I Met Leah Pritchett Driver of Gumout Top Fueler   Thank you to Nicole Erickson for the pictures! Thanks to friends from Gumout, I met Leah Pritchett at her pits during the Arizona NHRA race at Wild Horse Pass. Check this out:   She's always been daddy's girl at the track She's just the driver   NOPE! Both are TOTALLY FALSE! Check it out...     Ya know how before you meet someone you start to anticipate what they're like? I guess you'd say it's just guessing, but I just figured I knew a little more about Leah before I arrived... OK. Yes. She's good looking... Better looking in person too and believe this too: Easy to like! Our interview could have been done quicker except for all the friends stopping by to wish her luck.   After a disappointing first round loss, I expected Leah to be down. I would be! Losing first round sucks even if it's a, "Run watch-cha brung" Wednesday night at your local track. She wasn't happy, but she took it in stride. Running 15 races this year with the help of Gumout (up from only 12...

Gumout & Dote Racing Team for 2014 NHRA Top Fuel   Former Pro Mod Star Secures Major Sponsor in Tough Top Fuel Ranks   Gumout Performance Additives  announced sponsorship with young drag racing star Leah Pritchett and the Dote Racing Top Fuel dragster team for the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.   Gumout, a trusted brand that has offered drivers numerous automotive performance products for nearly 70 years, returns to the NHRA professional drag racing ranks with the partnership with the Ohio-based Top Fuel squad and the talented California native, Pritchett behind the wheel of the Gumout/Dote Racing 8,000-horsepower, nitro-burning dragster.   Gumout became a drag racing staple in the 1970s and 1980s with the legendary “Grumpy’s Toy” Pro Stock car campaigned by Hall of Famer Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins.  Gumout expanded its motorsports activities following the Jenkins association with a variety of competitions included circle track racing, road racing, boat racing and off-road racing.   “We are extremely excited to return to NHRA professional drag racing in a big way with Leah Pritchett and the Dote Racing Top Fuel organization,” said Rusty Waples, Global Group Brand Manager at...

Ya Just Gotta Ask...What's The Deal With Gassers? (And Why We Love 'Em!) In the very early years of the NHRA, gassers were nothing more than slightly modified gas powered sedans that could compete in five gas classes, determined by engine size and weight. In 1958, a gas class racer was basically a street coupe with no engine setback allowed. All “gassers” had working lights, wipers, starter, generator and all other street equipment.  Fans and belts were optional, but radiators were required. Full exhaust systems, including mufflers, were required but could be unhooked for competition, but they had to remain on the car.  Cars even had to be currently licensed for the street.   Cars in the gas classes were required to have full “factory-type” upholstery but two buckets could replace the standard bench seat as long as both were fully upholstered.  Customs were allowed as long as the car wasn’t chopped, channeled or sectioned a total of more than four inches.  Cars had to have four stock fenders and the stock bumpers had to be in place.   More Gassers and Altered Wheelbase hot rods (opens in new window)...

NHRA Pro Mods at Speed in Pictures I've always liked Pro Mod racing. Who wouldn't? I haven't posted on MyRideisMe.com about these blown and bad, funky-stretched and sleek bodied racers because, well, I ain't had a chance to FEEL them ripping by at an NHRA event. That's where my buddy Jim stepped up to help me out. Jim shoots for Optima Batteries, especially for the Optima Top Fueler driven by Dave Grubnic. When Jim asked if I wanted pictures from the St. Louis race, I said OH YEA! Before checking out these at-speed pictures, enjoy a couple fun facts about Pro Mod engines: Supercharger power adder Limited to 526 cubic inches Minimum weight 2,650 with driver Run on methanol Turbo power adder Limited to 540 cubic inches Max size of 88 mm each Minimum weight 2,650 with driver (same as for Supercharger) Runs on high octane racing gasoline Nitrous Oxide power adder No max displacement! (gulp) Minimum weight 2,425 with driver Runs on high octane racing gasoline These engines make 2500 to 4000 horsepower propelling the cars in the five second 1/4 mile realm. It wasn't long ago that...

2011 Winternationals Winner Robert Hight HIGHT MIXES LUCKY CHARM WITH FORD ONE APPROACH TO START SEASON 1-0 YORBA LINDA, CA (March 1, 2011) ---Minutes after Robert Hight and his Jimmy Prock tuned Auto Club Ford Mustang raced to a season opening win at the 51st annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals Hight was giving some of the credit to a lucky charm he picked up from a fellow Ford teammate last season. In honor of the Wood Brothers dominating performance at the Daytona 500 Hight raced all day with a commemorative coin Eddie and Len Wood gave him at Charlotte’s zMax Dragway in 2010. “I had a little good luck charm (Sunday) besides my daughter Autumn. The Wood Brothers gave me this (commemorative coin) last year,” said Hight a three-time Winternationals winner.  “It was a celebration of their 60 years of racing. They went out and won Daytona in the No. 21 car this year and they didn’t get lucky. They dominated kind of like John Force Racing did (on Sunday). This year is NHRA’s 60th anniversary.  It was cool as the day went on to look at that coin and to...

2011 Winternationals "Hole Shot" win for Hight TEAM JFR RACE REPORT 1st of 22 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Series 51st annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Pomona, Calif. Feb. 24-27, 2011 * * * * Final round results from Sunday’s 51st annual Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, first race in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series: FUNNY CAR – Robert Hight, Yorba Linda, Calif., Auto Club Ford Mustang, 4.056, 312.71 mph, def. Matt Hagan, Christiansburg, Va., DieHard Dodge Charger, 4.023, 310.20 mph. TOP FUEL – Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg, Ind., GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster3.835, 316.38 mph def. Shawn Langdon, Brownsburg, Ind., Lucas Oil dragster, 4.047, 313.73 mph PRO STOCK – Jason Line, Mooresville, NC, Summit Pontiac GXP, 6.529, 211.89 mph def. Greg Stanfield, Bossier city, La., Safety Sentry Inc. Pontiac GXP, 6.595, 210.70 mph * * * * HIGHT WINS WINTERNATIONALS FOR THIRD TIME POMONA --- Robert Hight had to endure a long cold winter. Beginning with his last round win in Brainerd at the Lucas Oil Nationals in August the 41-year old former crewman’s season ground to a...

NHRA Drag Racing's John Force Racing Team News WITH FAMILY AT THE FOREFRONT, ASHLEY TAKES HIATUS FROM RACING YORBA LINDA, CA (January 25, 2011) – Two-time reigning Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Champion Ashley Force Hood, a top three finisher in the NHRA Full Throttle driver standings each of the last two seasons, announced Tuesday that she and husband Dan are expecting their first child. Moments after informing members of her Castrol GTX team of the news via satellite hook-up with John Force Racing East in Brownsburg, Ind., Force Hood told those assembled for a press conference at JFR corporate headquarters that she will take a temporary hiatus and will not compete this year for the Full Throttle Championship. The 28-year-old graduate of Cal State-Fullerton instead will focus on motherhood and her new responsibilities as president of John Force Entertainment, a JFR subsidiary that has been charged with responsibility for building the JFR brand on a variety of new and existing platforms. The NHRA national record holder for Funny Car speed (316.38 miles per hour), Force Hood admitted that she is excited about both her pregnancy and about finally being...

NHRA Drag Racing Crew Competition How can you not like Ashley Force Hood? I just found out that Ashley Force Hood and her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang funny car crew have been nominated as one of the four finalists for the 2010 Full Throttle Hard Working Crew Award. You can vote from now until the end of the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season (Nov. 15). Ashley's crew was nominated for their fantastic effort the weekend of the 56th annual Mac Tools US Nationals where they won their second consecutive US Nationals Funny Car title. Please vote for Ashley and also help us spread the word. Here's a video of Ashley Force and her crew having a little fun... [youtube width="575" height="425"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQaQrk4IsVA [/youtube] Here is the link to video all the nominees and to vote for Ashley Force Hood's Castrol GTX Mustang crew for the 2010 Full Throttle Hard Working Crew Award http://www.nhra.com/hardworkingcrew/ FOLLOW JOHN FORCE RACING AT...

ASHLEY FORCE HOOD’S RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE MUSTANG TO BE FEATURED AT 48TH ANNUAL WORLD OF WHEELS YORBA LINDA, CA (March 1, 2010) --- Chicagoland's largest custom car show will feature Ashley Force Hood's Ronald McDonald House Charity themed NHRA Mustang Funny Car. O'Reilly's Auto Parts and South Oak Dodge will present the 48th Annual World of Wheels, March 5-7 2010, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. Force Hood’s Mustang will be on display as part of the Chicago BrushMaster Kustom Kulture Art Auction with all proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Fans will be able to get their photo taken beside the Mustang throughout the weekend and get an up close look at one of the fastest race cars in motor sports. Ashley Force Hood campaigned the Ronald McDonald House Charities Mustang at two events (Seattle and Sonoma) during the 2009 Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The attention the car generated for the Ronald McDonald House Charities is something Force Hood is proud to continue into 2010. “I was thrilled to be able to help raise awareness and donations...

I can't say it's cool when you enter the John Force Racing compound. It's OVERWHELMING! The people, the parts, the action, I love it! We (Pikesan and Swanee) first entered the pit area of John Force, Ashley Force-Hood and NHRA Champion Robert Hight at the test and tune at Firebird Raceway in Chandler, AZ to find every team working feverishly, even though, racing for the night was done. It's obvious, this team works well together, everyone knows their job and they're ready to rock for the Winternationals in Pomona. As a huge fan of the NHRA, especially the John Force Racing team, meeting and talking to Austin Coil, then having a short sit down with the charming, yet #2 in the world funny car racer, Ashley Force-Hood was a dream come true. It's a sure sign that the JFR team loves their fans. So dig this short interview of loveliest lady of motorsports (Danica, it ain't even close!) Ashely Force-Hood. After making several full passes, I found her listening to the Vikings, Saints game on TV while working on her laptop. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqMtGXQT3VM[/youtube] . It takes a strong woman to...

If you've never been to the NHRA Motorsports Museum, GO! If you haven't been in a while, GO BACK!! It's always changing with new cars and interesting people wondering through. NHRA Motorsports Museum Calendar of Events (Nov. through Dec. 2009) Thursday, Nov. 12 Ø       Auto Club NHRA Finals Begin www.nhra.com Ø       Museum Open House 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. – extended hours and admission is free. Friday, Nov. 13 Ø       Museum Open House – 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Ø       New Exhibit Opening – 3 p.m. FREE Ø       Drag Racing Celebrity Book Signing – 5 p.m. FREE Ø       Night of Champions/Auto Club Q&A with NHRA racers – 6 p.m. FREE Saturday, Nov. 14 Ø       Museum Open House – 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Ø       Racing Collectible Show – 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. $5 Admission. Sunday, Nov. 15 Ø       Museum Open House 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Admission is free. Free Museum admission and extended weekend hours during Auto Club NHRA Finals, Nov. 12-15. Free Tram Service from Pomona Raceway (Gate J) to Museum. Wednesday, Dec. 2 Ø       Annual Holiday Twilight Cruise and Toy Drive 4 p.m. to...

Talented Bassist Gene Schwartz hangs up his guitar for a weekend of racing at the Auto Club Famoso Raceway, Oct. 16-18 BAKERSFIELD, CA – Gene Schwartz is a former NHRA record holder in his 1952 Chevy, but underneath his racing suit Gene can’t stop singing the blues. That’s because his “day job” is as a bass player. For over 30 years, Gene played bass for legendary blues guitarist Robert Lockwood Jr. When not jamming on his bass guitar, Gene has managed to build his skills as a champion racecar driver setting National records in the 60s to present day. The Euclid, OH resident has made the annual trip to the National Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, Kentucky on numerous occasions, but has yet to visit McFarland, CA for the California Hot Rod Reunion. Fans of both Gene’s music and his racing raised money to surprise him with an all-expense-paid trip to the California Reunion this October. Gene was surprised, thrilled and eager to join fans and friends at the Reunion. Gene’s car will be a sure crowd pleaser. His ’52 Chevy racecar is one of the few nostalgic...