5 Questions with NHRA Top Fuel Driver Leah Pritchett
The annual SEMA show always attracts tons of celebrities and professional drivers, and we were able to catch up with one of our favorite racing personalities, Leah Pritchett, who pilots the Pennzoil Top Fuel dragster with Don Schumacher Racing.
After a solid performance at the 16th Annual Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas, Leah sat down with DodgeForum at the Shell Pioneering Performance Pavilion to share some fun facts and insights about her fast-paced life and the upcoming 2017 season.
DodgeForum: You regularly command 10,000+ horsepower. Does driving on public roads feel like you’re living in slow-motion?
Leah Pritchett: I’d have to say yes, especially when we get into times when there are three to four races in a row. I’m constantly in the Top Fuel dragster, and when I get into my street vehicle to go to the hotel, things slow down a lot.
However, there’s a certain factor of respect that’s still present. When I have a fast street car, like the Dodge Challenger Hellcat that I’m currently driving, I give it the same type of respect as I would a race car — I’m in charge of the vehicle, of my own safety, and of my own fun.
But yeah, when I’m on the street, things get dull. Do I pretend that the traffic light is a Christmas tree on the dragstrip? Absolutely!
DF: What are your favorite aspects of the Challenger Hellcat?
LP: I really love the different drive modes: street, sport, and track. You can feel the extra performance when switching between 500 and 707 horsepower — it really makes me feel like a driver with that much power on tap. And burnouts are definitely at the top of my list of favorite things to do with the Hellcat. A 3-year-old could do a burnout in this car because it’s so easy! Launch control is also fun to play with. The Challenger has all the amenities of a grand-tourer, but it’s also a sports car. In my opinion, it’s a classic yet updated muscle car — definitely my favorite.
DF: This racing season has been quite a rollercoaster for you, going from having no team to being a Mopar brand ambassador and a contender in The Countdown. What got you through the difficult times and how did your attitude help you push through?
LP: That’s a wonderful question. My season went from a high to an extreme low, and then back to an unbelievable high. The first high-point was winning the second race of the season, and I feel that happened for a reason. It left us with a taste for winning and gave us that extra push that we didn’t know we were going to need later on. So when the team disbanded, it left 50 of us without a job; our hopes, dreams, and aspirations were completely crushed. Where am I going to find millions of dollars to fund a team mid-season?!
So I’m at the table with my team, writing a post on Facebook because I try to be as real as possible with my fans and family, and a tear drop fell onto my phone screen as I’m typing. And I’m not a crier at all. I’ve probably cried five times in my entire life. I looked down and said “f— that tear drop!” I wasn’t sad because we lost our jobs; I was frustrated that I didn’t know what to do next.
In my Facebook post, I explained what happened, reassured everyone we’re not giving up, and explained that these are the situations where true champions are born. I skipped the entire denial process, feeling bad for ourselves, because there was no time for that at all. The attitude of not giving up and persevering through tough times is what helped me get here today.
Being a partner with Mopar has been a goal of mine for almost a decade. I got my racing license in a Mopar Funny Car that Gary Scelzi drove, and it gave me a glimpse of life as a professional driver. Things came full-circle when Mopar stepped in to help make my season happen, and it still blows me away when I get to wear the blue.
DF: Do you have any quirky pre-race rituals?
LP: I do. I have a lot. I’m extremely superstitious, and I like odd numbers. My car number is 777 so I love racing in Las Vegas. I’m right-handed which means everything has to happen on the right side first — right glove always goes on first, right shoe, right pant leg. I fist-bump my guys, and each person has a specific ritual. I listen to rap and hip-hop music to get me pumped up, and I drink Monster Energy because I’m allergic to coffee. It’s funny because Brittany Force (Monster Energy Top Fuel driver) and I have a friendly rivalry, but I drink the heck out of her sponsor and probably single-handedly fund her Top Fuel dragster. [laughter] I also get my nails done to match whatever livery is currently on my race car.
DF: What do you do for fun or to unwind?
LP: I don’t think I ever unwind, and when I do, it freaks me out. For example, we’ve been charging hard for 70 days straight. I came to Las Vegas early to spend time with friends, and thought I was going to lay by the pool and do nothing. But that caused me even more anxiety because I don’t know how to unwind! I couldn’t wait for Monday to come around so I could start working again. Ha! But there are times when I’m home in Indianapolis and I really enjoy wake surfing. That’s the only time I don’t think about work. We’re on the lake, there’s no cell service, and I’m out there pushing myself to try new tricks or techniques.
DF: What can fans expect from team Leah Pritchett for next season?
LP: They can expect a lot of fun, and another hybrid team in terms of sponsors. We’ll have multiple title sponsors like Papa John’s Pizza, Mopar, Pennzoil, FireAde, and another one yet to be announced. The fans can expect more of what they’ve seen this season: top qualifying along with a car and team that competitors are super-scared of. We were just warming up in 2016, but in 2017, we’re bringing the heat!
You can watch Leah Pritchett tear up the dragstrip as the NHRA wraps up the 2016 season in Pomona, California at the 52nd Annual Auto Club Finals. Cheer her on via Facebook and Instagram.
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