Leah Pritchett
| Leah Pritchett | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | United States |
| Born |
May 26, 1988 Redlands, California |
| NHRA Mello Yello Series career | |
| Debut season | 2013 |
| Current team |
Don Schumacher Racing Papa John's Top Fuel Dragster |
| Car no. | 7 (2017) |
| Crew chief | Todd Okuhara[1] |
| Former teams |
Bob Vandergriff Racing Dote Racing |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 7 (4 TF, 3 PM) |
| Fastest laps |
3.654 seconds (unofficial) 3.658 seconds (official)[2] |
| Last updated on: April 23, 2017. | |
Leah C. Pritchett (née Pruett, born May 26, 1988 in Redlands, California) is an American drag racer, currently driving an NHRA Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing after previously being employed at Bob Vandergriff Racing before the company closed in April 2016.[3][4][5] Her first career national event win on the professional level came February 28, 2016 at the Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Chandler, Arizona, defeating Brittany Force in the first all-female final round in Top Fuel since 1982.[6] Pritchett debuted in Top Fuel in 2013 with Dote Racing after previously competing in Pro Mod and Nostalgia Funny Car.[5][7] Papa John's and FireAide 2000 have returned as primary sponsors for Pritchett during the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.[8]
On February 4, 2017, Pritchett made the current fastest pass in NHRA history by going 3.654 seconds at 331.85 MPH (534.06 km/h) over a 1,000-ft (304.8 m) distance during the Nitro Spring Training at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.[9] Since the pass did not take place at an actual NHRA sanctioned event, it will not be considered an official national record. On February 24, 2017, at the same track, Pritchett set the new official national elapsed time record in Top Fuel as of present by going 3.658 seconds at 329.34 MPH (530.02 km/h) during the second round of qualifying at the NHRA Arizona Nationals.[2][10]
She is married to Gary Pritchett, who is a crewmember for NHRA Top Fuel drag racer Steve Torrence.[6] They reside in Avon, Indiana.[5][11]
References
- ↑ National Hot Rod Association - Leah Pritchett, Retrieved Feb. 24, 2017.
- 1 2 ESPN, Leah Pritchett sets Top Fuel time record with 3.658-second run, Associated Press, February 24, 2017, Retrieved Feb. 24, 2017.
- ↑ National Hot Rod Association, Bob Vandergriff announces immediate retirement from drag racing, April 11, 2016, Retrieved Aug. 6, 2016
- ↑ Don Schumacher Racing, Drivers - Leah Pritchett, Retrieved Aug. 6, 2016.
- 1 2 3 Leah Pritchett, Biography, Retrieved Aug. 6, 2016
- 1 2 Autoweek, Leah Pritchett wins all-female NHRA Top Fuel final in Phoenix by Susan Wade, February 28, 2016, Retrieved Aug. 6, 2016.
- ↑ Dote Racing, Retrieved Aug. 6, 2016.
- ↑ Leah Pritchett (Official Website), Pritchett, Force Shine at Nitro Spring Training, February 3, 2017, Retrieved Feb. 6, 2017.
- ↑ NBC Sports, Leah Pritchett delivers fastest unofficial ET in NHRA history, 3.654 seconds by Tony DiZinno, February 4, 2017, Retrieved Feb. 6, 2017.
- ↑ National Hot Rod Association, NHRA Arizona Nationals 2nd round qualifying statistics (Top Fuel), Retrieved Feb. 24, 2017.
- ↑ National Hot Rod Association, Drivers - Leah Pritchett, Retrieved Aug. 6, 2016.