NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Third-generation racer Camrie Caruso will become just the second woman to contest a full season of NHRA Pro Stock racing when she joins the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series next season. The announcement was made at Texas Motorplex during the Texas NHRA Fallnationals.

Caruso, daughter of recent Pro Mod racer Marc Caruso, will saddle up in the Caruso Family Racing Chevy Camaro with power provided by Titan Racing Engines. Her grandfather, “Papa Joe” Caruso, who competed in Super Gas, Top Sportsman, and Pro Mod, will also be an integral part of the family-run team.

Caruso, 23, began her career in the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League before graduating to Top Alcohol Dragster and then Elite Top Dragster and Pro Outlaw 632 on the PDRA circuit. The team’s 632 car was a naturally-aspirated, clutch-equipped former Mountain Motor Pro Stock GXP that is very similar to an NHRA Pro Stock car.

“I feel like I’ll get up to speed pretty quickly and if it wasn’t for the 632 car, I might feel the same way,” said Caruso. “That car is set up exactly how the Pro Stock car will be. Even when I went to the quarter-mile with my 632 car to get my Pro Stock license, I was right there. I went 6.70. I wasn’t too far off from the rest of the class. I feel like I have a pretty good idea of what to expect.”

Camrie spent some time working with the sport’s preeminent female Pro Stock racer, Erica Enders, on her Elite team for a while, soaking up her knowledge and guidance as she prepares to follow in the footsteps of the four-time world champion.

The Caruso family purchased the Jerry Haas-built Camaro, which was formerly driven by Alex Laughlin, along with its spare parts and equipment, and purchased four engines from the team of retired 2018 Pro Stock champ Tanner Gray. The engines will be maintained by Eric Latino’s Titan Racing Engines shop, which operates out of the former Gray Motorsports shop in Denver, N.C.

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