I arrived at the trackside a bit later than normal as the Pro Mod and Pro Comp cars were already making some qualifying passes. The Top Fuel Cars were starting to line up in the staging lanes and the Pro Stocks were beginning to emerge from beneath the tower. I commented about the lack of Pro Stock Motorcycles, to which one of my fellow photographers stated they were not running this event. This was strange as this race had been on the schedule in previous years, as I made additional inquiries someone mentioned the fuel bikes were in town. That made no sense as they had just been here last month.
Had I taken an opportunity to check the schedule for this season it would seem NHRA has the Top Fuel Harley’s running at 2 national events here in Houston and also Bristol in June, along with the additional regional races. While the 2 national races are “Points” races, it would seem NHRA might be testing the waters for a national campaign with the Fuel Harley’s in 2015?
With 10 of the TF Harley teams showing up, they must have driven in a big circle with many of them having been here the previous month. It was good to visit again as well as make some new friends. As the weekend progressed it would be Tommy Grimes and Randal Andras meeting for the final round. Tommy would be the one to trip the win light at the end of the track for the first National Event win.
While the Top Fuel Boys and Girls are a lot of fun, one of the big stories making the rounds over the weekend, were the Ladies of the Sport being only 2 wins away from the 100 win mark! While that many wins is a story by itself, yet when compared to any other motor sport is a beat down! With 5 ladies in the weekend pro events there was a lot of hope the Houston track would be home to yet another NHRA milestone.
Starting the weekend off, we had the two Force ladies, Courtney and Brittney in TF/FC and TF/D, along with Alexis DeJoria in TF/FC, Leah Pritchett also in a TF/D and the hometown favorite, local lady Erica Enders-Stevens in Pro Stock. Erica being the favorite as this is the track she started her racing career in at Jr. Dragsters, as well as being the track she announced her intention to try the Pros.
Although there was really no way for her to be the magic number 100 this weekend, just due to the class order they race in for the finals, with Pro Stock racing prior to the funny cars and dragsters. However as the day wore on and racers were eliminated it came down to Erica as the last lady standing and whose Pro Stock Camero just seemed to get faster with each pass! As the sun started to set, it was Erica and Allan Johnson we found sitting beneath the tower, in a rematch of last years PS final, which Allen took, waiting out a small rain delay.
And it appeared as though Erica’s crew was just going to hand it to Allan Johnson and his team, as they had taken off the engine cover, and were working on something up under the passenger side dash and in the back of the car. Soon as the track officials gave the all clear on the track, Allen fired off his and began to move forward towards the water box to do his burnout. And while he and Erica are great friends off the track, his car was ready and he was not waiting! The track announcer even commented that when you pull your car up to the staging lanes it is supposed to be ready!
Just as Allen Johnson’s car was starting up track in his burnout, Erica’s car roared to life and she pulled forward for her burnout. Just in the knick of time I would imagine, before the NHRA track officials would have DQed her. As the lights turned green Erica blazed down the track with the faster reaction time 0.018 to Allen Johnsons 0.044 which would take her to the win light for the final round win, along with win number 99 for the ladies! I know that the folks here in Houston will be sitting on the edge of their seats for the races in Atlanta, May 16th as Erica has won 6 of the last 9 races of the ladies. Can she take that 100th?
However let’s not lose track of the fact that these ladies are just great racers, the 99 wins is just the icing on the cake!
Angelle who was in town for the races, hinted that she might come back, as she is just 5 wins away from setting the all-time Pro Stock Motorcycle wins record, currently held by Dave Schultz. Then you add Ashley Force Hood who may be returning, having just regained her Top Fuel License and who know what 2015 will bring?
Till Next Time,
RFR
Female leaders by victories is as follows (NHRA)
1. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle 41 (first at Reading 1996, last at Houston 2007)
2. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel 18 (first at Columbus 1976, last at Phoenix 1989), Although it was Shirley who kicked open the door to then ‘Boys Only Club” back in 1973 when she got her Top Fuel License.
3. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock 8 (first at Chicago 2012, last at Houston 2014)
4. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle 6 (first at Houston 2004, last at Denver 2011)
5. Melanie Troxel, Top Fuel-Funny Car 5 (first at Pomona 1 2006, TF, last at Bristol 2008, FC)
6. Shelly Payne, Top Fuel 4 (first at Reading 1993, last at Seattle 1996)
7. Lori Johns, Top Fuel 4 (first at Pomona 1 1990, last at Memphis 1991)
8. Ashley Force Hood, Funny Car 4 (first at Atlanta 2008, last at Indianapolis 2010)
9. Courtney Force, Funny Car 3 (first at Seattle 2012, last at Epping 2013)
10. Alexis DeJoria, Funny Car 2 (first at Phoenix 2014, last at Las Vegas 1 2014)
11. Lucille Lee, Top Fuel 1 (Atlanta 1982)
12. Cristen Powell, Top Fuel 1 (Englishtown 1997)
13. Peggy Llewellyn, Pro Stock Motorcycle 1 (Dallas 2007)
14. Hillary Will, Top Fuel 1 (Topeka 2008)
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