PRUETT-LeDUC HOPING TO JOIN DRAG RACING HISTORY WITH FIRST PRO MOD WIN AT MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS
CLERMONT, Ind. – It’s amazing how much can change in a year. Leah Pruett-LeDuc can attest to that.
Just one year ago, Pruett-LeDuc was making her rounds in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series, competing with her Nostalgia Funny Car at tracks up and down the West Coast.
Now, as the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series makes its eighth of 10 stops in 2011 at the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil at historic Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Pruett-LeDuc will make her third appearance behind the wheel of her supercharged ProCare Rx ’68 Camaro, a car and a class that she has picked up very quickly.
“Yes, I can say the progression into the latter rounds has come quicker than expected when considering how competitive and random this class can be at times,” said Pruett-LeDuc, who in her first two race appearances in the class posted second-round and semifinal-round finishes. “To say that I did not expect to go rounds so soon because I am new to the class would be a false statement because every time I get into the car, I know I have a fighting chance of the win light coming on in my lane due to my confidence in Bob Newberry (crew chief), the crew and equipment. I am blessed to be a part of a pre-established competitive program, which I give the credit to our posted success.”
But for Pruett-LeDuc, the chance to compete in the most prestigious race on the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod circuit is a chance that she will never take for granted.
“Competing at the U.S. Nationals in a nutshell means you better bring your ‘A’ game,” said Pruett-LeDuc. “It is an honor to compete at the U.S. Nationals, especially in the super-dynamic and unpredictable class of Pro Mod. You would like to tell yourself it’s just another race, but really it is not. It’s the Big Go.”
Though a trip to the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals brings excitement and awe to racer and fan alike and competing at the event in the highly exciting Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series brings added pressure, this is not Pruett-LeDuc’s first stop at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
“I have competed twice before in Indy during what I would consider high-pressure situations, the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League National Championships when I was much younger, and was even a crew person on a fuel Funny Car last year in Indy,” said Pruett-LeDuc. “The history and prestige behind the U.S. Nationals alone is enough to give you goose bumps when thinking that you too will be a part of it.”
Though Pruett-LeDuc recognizes that 26 other competitors will be fighting for a chance to stand in the winner’s circle at Lucas Oil Raceway, the thought of winning her first Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing event on the biggest stage in NHRA Drag Racing can’t help but cross her mind.
“I am not big on dreaming, as I am a doer more than a dreamer,” said Pruett-LeDuc. “But you can’t help but imagine how exhilarating that Sunday and Monday would be as you win round after round. I love envisioning myself at the U.S. Nationals, being on the starting line, staging, launching, shifting and controlling the car, all while keeping your cool and focusing on winning one round at a time. That’s what I love, the adrenaline.”
Pruett-LeDuc won’t be the only driver looking to walk away with the Wally in Indy. Points leader Khalid Balooshi swept the first two events of the season in his Speedtech ’68 Camaro but hasn’t returned to the winner’s circle since and is hoping to keep his championship hopes alive, and second-place driver Danny Rowe hopes to take the points lead from Balooshi with an Indy win. And don’t count out LeDuc’s teammate and defending Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner Brad Personett, who is also hoping to make a charge up the point standings and race to his first win of 2011.
Featuring the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer cars with an extremely diverse collection of vehicles, including ’63 Corvettes, ’68 Camaros, ’67 Mustangs, and ’68 Firebirds as well as late-model cars, the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series offers something for every kind of hot-rodding enthusiast.
The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in an important part of the 60th anniversary celebration of NHRA. Legendary Top Fuel pilot Shirley Muldowney and Pro Stock great Bob Glidden will be on hand to sign autographs, meet fans and participate in the festivities during the world's most prestigious drag race.
• SCHEDULE: Get Screened America qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 2, 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 and 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 4. The first round of Pro Mod eliminations begins on Sept. 4 at 4:30 p.m. Pro Mod eliminations resume on Sept. 5.
• TICKETS: Tickets are available for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Please call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRATIX.com to purchase tickets online.
• ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise 30 minutes of racing highlights from the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series portion of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. (ET).
• ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS presented by Lucas Oil
GET SCREENED AMERICA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES FACT SHEET
WHAT: 57th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, the eighth of 10 events in the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. The tradition-rich event also will showcase the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
WHERE: Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Clermont, Ind. From I-465, exit Crawfordsville Road (Hwy. 136). Head west for four miles through the town of Clermont. The facility’s main entrance is on the left, one-half mile past Raceway Road.
COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 700 feet above sea level; Track direction is south to north.
WHEN: Wednesday through Monday, Aug. 31 – Sept. 5
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Sept. 2
GET SCREENED AMERICA PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 4:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, Sept. 3
GET SCREENED AMERICA PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, Sept. 4
GET SCREENED AMERICA PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 1:30 p.m.; first round of eliminations at 4:30 p.m.
MONDAY, Sept. 5 - Pre-race ceremonies, 9:30 a.m.
GET SCREENED AMERICA PRO MOD SERIES eliminations continue at approximately 2:30 p.m.
TELEVISION: Sunday, Sept. 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise 30-minutes of racing highlights at 6 p.m. (ET).
2010 WINNER: Brad Personett
TRACK RECORDS: 5.887 seconds by Mike Janis, Sept. ’10; 255.39 mph by Brad Personett, Sept. ’10.
NATIONAL RECORDS: 5.772 sec. by Melanie Troxel, June. ’11, Englishtown; 258.71 mph by Troxel, June ’11, Englishtown.
TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also are available online at www.NHRATIX.com.
GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) – Wednesday: Adult, $10; Thursday: Adult, $14; Friday: Adult, $35; Saturday: Adult, $46; Sunday: Adult, $49; Monday: Adult, $49; Children (12 years and under), free in general admission and pit areas each day when accompanied by an adult.
RESERVED (includes pit pass) – Friday: Adult, $45; Saturday: Adult, $58; Sunday: Adult, $61; Monday: Adult, $61; Children (12 years and under), free in reserved seats each day when accompanied by an adult.
CONTACT: NHRA Communications Department, (626) 914-4761; Scott Smith (317) 281-5049, cell; Zak Elcock (626) 253-0862, cell.
NHRA GET SCREENED AMERICA PRO MOD SERIES POINT STANDINGS
UPDATED 6/26/2011 (Following the seventh of 10 races; victories in parentheses)
1. Khalid Balooshi, Dubai, UAE, Speedtech ’68 Camaro (2) 508
2. Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills, Calif., Sterling Bridge ’67 Camaro (1) 485
3. Ed Hoover, Gilbert, S.C., ’68 Camaro (1) 359
4. Kenny Lang, Manitoba, Canada, Summit Racing ’53 Corvette 355
5. Mike Castellana, Muttontown, N. Y., ’69 Camaro (2) 351
6. Roger Burgess, Duluth, Ga., ProCare Rx ’68 Firebird 342
7. Ray Commisso, Toronto, Canada, ProCare Rx ’68 Camaro 325
8. Rickie Smith, King, N.C., ‘68 Camaro 317
9. Mike Janis, Lancaster, N.Y., ’10 Ford Mustang 298
10. Melanie Troxel, Avon, Ind., RoadRage.com, ’53 Corvette 291
