotive world.

International Women’s Automotive Society

The International Women’s Automotive Society (IWAS) is a 501(c)3 non-profit aimed at developing a community of women to encourage, educate, assist, and create a positive impact for women in the automotive industry.    It is a growing group of very passionate and talented women who are helping one another by leveraging their individual knowledge and strengths to teach and empower the group.   They provide a wealth of information and resources to female automotive enthusiasts and professionals, and work as a collective to help support its membership through education, encouragement, assistance and advocacy of women in automotive.

Women of Auto Features

IWAS regularly features inspiring stories of its members that detail their personal journey in the automotive industry in their Women of Auto feature section.   Each story gives an in-depth look at the life of a female in automotive, recounting her struggles, successes and future goals.   They are also promoted through the sites social networks, giving added exposure to the featured member all month long.

Female Automotive Clubs

If you’re looking for a women’s auto enthusiast club to find like-minded ladies that share in your passion, IWAS has a section devoted to Female Automotive Clubs.   Here you can find regional and national clubs for women in a variety of different sub-cultures of the automotive industry.

Female-Owned Business

When you’re choosing who you shop for, its always helpful to support female-owned businesses.    IWAS regularly adds new female-owned automotive businesses to their Female Owned Automotive Business list.  These businesses include everything from service shops, part resellers, media organizations and other businesses within the industry.

Educational Tips for Careers in Automotive

Wanting to pursue a career in automotive, but don’t know where to start?   The IWAS team has put together a useful resource that details different educational paths – from technical and vocational colleges to traditional degree programs and even military training.   Many of the members have earned degrees or are currently pursuing an education in automotive, and their Industry Education resource gives you access to real-life experiences and advice.

Automotive Industry Scholarships

Need help getting your automotive education?    One of the most amazing resources on the site is its Automotive Industry Scholarship section.    This section finds and lists scholarships and opportunities available to women in the automotive industry.   They range from technical school-specific to foundation-granted general tuition awards for those pursuing advancement in the automotive industry.

Member Only Access

There are several special members-only sections and benefits set aside for IWAS members.   Perks such as free magazine subscriptions to media partner, Girls N Garages magazine, a product review section to get feedback on products, exclusive Women of Automotive merchandise, and direct interaction with other IWAS members through members only groups and forums.

Join the International Women’s Automotive Society

It is free to join the International Women’s Society.   Membership allows you to get involved with all IWAS events and opportunities- from educational seminars, industry events, special cause benefits, and much more.    Building a community of like-minded and supportive women, you can benefit from and give back to mentorships programs, and general camaraderie with fellow ladies who have a passion for automotive.   Interested parties are encouraged to fill out a membership form at Join IWAS.  

There are also opportunities for companies to sponsor educational events or give tax-free donations to the organization.

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).