NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

A lot of racers and fans will be sorry to see Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park close, but Leah Pruett will surely be at the head of that list.

The multi-talented Top Fuel star has enjoyed more success at the Phoenix raceplant than at any other stop along the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series tour, where she has posted a 14-7 record in nine starts with three final rounds, one No. 1 start and two wins, including her first career victory there in 2016. The track is also the site of her career-best speed of 334.15 mph from the 2018 event, but her memories go way deeper, back to her formative years in Jr. Dragster and her earliest years as a Pro driver.

“I have so many great memories at Phoenix, from trick or treating between pits at 10 years old dressed up as a 70s girl to testing Jack Beckman’s Funny Car on a Monday in 2008,” she reflected. “But, my most favorite memory was being rushed in the lanes for the final round against Brittany [Force] in 2016. I didn’t know I was racing her until getting suited because we were not having the smoothest day. 

“I’m sitting in the back seat of the van, had just gotten fully geared up and struck a 1-2-3 jab at the back of the headrest of the 2010 falling-apart Astro Van that we had for a tow vehicle. Punching is part of my pregame because I love boxing. Well, I jabbed so hard that a spring or support for the headrest broke, and it hurt my right hand, but I didn’t care because I knew I was David up against Goliath for this final round and wanted this win more than I had ever wanted anything. It was at this moment that fist pumps became my thing. And the results showed. The win is still all-time for me. Seeing that final win light and trying to comprehend that we really did it. But when it comes to moments, it’s the pre-final-round ritual and what it stands for that lives on.”

The event, which will mark Pruett’s 195th career Top Fuel start, will also be significant in that she will take part in the first Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge during qualifying Saturday. By reaching the semifinals in Gainesville, Pruett earned a rematch against Mike Salinas in the second qualifying session with a bonus purse and bonus points on the line.

“We don’t throw the phrase around the pit with our Dodge Sublime green dragster ‘let’s go get that money’ for nothing,” she said. “These extra points will be nice and possibly pay off when it comes down to positions for the Countdown [to the Championship]. I want to see my guys be able to get rewarded for their dedication and hard work, and this is just a little help in that direction. Also, racing on Saturday is way cool. I love the whole concept. However, qualifying efforts are still a priority, so there will be extra strategy mixed with audibles put in place.”

The Neal Strausbaugh-led Tony Stewart Racing/Dodge Power Brokers team will look for a strong opening lap on Friday to set them up for Saturday’s Challenge and to build on their Gainesville performances.

“Every lap matters, whether it’s the beginning or middle of the season,” she said. “We are always building our database to be able to adjust not only to conditions, but strategy within the conditions to navigate our way to not only a complete run, but a competitive run. That is the tangible momentum, while the spirit of moral builds momentum because the Gatornationals gave us a glimpse that our hard work in the offseason was in the correct direction.”