GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The off-season is always a time filled with anxious anticipation for many drivers and teams in drag racing. For Leah Pruett, that statement couldn’t be more true.
As the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx makes its season debut March 8-11 at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville during the 43rd annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals presented by NAPAFilters.com, Pruett is anxious to get back on the track.
And why not? After making her NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series debut in Englishtown in 2011, Pruett raced to victories at the final two races of the season. By season’s end at the Big O Tires NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, Pruett was riding a wave of success that her fellow competitors couldn’t seem to contain. The only thing that could stop such a streak of success? The end of a season. But Pruett hopes that the streak will pick up right where it left off four months ago.
“Being so successful at the end of the season gives you a lot to think about over the winter,” said Pruett. “For me personally, when I started the season, I probably wasn’t on anyone’s radar. This year, I’d say it’s a little bit opposite, but just as challenging as before, because now the competition knows how successful you were and definitely doesn’t take you for granted.”
While most competitors are taking vacations or working on hobbies during the off-season, Pruett was spending most of her time at the R2B2 Racing shop preparing for the 2012 season-opener at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville.
“There were changes in multiple areas of our program this off-season,” said Pruett. “We tested over the off-season to make sure we could get back to where we were. We also added a new crew chief, Brad Brand. So we’ve just been adjusting to the changes and re-grouping as a team and picking up where we left off. I think those changes are challenges that we can overcome this season.”
As the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx enters its third season, and Pruett enters her first full season of competition, her goals have somewhat changed since her series debut at Englishtown in 2011.
“Last year my goal was to get comfortable in the race car and to try to be competitive by the end of the year,” said Pruett. “This year I’m the most excited that I’ve ever been because I now have the opportunity to chase the world championship. Anyone would be happy if given the opportunity to drive, but to have a legitimate shot at a championship makes me excited every day to be competing in this sport and this category.”
In addition to Pruett, other pre-race favorites in the category are 2011 Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals runner-up, Danny Rowe, two-time event winner in 2011 Mike Castellana, Team JEGS.com driver Troy Coughlin, veteran driver Jay Payne, and long-time Pro Mod competitor Rickie Smith.
Featuring the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer cars with an extremely diverse collection of vehicles, including ’63 Corvettes, ’68 Camaros, ’67 Mustangs, ’68 Firebirds as well as late model cars, the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx offers something for every kind of hot-rodding enthusiast.
• SCHEDULE: NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. on March 9 and at 11 a.m. on March 10. The first round of Pro Mod eliminations begins on March 10 at 1:30 p.m. Pro Mod eliminations continue on March 11.
• TICKETS: Tickets are available for the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals presented by NAPAFilters.com. Please call NHRA at (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRATIX.com to purchase tickets online.
• ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES PRESENTED BY PROCARE RX FACT SHEET
TIRE KINGDOM NHRA GATORNATIONALS presented by NAPAFilters.com
WHAT: 43rd annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals presented by NAPAFilters.com, the first of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx. The race will also showcase the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
WHERE: Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville, Gainesville, Fla. The track is located on 11211 North County Road 225 in Gainesville.
COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 167 feet above sea level; Track direction is west to east.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, March 8-11.
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, March 9
NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
SATURDAY, March 10
NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 11a.m.; first round of eliminations at 1:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, March 11 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES eliminations continue at approximately 2:30 p.m.
2011 WINNER: Khalid alBalooshi
TRACK RECORDS: 5.809 seconds by Jay Payne, March ’10; 255.19 mph by Brad Personett, March ’11.
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 available online at www.NHRATIX.com.
GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) - DAILY: Thursday: Adult, $16; Friday: Adult, $36. Saturday: Adult, $58. Sunday: Adult, $58. Ages 12 and under free with paying adult in general admission and pit access areas each day.
RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) - DAILY: Friday: Adult, $46. Saturday: Adult, $65. Sunday: Adult, $65. Ages 12 and under free with paying adult in general admission and pit access areas each day.
