“Today’s conditions were tricky to say the least,” said Pritchett. “Our team is known for being quick – yet conservative. Really looking at the situation of limited qualifying runs and needing to get down the race track - Rob, Doug & the crew did a phenomenal job of correctly reading our situation.”

 There are several unusual circumstances surrounding this weekend’s race in Reading, PA, the first being only one session of qualifying because of rain and cold. NHRA also chose to run a 14 car ladder for Top Fuel. This means Pritchett will take on #13 qualified Shawn Langdon in round one, in what has become déjà vu for her.

“This is the third year in a row of racing him in the first round in Reading; 2013, 2014 and now 2015. It’s another Shawn Langdon/Leah Pritchett match up, but hopefully with some different results this year.” Pritchett went on to add, “It’s been more than awesome to come out here with a Sparkling ICE® car that looks great, received so well by fans and then to put on a great show for them, showing them how strong our Dote Racing team is. We want to thank all the fans for toughing it out in this cold weather. We look forward to turning on some win lights and setting some career best runs.”

Round one of eliminations at the 2015 NHRA Keystone Nationals is scheduled to get underway at 11:00 a.m. EST Sunday morning. Fans can also watch coverage of eliminations on ESPN2 on Sunday beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST.

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 19, 2015) – Top Fuel racer Leah Pritchett qualified the Gumout “Lady in Red” dragster in the fourth position entering Sunday’s final eliminations for the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

Prtichett made two qualifying attempts Saturday for Dote Racing but the hot track conditions made it tough on the nitro-powered Top Fuel dragster teams. The early afternoon runs saw a track temperature of 123 degrees followed up by 117 degrees in the later afternoon attempts.

Despite the heat in the track surface, several teams were able to record solid runs including Pritchett’s 3.890-second run at 309.63 miles per hour. Larry Dixon had the best run of the day at 3.83.

The top four qualifiers in Top Fuel were Clay Millican at 3.75, Tony Schumacher at 3.77, Steve Torrence at 3.78 and Pritchett at 3.80.  All top times were set in the Friday evening qualifying session.

Pritchett, the Southern Nationals runner-up, faces veteran Pat Dakin in the first round of eliminations Sunday scheduled for noon EDT. ESPN2 will show the finals at 8:30 p.m. EDT.

“We knew that the track conditions would be getting hotter each day for the Charlotte event,” said Pritchett, who enjoyed showing Carolina Panthers players Bene’ Benwikere and Roman Harper her Gumout Top Fuel dragster during the Friday night action. “Friday evening’s hits would be the best track surface for the Top Fuelers and you saw the best times then. Today was tough. No doubt about it. We tried a different setup on the first run and smoked the tires.  Then we came back and made a nice pass against Shawn (Langdon) later this afternoon.”

Pritchett sees Sunday’s eliminations being hotter than Saturday’s conditions but she is confident that the Dote squad has a good set for the tricky track surface.

“We have been good in the hotter conditions this year,” Leah explained. “We got to the finals at Atlanta (Dragway) in May and it was extremely hot and humid. And we ran well at Bristol in the heat as well. So I know that Doug (Kuch, crew chief) and Rob (Flynn, tuner) have their settings put together for this type of track surface. Hey, it’s very tricky and everyone knows it too. But I feel good about our chances on Sunday. Qualifying fourth puts the Gumout ‘Lady in Red’ in a strong spot right now.”

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 6, 2015) – Even the oppressive heat and humidity Sunday at Lucas Oil Raceway didn’t discourage Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett as the 27-year-old California native qualified for her first U.S. Nationals in the Top Fuel dragster division.  

Driving the red chrome “Lady in Red” Gumout machine, Pritchett finished 11th in the 22-driver Top Fuel field after making two attempts on the hot and greasy track surface that saw temperatures reach nearly 130 degrees.

The Avon, Ind., resident posted times of 4.08 and 4.73 seconds in the heat of the day where the top 12 qualifiers remained the same after Saturday night’s impressive runs. Pritchett clocked a 3.84 on Saturday. Final eliminations will be held Monday, Sept. 7.

“We had a great starting line leave in the first session today,” said Pritchett, who’ll face Morgan Lucas in the first round in Monday’s final eliminations. “We have made adjustments over the past few days with the hotter and more humid conditions. That leave was just what we were looking for. We then hazed the tires right past the 330-foot mark. It was very close to being a solid, strong pass. It was just a bit too much horsepower for the track at that time of the day.

“But our Gumout/Dote Racing team was able to study the computer readings and prepare for the second hit on Sunday and the conditions for Monday’s eliminations. We feel good that the car will be on the pace we want for Monday’s eliminations. We were right outside that zone to have a ready strong pass. It’s a very tight line to hook up the tires and smoke the tires.”  

The heat and humidity has played a major factor throughout the weekend with many of the Top Fuel stars having difficulty in qualifications including former NHRA Mello Yello champion Antron Brown in 12th, defending U.S. Nationals champion Richie Crampton in 14th and 37-time NHRA race winner Doug Kalitta in 16th.

“It’s an honor to just qualify for the U.S. Nationals,” said Pritchett. “But this team really wants to perform well on Monday. Our small one-car team is going against some of the top drag racing teams at the U.S. Nationals. But we have the capability to upset some of those top names too. I know that Doug (Kuch, crew chief) and Rob (Flynn, tuner) are working on a good setup for Monday’s runs. It would be incredible to win this race.”

Final eliminations are set for 11 a.m. EDT Monday with the ESPN telecast scheduled for 4 p.m. EDT.

Contact: Tom Blattler, 317-525-5692

NORWALK, Ohio (July 4, 2015) – It was July 4th and the fireworks were flying on the track and in the air in the second day of qualifying at Summit Motorsports Park for Sunday’s NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals.  

And those fireworks on the track included a career best top speed for female driver Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett, who piloted the Gumout “Solid Gold” machine with a speed of 324.67 miles per hour in the Saturday night action.

Gaining a bigger fan following with “new look” gold livery with the Dote Racing car, Pritchett posted two solid runs Saturday in her two qualifying attempts. In the first qualifying round, Pritchett improved on her Friday times with a 3.836-second run at 318.54 miles per hour.

It was in the Saturday night effort that Pritchett set her personal best in speed with an elapsed time of 3.801 seconds at 324.67 m.p.h. in the Doug Kuch and Rob Flynn-tuned dragster.

The 3.80 timing put Pritchett tenth in the 16-driver Top Fuel field for Sunday’s final eliminations set to begin at 11 a.m. EDT. Nineteen drivers attempted to qualify for the 16 starting spots.

“We came back from a tough Friday to put in some solid runs Saturday,” said Pritchett, who will take on former NHRA Mello Yello Series champion Shawn Langston in the first round Sunday at Norwalk. “The car really moved well at the far end in the second session and I know our Dote team has been working hard on that aspect of our program. Now we have a tough competitor Sunday in Shawn. We have been racing against one another since our Junior Dragster days.”

Doug Kalitta recorded a new track record Saturday in Top Fuel qualifying with a time of 3.731 seconds in winning the pole position.

ESPN will televise the final eliminations of the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at noon Sunday.

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Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett and her Dote Racing team will unveil a new Gumout “Solid Gold” dragster this Friday at 2:30 p.m. at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

The Gumout Expert Series, with gold packaging, is an exclusive line of Gumout premium automotive performance additives and kits available only at AutoZone.  Pritchett, 27, comes to Bristol Dragway 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.

The California State University communications graduate has scored three NHRA national eventvictories in 2012 in the ProMod division and is a past Heritage Funny Car Series champion. Pritchett also was a multi-time winner in Junior Dragsters.  

Qualifying for the 16-driver Top Fuel field will begin this Friday with two rounds at 5:30 and 8 p.m. EDT. Final eliminations for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals is scheduled for noon EDT Sunday (June 21). 

WHAT: Unveiling of the Gumout “Solid Gold” Top Fuel dragster
WHEN: Friday, June 19, 2:30 p.m. EDT
WHERE: Dote Racing Top Fuel pit area, Bristol Dragway
DETAILS: Top Fuel racer Leah Pritchett and Dote Racing will debut their new Gumout “Solid Gold” dragster for the Gumout Expert Series

Contacts:       Tom Blattler, Sport Dimensions, Inc., 317-525-5692

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 24, 2015) – Sunday’s final eliminations in the NHRA Kansas Nationals ended much too early for female Top Fuel dragster driver Leah Pritchett.The popular 26-year-old California native had a good Saturday qualifying effort and started eighth in the first round of eliminations at Heartland Park. Unfortunately, Pritchett’s excellent qualifying performance and a strong first round showing didn’t help the driver of the Gumout Top Fuel dragster Sunday.

As the first drivers on the track in Sunday morning eliminations, Pritchett and three-time NHRA Mello Yello Series champion Larry Dixon made for a tremendous match-up with their respective 10,000-horsepower, nitro-burning machines. Pritchett had defeated Dixon the previous week in the semi-finals at Atlanta Dragway but Dixon is a seasoned veteran and tough off the line.

In a sensational side-by-side race that had the crowd on its feet, Dixon clocked a 3.767 secondsto Pritchett’s 3.787 reading in the first round. Dixon went on to advance to the final round Sunday where he lost to Richie Crampton.

“A close loss today to Larry has a roller coaster of emotions,” said Pritchett after the race. “We have a great car with talented people running our Gumout program for Dote Racing. But today we just didn’t have enough for Larry. Being the first pair of Top Fuel dragsters out in the morningafter hours of rain delay really added to the suspense of race day.”

Despite the first round loss, Pritchett and the Dote Racing squad is looking forward to the next event at Englishtown, N.J., on June 5-7 in the NHRA Toyota Summernationals.

“There is nothing to be ashamed about here at Topeka,” said Pritchett. “We ran well but just got beat by a quicker car today. We will keep our heads held high and march on to Englishtown in two weeks.”

Pritchett and the Gumout machine scored a runner-up finish last week at Atlanta Dragway. It was Pritchett’s first career final round appearance in the Top Fuel ranks.

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Contacts:       Tom Blattler, Sport Dimensions, Inc., 317-525-5692
Kinnon Marshall, Sport Dimensions, Inc., 805-701-1216

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 20, 2015) – In NHRA Mello Yello drag racing, the goal is to capture the coveted “Wally” trophy named after NHRA founder Wally Parks. The “Wally” denotes a victory and the top honor at an NHRA national drag racing event.
 
Leah Pritchett has three pro division “Wallies” to her credit, all three in the ProMod sedan class.
 
The 26-year-old California native hasn’t scored a national event win in her three years at the wheel of the 10,000-horsepower, nitro-burning Gumout Top Fuel dragster. But, last week at Atlanta Dragway, the attractive blond was close. So close she could taste victory.
 
Making her first Top Fuel round appearance, Pritchett fell to former NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel World Champion Antron Brown on a tricky track surface.
 
This weekend, Pritchett seeks to improve last week’s showing and collect her first NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel “Wally” at the NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park in Topeka May 22-24.
 
“The Atlanta event was really a driver’s race,” said Pritchett, who holds four NHRA pro class licenses. “With the high heat and humidity, traction was very difficult with such a high-horsepower car. There is such a fine line between a good run and smoking the tires. I cannot say enough about my Dote Racing team as they had the engine and clutch combination just right in the Gumout dragster.”
 
Pritchett also made her best Top Fuel qualifying performance (3rd) at Atlanta and upset some drag racing legends to take on Brown in her first Top Fuel final.
 
“To be honest, it took our Dote team a little bit to adjust to our new Hadman chassis,” admitted Leah, the Cal State University communications graduate. “We ran pretty well in qualifying earlier this year but we just couldn’t get the race wins until last week at Atlanta. Our team’s ‘hot temperature’ setup has been outstanding and I believe we might need it again at Topeka.”
 
The Heartland Park drag strip has produced some spectacular racing dating back to the track’s opening in 1989. But Pritchett knows that the summer heat can make for a wild racing weekend too.
 
 
“With a nitro-burning engine, the car just makes so much horsepower and it’s easy to overpower the racing surface,” Pritchett said. “The crew chiefs can be the key to a victory in hot track conditions. They read their computer data from each run and determine what is needed for the next round. I trust Doug Kuch and Rob Flynn (crew chiefs and tuners) to give me an excellent car when I get to the starting line. Then, it’s up to me to react at the starting lights and get the car down the track.”
 
Pritchett knows that in hot conditions a tricky track surface means she must be ready for the rear tires of her machine to spin and lose traction. She needs to react on the throttle pedal and get down the track as quickly as possible.
 
“We call that ‘pedaling’ the race car when a driver is off and on the throttle pedal,” he explains. “A good driver can feel the power of the engine overpowering the track and needs to step off the throttle and then gather the car and regain the power. It’s a tough act but you need to be ready to do it instantly to get the ‘win light’ at the finish line.”
 
Another strong suit for the Dote Racing squad is their quickness in rebuilding an engine between rounds of a race.
 
“At Atlanta, the crew did an engine prep in 37 minutes after one run and 41 minutes after another,” said Pritchett. “That takes great teamwork to make those kind of turnarounds with a supercharged, nitro-burning engine. That engine produced 10,000 horsepower too.”
 
And Pritchett knows the experience and knowledge of her crew will be the difference in her gaining her next NHRA “Wally” trophy. After a near miss at Atlanta, she is hoping to score that initial Top Fuel triumph this weekend at Topeka.
 
Qualifying for the NHRA Kansas Nationals begins at 5 p.m. CDT this Friday (May 22). Qualifying continues Saturday at 2 p.m. CDT.  Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. CDT Sunday (May 24).
 
The NHRA Kansas Nationals will be televised on Saturday and Sunday on ESPN2. Qualifying will air at 6 p.m. EDT Saturday with final eliminations set for 10 p.m. EDT.
 
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COMMERCE, Ga. (May 16, 2015) – Young female racer Leah Pritchett recorded her best career Top Fuel qualifying performance Saturday at Atlanta Dragway by taking the Gumout dragster to the third spot in the 16-driver field for Sunday’s 35th annual Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals drag races. The 26-year-old veteran driver from Avon, Ind., drove her nitro-burning Top Fuel car to a 3.887- second at 309.91 miles per hour pass Saturday at the north Georgia drag racing facility, but the California native kept her third position in the field with the 3.792-second reading from Friday night’ qualifying round.

Pritchett’s third starting spot in Sunday’s final eliminations trailed only former NHRA Mello Yello Series champions Antron Brown and Tony Schumacher in the 16-driver Top Fuel division.  Brown notched the No. 1 spot at 3.758 seconds followed by Schumacher’s 3.767 and Pritchett’s3.792.  In addition, Pritchett’s third qualifying position was best of the female drivers in the nitro classes at Atlanta Dragway which included Brittany Force (10th) in Top Fuel and Alexis DeJoria (8th) and Courtney Force (10th) in Funny Car.

“Again the track conditions are tricky here at Atlanta Dragway,” said Pritchett, who’ll take on drag racing legend Chris Karamesines in the first round of eliminations Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. EDT. “it was difficult to get all of the horsepower to the pavement Saturday but we still ran a 3.88.  And that was one of the best passes of Saturday. Now, we’ll concentrate on winning rounds in eliminations. Looks like almost anyone could get to the final round on Sunday.  I want to be in that position on Sunday afternoon with a chance to win the race.”

Pritchett’s three qualifying runs at Atlanta Dragway of 3.792, 3.809 and 3.887 were among the most consistent in the four rounds in Friday and Saturday qualifications. Pritchett, in her third season in the Top Fuel class, has captured three NHRA national events previously in the ProMod division.  The Cal State University communications graduate is seeking her first Top Fuel national event title this weekend at Atlanta Dragway. ESPN2 will televise the final eliminations of the 35th NHRASummit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday.

BAYTOWN, Tex. (April 26, 2015) –  Despite a great green light start in the first round Sunday, female driver Leah Pritchett experienced a short day in the 28th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Springnationals drag races at the Royal Purple Raceway.
 
Pritchett, 26, held a nice advantage over follow female racer Brittany Force at the starting line in the opening race of the Top Fuel dragster first round action Sunday. However, a dropped cylinder in the nitro-burning Gumout/Dote Racing dragster’s engine left Leah on the sidelines early in the competition.
 
Force won the battle of the two ladies Sunday with a time of 3.775 seconds to Pritchett’s 3.904 seconds.  Force clocked a speed of 326.48 miles per hour to Leah’s 292.39.
 
“We had a solid start on Brittany in the first pair of Top Fuel cars down the track,” said Pritchett, who recorded a 3.775-second run in Saturday’s qualifying. “But we dropped a cylinder pretty early in the run and she made a great pass too. It was an extremely tough and consistent field this week in Houston. It was a very tight Top Fuel field here. You can’t afford to slip up at all or you are back on the trailer. I know our Gumout/Dote Racing team will look over the data and be ready for the Atlanta race in a few weeks.”
 
Doug Kalitta defeated Tony Schumacher in the final round Sunday to take the Top Fuel “Wally” trophy at Houston.
 
Pritchett’s next event on the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga., from May 15-17.  Qualifying begins Friday, May 15, at 4:30 p.m. EDT.  Final eliminations is set for Sunday, May 17, at 11 a.m. EDT.
 

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Contacts:    Tom Blattler, Sport Dimensions, Inc., 317-525-5692
Kinnon Marshall, Sport Dimensions, Inc., 805-701-1216
 

BAYTOWN, Tex. (April 25, 2015) –  Young drag racer Leah Pritchett improved her Top Fuel performance Saturday in the final day of qualifications at Royal Purple Raceway in preparation for Sunday’s final eliminations for the 28th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Springnationals.
 
Pritchett, 26, recorded an impressive 3.775-second run in the middle of the day Saturday to jump to the eighth position in the 16-driver Top Fuel lineup for Sunday. Driving the Gumout dragster for Dote Racing, the California native clocked a speed of 318.77 miles per hour in Saturday’s first round action.
 
Again fighting the hot and humid air at the Baytown drag facility Saturday, Pritchett’s team made all four of its qualifying passes on Friday and Saturday without losing traction in the difficult track conditions. The Dote Racing squad attempted a couple of changes in the 10,000-horsepower engine in the final run of the day and the tough conditions held Leah’s time to a 3.904 seconds at 303.16 m.p.h.
 
On Sunday, Pritchett will compete against fellow female driver Brittany Force in the opening round of Top Fuel eliminations schedule for 11 a.m. CDT. ESPN will televise live action from Royal Purple Raceway beginning at 1 p.m. CDT.
 
“I know that our Gumout dragster was on a good run Friday night and we had an issue with the engine towards the finish line,” said Pritchett, in their third season of Top Fuel competition. “So I felt good that we could have a good, solid pass on Saturday. The 3.77 run felt great and the team wanted to try some different things later in the day. That second run wasn’t as good. But I’m very happy with 3.77 in the heat of the day. I think we have a good car for Sunday’s action.”
 
“These track and air conditions have been tough for our Gumout/Dote Racing team as well as all of the teams this weekend. But a recent test after the Gatornationals helped us with these conditions.”
 
Spencer Massey retained his No. 1 qualifying position from Friday night’s run in Top Fuel at 3.734 seconds, a new Royal Purple Raceway elapsed time record.
 
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Contacts:    Tom Blattler, Sport Dimensions, Inc., 317-525-5692

Kinnon Marshall, Sport Dimensions, Inc., 805-701-1216

BAYTOWN, Tex. (April 24, 2015) – Intermittent rain storms in the Houston area gave the Top Fuel dragster ranks a twist Friday night at Royal Purple Raceway in the opening round of qualifying for the 28th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Springnationals.
 
Leah Pritchett, driving the Gumout dragster for Dote Racing, recorded two solid runs Friday as the professional drag racers competed in the darkness Friday night to complete the first two qualifying attempts of the weekend.
 
Pritchett, the young driving star from Avon, Ind., clocked the sixth quickest time in the first round of action Friday with a 3.833-second pass at 318.84 mile per hour despite the difficult humid air conditions.
 
The Cal State University communications graduate looked to be on a strong 3.70s second run in the evening qualifying session before a mechanical issue slowed Pritchett’s time to 3.811 seconds at only 310.77 m.p.h.  The second run of the day left Pritchett 11th in the 16-car field on Friday.
 
“All of the data from the evening run looked very good,” said Leah, racing this weekend in the hometown of her sponsor, Gumout. “But after the half-track mark, we had a mechanical issue and that slowed our elapsed time just a little.  I was looking at a 3.77 or better because the car felt very good off the line.
 
“I have to give our Gumout/Dote Racing crew a lot of credit today, as the conditions were very difficult to get the proper air for the engine. The humid conditions made it tough on all of the Top Fuel teams today.  Plus, the rain stopped the action at times.”
 
Texas’ Spencer Massey led the Top Fuel qualifying Friday with a best time of 3.734 seconds, a new Royal Purple Raceway elapsed time record.
 
Pritchett enjoyed a great experience Thursday at the NASA headquarters south of Houston which included a tour of a space capsule replica as well as seeing the space station up close.
 
“It was a thrill to see the NASA headquarters Thursday,” said Pritchett.  “I was fascinated by the space capsule and the giant pool used in the astronauts’ training. It was a tremendous experience.”
 
The Top Fuel qualifications are set for 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. CDT Saturday. The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Springrnationals final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday with ESPN2 live show at 1 p.m. CDT.
 
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Contacts:    Tom Blattler, Sport Dimensions, Inc., 317-525-5692

Kinnon Marshall, Sport Dimensions, Inc., 805-701-1216

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 14, 2015) – Leah Pritchett and her Gumout Top Fuel dragster saved the best for last in Saturday’s late afternoon qualifying session to post a Top Five position in the 16-car Top Fuel lineup for Sunday’s 46th Amalie NHRA Gatornationals at Auto Plus Raceway.
 
Pritchett, one of only two female drivers in the Top Fuel field for Sunday’s final eliminations, came from the 13th position after her third qualifying run and vaulted to the fifth spot with a strong pass of 3.809 seconds at 321.81 miles per hour in the fourth qualifying session of the weekend.
 
After clockings of 3.92 and 3.99, Pritchett and her Dote Racing team hopped up the 10,000-horsepower, nitro-burning Gumout machine to post her best career qualifying position in the Top Fuel ranks.  Pritchett, who debuted in the Top Fuel division in 2013, qualified sixth in last year’s Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas and advanced to the semi-finals.
 
“We dropped a few cylinders in the first qualifying hit on Saturday,” said Pritchett.  “But the crew, led by Doug Kuch and Rob Flynn, dialed in the Gumout car for the final qualifying pass and it was strong, straight and true to the finish line.  I owe all of the team a big ‘Thank You’ for really working hard to give me my best Top Fuel qualifying spot so far in my career.”
 
Pritchett will race veteran Clay Millican in the first round of eliminations Sunday at Gainesville which get underway at 11 a.m. EDT.
 
NHRA Winternationals winner and 2013 NHRA Mello Yello series champion Shawn Langdon drove to the No. 1 qualifying position Saturday with a time of 3.765-second run.
 
The Amalie NHRA Gatornationals final eliminations will be telecast Sunday on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. EDT.
 
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 13, 2015) – The opening round of qualifying for the 46th Amalie NHRA Gatornationals lived up to the “Friday the 13th” edition with a very tricky track surface for the 10,000-horsepower Top Fuel Dragster division.
 
Leah Pritchett only went about 300 feet in her first qualifying run Friday afternoon before the rear tires of the bright-red Gumout dragster lost traction and she had to coast through the finish line at just 96 miles per hour. The hot (80s), humid air made for tough conditions for the Top Fuel crew chiefs in the first day of action at the legendary Auto Club Raceway at Gainesville.
 
Pritchett, the 26 year-old California native now residing in Avon, Ind., came back in the second round of Friday’s action with the Dote Racing machine to clock a 3.92 seconds at 303.16 mile per hour pass despite experiencing a little engine malfunction. Leah’s second run was quick enough for the 8th position in the 20-driver Top Fuel field.
 
“It was a very unusual day with the air and track conditions,” said Pritchett. “The first round of qualifying was tough on most of the Top Fuel teams. We lost traction in the first pass but the car felt much better in the second one. We dropped a cylinder in the second run or we could have had 3.85 or better. With a 20-car field here, we wanted to be sure to be in the top half of the field on Friday. We accomplished that and we’ll be ready for Saturday’s action now.”
 
Defending NHRA Mello Yello series champion Tony Schumacher paced the Top Fuel field Friday in qualifying with 3.79-second reading.
 
“People are saying that today’s track temperature was the hottest since last year at Texas in September,” Leah said. “We were in the first pair of cars in the second round Friday and we just weren’t sure how the track would hold up. Despite the cylinder going out, the new Gumout car handled well. I’m looking forward to Saturday’s qualifying as I think we learned a few things.”
 
The Top Fuel qualifications are set for 12:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. EDT Saturday. The Amalie NHRA Gatornationals final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday with ESPN2 show at 7 p.m. EDT.
 
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 12, 2015) – The Dote Racing Top Fuel dragster team will host two special pit crew members – James Rivera and Pablo Rosario – this weekend in the 46th annual Amalie NHRA Gatornationals at the Auto Club Raceway at Gainesville.

Rivera and Rosario, retired military veterans, are members of the Wounded Warriors Project (WWP) after serving several deployments throughout the world.

Now, the Jacksonville residents work in the local community outside of the military and will serve as special crew members for the Leah Pritchett-driven Gumout Top Fuel dragster from Dote Racing when qualifying opens Friday (March 13) afternoon at the famed Gainesville drag strip.

The Wounded Warrior Project has three purposes to distinguish its members for their military service.  WWP raises awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured servicemen and women. In addition, WWP helps injured service members aid and assist each other and provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.

Ten of thousands of injured service members, their caregivers and family members receive support each year through 20, free WWP programs and services that are uniquely structured to engage warriors, nurture their minds and bodies and encourage economic empowerment.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome James and Pablo to our Dote Racing pit crew this weekend at the NHRA Gatornationals,” said Pritchett, a three NHRA national event winner. “Both WWP veterans are well decorated and it will be a thrill for our team to show them how the Gumout dragster competes at the highest level of drag racing.”

SGT Rivera deployed a third time as part of the 1st Marine Division to Iraq from May to November 2004.  On August 22, 2004, while on combat patrol the Humvee he was driving was hit by an IED (improvised explosive device), wounding James and 2 other Marines. For his service in Iraq, he received the Purple Heart, Global War on Terrorism Medal and a Certificate of Commendation, for participating in 400 combat patrols during a 28-day period.

Rivera was discharged honorably in 2005, after obtaining the rank of Sergeant.  He currently operates a recycling business and resides in Jacksonville Beach.

SGT Rosario joined the U.S. Army in 2004 and was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat team in Fort Campbell, KY as an 11B20 - Infantryman.  During his military service, SGT Rosario completed 3 deployments, two to Iraq and one to Afghanistan.

He received the following awards and decorations during his military service: Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Commendation Medal (2nd award), Army Achievement Medal (2nd award), Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (2nd Award), NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Marksmanship Badge with Carbine Bar.

Rosario was honorably discharged from the Army in 2012, after obtaining the rank of Sergeant.  He currently resides in Jacksonville and is currently training to become a diesel mechanic.

The WWP veterans will have the opportunity to assist the Dote team throughout the three-day racing weekend as over 20 drivers will attempt to qualify for the 16-driver Top Fuel field at Gainesville. The first round of qualifications is set for Friday (March 13) at 1:30 p.m. EDT. Final eliminations for the 46th annual Amalie NHRA Gatornationals will begin Sunday (March 15) at 11 a.m. EDT.

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Contacts:       Tom Blattler, Sport Dimensions, Inc., 317-525-5692
                      Kinnon Marshall, Sport Dimensions, Inc., 805-701-1216

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 10, 2015) – Leah Pritchett is smart, attractive and talented behind of the wheel of her racing machine, a 325-mile per hour, nitro-burned Top Fuel dragster
 
Pritchett, a 26-year-old college graduate who started her drag racing career at age eight, is one of the brightest, upcoming stars of the NHRA Mello Yello drag racing series.
 
The popular National Hot Rod Association national tour is legendary for its famous racers in the past 50 years like “Big Daddy,” “the Snake,” “the Mongoose,” “Cha-Cha” and “Brute Force.” But the straight line sport is changing with advent of young drivers like Pritchett.
 
Leah isn’t just your pretty female entering into the “man’s world” professional drag racing.  Multi-time World Champion Shirley Muldowney changed that manta 40 years ago and the trend continues in the 21st Century.
 
Impressive women drivers racing heads-up against their male counterparts and winning. Pritchett holds NHRA licenses in four classes – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Heritage Funny Car and ProMod.
 
“Shirley changed everything for the female racers,” says Pritchett, a former champion in Junior Dragsters and national event winner in ProMod. “She won Top Fuel dragster races and championships and she opened doors for women like me. I hope I can continue that legacy in the future.”
 
Pritchett hopes to follow in Muldowney’s footsteps this weekend in the Amalie NHRA Gatornationals at Auto Plus Raceway at Gainesville for the 46th edition of the famed drag racing classic. Leah will pilot the bright-red Gumout Top Fueler for Dote Racing in her quest for her fourth career NHRA national event victory.
 
“The Gainesville track is a legendary place for any drag racer,” said Pritchett, the California native who now resides in Avon, Ind. “So many great achievements have occurred at the Gatornationals including the first 270 m.p.h. run as well the famed first 300 m.p.h. pass by Kenny Bernstein in 1992.  Winning at Gainesville is a great thrill for any driver.”
 
This weekend’s NHRA Gatornationals will be Pritchett’s third Top Fuel appearance at the Florida racing plant but Leah has been a contender in the ProMod division there previously.
 
“I was very competitive in the ProMod class at Gainesville before and I would love to be strong in the Top Fuel division this weekend too,” she said. “Our Gumout car has shown plenty of potential already this year and we would love to take that red car to victory lane this weekend.” 
 
Pritchett’s Gumout/Dote Racing team expects to improve the performance of its Top Fuel machine after many consistent runs at the opening two races in Pomona, Calif., and Phoenix.
 
”The Gainesville track can be tricky a times,” said Rob Flynn, co-crew chief of Pritchett’s Gumout squad. “The track is at sea level and it seems to be rainy or damp there quite often.  But the racing surface can produce some very impressive runs when the temperatures are cooler and dry. You want a high-pressure system to come through and make for drier conditions. If that happens this weekend, the Gainesville track will be quick and fast.”
 
Pritchett is excited to return to the famed racing plant which has been a fixture in drag racing lore over the past four decades.
 
“The Gatornationals always attracts a huge crowd from all over North America and the World,” she admits. “The fans want to come see the famed Gainesville track as well as getting to some warmer weather on the East Coast. The crowds are so enthusiastic and fun to talk with at the Gatornationals. It’s their Rite of Spring.”
 
Some 21 drivers will attempt to qualify for the 16-driver Top Fuel field at Gainesville with the first round of qualifications set for this Friday (March 13) at 1:30 p.m. EDT. Final eliminations for the 46th annual Amalie NHRA Gatornationals will begin Sunday (March 15) at 11 a.m. EDT.
 
“It’s a big field of Top Fuel dragsters at Gainesville and I feel our Dote Racing team will be ready to produce a good number in that first qualifying round Friday afternoon,” said Pritchett. “I know I will be ready to jump back into the Gumout machine and start the weekend on a strong note.”
 
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Contacts:
Tom Blattler, Sport Dimensions, Inc., 317-525-5692

Kinnon Marshall, Sport Dimensions, Inc., 805-701-1216