MELANIE SNOW and ANDREA ROBERTSON > DOUBLE-DOSE OF GIRL POWER AT ROAD AMERICA

A DOUBLE-DOSE OF GIRL POWER AT ROAD AMERICA
Snow, Robertson partnering again in the ALMS' GT class

Andrea Robertson and Melanie Snow had so much fun driving together for the first time in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón that they’re making it two in a row. Robertson Racing has again paired the ladies together for the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase this weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.


Robertson and Snow will drive Robertson Racing’s No. 40 Doran-Ford GT in Saturday’s four-hour enduro around the famed 4-mile venue. They teamed two weeks ago at Mid-Ohio in a race cut short by rain late in the event. The fact that they are driving in the Series’ deepest and most competitive class makes the task that much more daunting.

“I really don’t have anything to prove to the men,” says Snow, the 2009 ALMS Challenge co-champion and four-time ALMS race-winner. When you’re on the track, everyone is the same. No one goes by you and says, ‘Oh, that’s a female in the car.’ But it’s always in the back of your head. You want to do a good job and show them that you can do it just as good as they do.”

“We go back a ways,” added Robertson, who became the first woman since 1931 to finish on the class podium at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. “It was refreshing to find someone who is as passionate about it as I am. I don’t know that we want to say that we’ll be better than the boys because there are a lot of great drivers out there. But we do want to show them that girls can have fun, too.”

Snow and Robertson are set for an appearance Tuesday on "The Morning Blend", Milwaukee's TMJ4 morning show between 9 and 10 a.m. CT.

This weekend’s Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, August 20 with ABC airing the race at 4:30 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT) on Sunday, August 21. Live video coverage on race day will be available at 3:45 p.m. ET on ESPN3.com in the US, and americanlemans.com for international viewers. Canadian fans may also watch live coverage on Rogers Sportsnet, as can European audiences on MotorsTV. Worldwide radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio at americanlemans.com. For more information on the broadcasts, go to americanlemans.com/tv.

Visit the American Le Mans Series' schedule page for information on tickets and area accommodations. You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes), on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

Alexis DeJoria and the Tequila Patrόn team Wins Seattle National Championship

Alexis DeJoria Racing > 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series 24th Annual O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals August 5th-7th, 2011

Venice, CA (August 8, 2011) - As her Top Alcohol Funny Car career winds down and her transition into the Fuel Funny Car category continues, driver Alexis DeJoria and the Tequila Patrόn team have worked countless hours to achieve their goal of visiting the winner's circle at least once this season.  Sunday afternoon in Seattle they did it.  In a history-making moment, Alexis, who is only the second woman to ever win a Top Alcohol Funny Car National event, and the Patrόn team achieved their goal at the NHRA Northwest Nationals

            "It's been five years in the making!" says Alexis. " Everything just came together for us this weekend! Every round was so crucial, and we were running so consistently. To go from not qualifying at our last race, to qualifying in the 3rd spot, and to have a consistent car in every round is just unheard of. And to do it in the second to last race [as a TAFC driver] was huge! Even though I felt confident about my car, you just never know; it's a 50/50 chance. It's so sentimental to me to have this win, especially as I'm wrapping up my Alcohol career. It feels so great to wind things down on such a positive note!"

Having almost a month off from their last race, the Patrόn crew had a chance to make some adjustments to the car, which proved to be extremely valuable. The team ran consistently quick and fast throughout qualifying, ending up number three with an elapsed time of 5.63 at 256.89 mph respectively.

 

During the first round of eliminations, Alexis made a clean, straight 5.65 at 260.11 mph pass and swept the win, advancing her to Sunday's eliminations. On Sunday morning, Alexis was up against driver and long-time friend Sean Bellemeur. "I have a ton of respect for Sean and was nervous about going up against him. It's always tough to go up against your friends" says Alexis. Although it was his best run of the weekend, he was no match for Alexis and her award-winning Tequila Patrόn car. Alexis not only won the round, but had the fastest speed of the event at 261.02 mph.

With only one other woman (Bunny Burkett) ever to have won a TAFC final round, and the fact that this was her second to last chance to ever win a National event before she moves to the Nitro Funny Car class, the pressure was on for Alexis as she made her way to the starting line. Alexis had lane choice against opponent and previous Seattle National winner, Brian Hough. With an elapsed time of 5.611 and with a speed of 260.26, Alexis was able to take the win!

 

"The feeling of winning is unreal! I was so calm going to the starting line but at the end of the race, when I realized I had won, I was overcome with emotion. I couldn't even get out of the car! I had to sit there for a second and just collect myself. Our Tequila Patrόn team has had many ups and downs throughout our three years of competing together in the Top Alcohol Funny Car class and to have an opportunity for the team to visit the winner's circle in Seattle is very gratifying for everyone who has worked so hard to achieve this NHRA Lucas Oil championship trophy" said Alexis. "To work this hard, and get through these rounds and beat these other teams that are so good and that we have so much respect for is just so humbling. It took my breath away."

About Alexis DeJoria

Alexis DeJoria, daughter of the famed John Paul DeJoria, of Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrόn Spirits is currently the Top Female Top Alcohol Funny Car Racer. Her team, Stealth Motorsports, co-operated by Alexis, is one of the few female-owned and operated teams in the industry. Alexis made racing history when she competed in the first ever 'woman vs. woman' race in her class in 2010, and she is the 2nd woman ever to win a Top Alcohol Funny Car race. Alexis is the female world record holder for the fastest and quickest speeds, and her car is currently the second fastest car in the world in the TAFC category. Alexis is also well-known for her infamous 2009 Englishtown, NJ crash.

Alexis, who had all the opportunity in the world to pursue any type of career, felt strongly about doing something she is passionate about, and she is proud to encourage and inspire young women to go after their dreams. Alexis' need for adrenaline drove her to pursue the unlikely profession of auto-racing. The determination to 'blaze her own trail' continues to drive her and push her to higher levels in the dangerous, male dominated sport of drag racing. Alexis will transition into the Nitro Funny Car category in the Fall of 2011. She will be the fourth member, and second Funny Car driver for the infamous Kalitta Motorsports team.

Alexis is originally from Los Angeles, CA and currently resides in Venice, CA.  Read Alexis' Woman Behind the Wheels feature interview on Track Chic.

Media Contact info:

Alexis DeJoria and members of Alexis DeJoria Racing are available for interview. Hi-res images available upon request. Please contact Allison McCormick at (561) 279-7827 x306 or allison@alexisdejoria.com>

MELANIE SNOW and ANDREA ROBERTSON - TRACK CHIC's WOMEN behind the WHEELS -FORM ALMS' FIRST ALL- FEMALE PAIRING in 10 YEARS

ROBERTSON RACING will field the first all-female driver pairing in ten years of American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron history at the upcoming Mid-Ohio Sportscar Challenge on August 5/6.

Regular driver and team co-owner Andrea Robertson will be joined by highly experienced GT driver Melanie Snow in the #40 Ford GT. Andrea’s husband and fellow co-owner/driver David Robertson has taken the decision to stand down for the two-hour 45-minute enduro. 

Melanie Snow
Track Chic Woman behind the Wheels
September, 2009

Snow, who currently lies fifth in the IMSA GT3 Challenge by Yokohama Platinum Cup standings, having won the 2009 Gold edition, will make her first ALMS start since clinching the GT Challenge class title in 2009. It’s been 12 years since her first and only main GT class appearance when she won on debut at Sebring.

A day’s testing at Mid-Ohio the Tuesday before the race weekend will offer Snow her first chance to sample the Ford GT. At this stage the deal only includes the Lexington round, although further outings could be added.

Andrea Robertson
Track Chic Woman behind the Wheels
June 2011

 
Melanie Snow: “Andrea and I have been friends for a while and always joked about forming an all-girl team. It was something I never really expected though so when I got an email out of the blue it was a shock, but also a nice surprise. Obviously a lot has changed since I last raced in what was the original GT class, but the Challenge cars aren’t too far way in terms of performance so hopefully it won’t be much of a step up. Having said that I’m expecting the Ford to handle completely different to the Porsche I usually race. I’m sure I’ll get to grips with it during the test so we can hit the ground running in Free Practice. At the moment the deal is just for Mid-Ohio but we’ll play it by ear and see what happens for the rest of the season.”

Andrew ‘H’ Smith, Team Manager: “It’s great to have Melanie onboard for Mid-Ohio. She has a lot of experience in GT cars so I’m confident it won’t be long before she’s up to speed in the Ford. Andrea had expressed an interest in her joining the team and I think it’s a great opportunity for them to show how well they stack up against their male counterparts. We’ve had lots of women racers take part in the ALMS over the past 12 years so it’s about time an all-female crew was given their chance. We’re not ruling out running Melanie again later in the season but at the moment Mid-Ohio is the only round scheduled.”

Keep an eye on Robertson Racing’s facebook page, as well as www.RobertsonRace.com, for all the latest news and images. 

16 year-old Rookie, Dominique Van Wieringen scores first career Super Late Model Feature Win

DeWitt, Michigan (Tuesday, July, 19th, 2011): When 16-year-old Dominique Van Wieringen made her debut at Spartan Speedway in Mason, Michigan back on May 6th behind the wheel of an Outlaw Bodied Super Late Model, many on lookers observed that the Amherstburg, Ontario / Canada teenager had a world of untapped potential behind the wheel of a full-sized racecar after her debut resulted in a fifth place finish.

Little did those on lookers realize just how quickly she would adapt to the high-powered machines in such a short amount of time! Van Wieringen, a Development Driver for Chad Finley Racing (CFR) and Michigan Motorsports Hall of Famer, Jeff Finley, and making only her sixth career start behind the wheel of a full bodied racecar, proved many observers right when on July 15th, she would fight off two-time track champion, Jimmy Gallagher to score her first career feature win and become the first female in the tracks long and storied history to win a Feature in the tracks premiere division.

Dominique Van Wieringen celebrates her win with fans!

“This is a great feeling. A lot of pressure there not to mess up those last few laps,” The young Canadian exclaimed. “Jimmy (Gallagher) was all over me. He raced me clean though and I appreciate that. This is just amazing to me. The car was perfect and I just can’t thank all the guys from CFR as well as Chad Finley for his help and guidance. He has helped me a bunch with my line and what I should be doing. Also (Crew Chief) Jimmy D. Smith for his help. Man what a great group of people they have put around me.” She added.

Her next scheduled race at the fast ¼ (0.250) mile semi-banked paved oval located just south of Lansing, Michigan is on Sunday, July 24th in the running of the “Chargin” Charlie Ryan Jr. Memorial 75-lap Feature which is part of the Midwest Racing Scene Sunday Slugfest Series. In the first Sunday Slugfest event back on June 26th, she finished 11th in the 75-lap feature and hopes to improve on that performance this Sunday.

On off weekends from driving the Outlaw Super, Van Wieringen still races one of her two MRP Motorsports Birel Racing Go-Karts as the 2011 season is her final year of racing the National circuit in the World Karting Association (WKA) series where she is one of the top drivers in the circuit. She began her racing career at just five years old as she started out in racing of the two-wheeled variety, in Motocross. She spent six seasons on motorcycles before moving into four-wheeled racing and went Go-Kart racing where she continues to be one of the top competitors within the WKA.

Prior to the start of the 2011 racing season, Van Wieringen joined forces with Chad Finley Racing and is chasing after the 2011 Rookie of the Year title at Spartan Speedway in the tracks Outlaw Super Late Models division. She is leading the freshman title chase by a very wide margin and sits seventh overall in the chase for the 2011 Track Championship. In six starts, she has one Feature Win as well as two top five finishes and five of her six starts have resulted in at least a top 10 showing.

“I just can’t thank (Car Owner) Jeff Finley enough for his years of experience. He has been instrumental in our success this whole year. All the guys in the shop who spend countless hours both there and at the track for me too. I’m very blessed to have such an incredible team who support me as much as they do.” She continued. “I can’t thank my family enough as well. They do a lot for me and I am thankful. My Dad and Mom really have worked hard for me, so again thank you to them. “Van Wieringen ended.
For the remainder of the 2011 racing season, Van Wieringen’s #95 Outlaw Super Late Model with a Chevrolet Camaro front nose, has sponsorship decals from DuroByte Inc., as well as NorthsideTowing.net, and Chad Finley Racing. To learn more about Dominic Van Wieringen and to inquire about additional sponsorship opportunities for the remainder of the current season as well as looking ahead to the 2012 campaign, go to her page within the Chad Finley Racing Website at: http://www.chadfinleyracing.com/

Contact: Jeff Finley
517-819-1560

CINDI LUX TAKES PODIUM FINISH IN ROSE CUP RACE

Cindi Lux became the first woman in Rose Cup history to earn a podium.  

Shown in the Black Rock Coffee Bar-Lux Performance Dodge Viper Comp. Coupe on the grid.  

Image by Jeffrey Zurschmeide.

PORTLAND, June 21, 2011 - Aloha's Cindi Lux added yet another accolade to her already stellar motorsports resume on Sunday. The 12-time, road racing champion earned her first career podium with a third-place finish in the 51st Annual Rose Cup Race at Portland International Raceway (PIR). In the process of setting her personal-best in the Rose Cup, Lux, driving the No. 4 Black Rock Coffee Bar-Lux Performance Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, also made event history. The daughter of the inaugural winner of the race, Dick Hahn, became the first woman in the 51-year history of the Rose Cup to finish on the podium.

Lux, who had previously won her class at Rose Cup support races but never finished better than fourth in the main event, drove a spectacular race to overcome a substantial horsepower disadvantage. Starting fifth against the unrestricted, high-power competition, the 2003 Oregon SCCA National Driver of the Year never placed a wheel wrong during the 45-minute race. She fought her way into third-place before lap 20 when the first, full-course caution bunched the field. With such a massive power disparity, the Viper fell to fourth nearing the restart. However, the pass came while still under caution and race officials swapped the order. With the precise setup placed under her by husband/crew chief Fred Lux, the former Dodge and Mopar factory driver was able to hold-off the subsequent, unassisted assault. Lux kept third until the checkered flag fell. Cindi Lux on her way to her first Rose Cup podium finish in the Black Rock Coffee Dodge Viper. Image by Jeffrey Zurschmeide

Despite always downplaying her place in the progress and success of women in motorsports, the 75-time race winner is credited with several major milestones for females race drivers. Lux bettered over 150 other drivers to win the inaugural American Le Mans Series' Women's Global GT Series championship in 1999. She was named the 1999 Pro-Driver SCCA Driver-of-the-Year and was presented the Northwest Pat Piggot Memorial Award for the most outstanding driver in 1992.  She also became only the second woman in history to win the prestigious SCCA June Sprints in 2004 and repeated the feat in 2006.

The Rose Cup weekend at PIR, which supports the annual Rose Festival, was the debut of Black Rock Coffee Bar into the world of motorsports marketing. By all accounts, the relationship with Lux Performance Group was a resounding success for all concerned. Black Rock Coffee Bar, a Portland-area franchise which features premium-blend coffees sold via an easy drive-thru format, embraced the event using its social media platform, eight-area locations and a concentrated on-site program to maximize its partnership with Lux. The tie-in helped bring guests to Black Rock locations across Oregon, Washington and California as well as introduced the product to hundreds of track workers and spectators at PIR.

In addition to the Dodge Viper entered for Cindi Lux, Lux Performance Group also prepared and managed the Pirelli Cup entry for driver Steve Streimer. Streimer scored his personal career best in the one-make Porsche 911 GT3 Cup series race finishing second. The success of the weekend was not only a testimony to the driver's efforts, but to Lux Performance Group's preparation of the German car and the coaching ability of Cindi Lux who has been instructing Streimer for four years.

Quotes Cindi Lux:   "I don't think I could have driven my Black Rock Coffee Bar Viper Comp. Coupe any harder in this race! I asked 110% of out of the race car for 45 minutes and she held up like a champ. I cannot speak enough about the quality prep that comes from our guys on the Lux Performance team. They gave me the best race car I have driven in a long time; it was on rails. Finishing third is respectable but only gets me fired-up to climb the final two steps in future years. I am never satisfied and always pushing myself to do better. That is especially true here, in front of my hometown crowd! Having Black Rock Coffee Bar on board this weekend was pretty cool. It kept me personally 'fueled' up and ready to attack.  Overall a great weekend."

About racing her home track: "Racing in my hometown is always significant to me and I really try to juggle my crazy schedule to allow me a few days off to race the Rose Cup each year. I'm really looking forward to seeing all the Portland fans at the track. I have gotten to know so many of the fans over the years of coming here it's like coming to a family reunion. This race carries so much personal importance to me. I want to go out there and do my best for my family, for Black Rock and for the city! This is going to be like a giant shot of Black Rock espresso!"

To learn more about Black Rock Coffee Bar and national franchise opportunities, please visit: www.BlackRockCoffeeBar.com. Follow Black Rock on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/BlackRockCoffee and on Facebook at Black Rock Coffee.

Learn more about the Rose Cup, its traditions and its current races at www.RoseCup.com.

For more on Cindi Lux, please visit www.CindiLux.com. Learn more about the Dodge Viper Cup at www.ViperHeadquarters.com. Follow Cindi on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/CindiLux and Cindi Lux on Facebook.

For Enders, a great drag race always begins with a perfect start

BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 15) — When Erica Enders starts her ZaZa Energy Pro Stock Chevrolet at this weekend’s Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, she’ll begin a long procedure that has made her one of the best drivers off the starting line in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

It’s the same procedure she’s used for years, and she repeats it every time she makes a pass down the drag strip.

The procedure actually starts long before she crawls in the ZaZa Energy Chevy Cobalt, when Enders takes 10 minutes of quiet time to begin focusing on the task at hand. Soon, she’ll begin to clear her mind of outside thoughts and think only on cutting the best light.

“Once I buckle in, all the outside thoughts go away,” Enders said. “I’m able to get all the distractions out of my head, and I think that’s one of the reasons why I do a good job.”

Easier said than done, of course, so Enders first asks for a little help from above.

“I pray for a clear head,” Enders said. “Something my dad told me a long time ago was, ‘Once you get in the racecar, you can’t change anything on the outside.’ There are times when it’s challenging to be able to do it but most of the time I’m able to forget everything else.”

Before she actually fires the powerful Cagnazzi engine on her car, the actual starting-line procedure begins. And though the entire process only takes a few moments, Enders needs several minutes to verbally explain it.

First, she goes through a 12- to 15-step mental checklist before starting the 2,400-horsepower engine.

“That helps me to never forget anything,” Enders said.

Then comes an array of moves, settings, and adjustments that boggle the mind: Enders fires the car, puts the transmission in first gear and rolls through the water box. She puts it in second gear and then stops to make sure it’s in gear. Next, she sets the brake pressure and revs the engine twice.

On the second rev, she drops the clutch and goes through the gears – third, fourth, and fifth – as she drives across the starting line for the burnout.

When she stops after smoking the tires, she pushes in the clutch and begins to back up, listening to crew chief Dave Connolly on her radio as he position her on the track and tells her where to stop.

Enders then goes through another mental checklist, this one more extensive than the first. Switches are toggled, and then Connolly directs her forward to the correct spot.

Crew member Rich Saulino then takes over at the side of the car and guides Enders to a spot just short of the start line, inches from the pre-stage light.

And the checklist continues.

“I re-check everything,” Enders said. “I’m one of the few drivers who hasn’t ever forgot to turn my fuel pumps on or forgot to do this or that. I double-, triple-, quadruple-check everything.”

She’s communicating with her crew, too, confirming switches or changes, so she can check it off in her head and eliminate more things from her mind.

Before staging, Enders then puts the car in neutral to set the brake and clutch as the crew makes its last-second adjustments.

“Dave says, ‘It’s all yours,’” Enders said. “I take a deep breath, put my visor down and make sure all my switches are in the right spot.”

Enders pushes in the clutch and puts the transmission in first gear, rolling forward to turn on the pre-stage bulb. She sets the brake pressure and gets her left arm – her steering-wheel arm – in the correct position.

She revs the motor, gently lets the clutch out a little and stages shallow in the second beam. The Christmas Tree will then begin, and Enders jams the throttle to launch, hopefully cutting a good light somewhere in the .020-second or quicker range.

Enders will then repeat the procedure – exactly – for the next session. And the next, and the next…

“There’s always going to be something different every time you get in the car,” Enders said, “but for the most part, I do my procedure the exact same way every time.”

And that’s with an incredibly long list of things to do, though Enders insists on repeating it every time – and with good reason.

“That’s one of the things that is important to me,” Enders said, “and I think it helps me drive better.”

Qualifying for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals gets under way at 5 p.m. EDT on Friday. Qualifying continues at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, followed by a Fan Fest in the pits immediately following the final round of qualifying.

Eliminations get under way at noon. ESPN2 will air the qualifying show at 7 p.m. EDT on Saturday and the elimination show at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Enders has several media and fan opportunities scheduled for Thunder Valley, from an appearance in the Bruton Smith Suite on Friday at 2:15 to the Fan Fest to the Track Walk before eliminations Sunday.

–30–

Contact: Lee Montgomery at 704-258-0903 or lee.montgomery@zazaenergy.com.

Please visit www.ZaZaEnergy.com for more information.

RoadRage.com Driver Pruett-LeDuc > Bristol Dragway NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 15) – It’s been an anxious week since the end of the NHRA SuperNationals, but now both Leah Pruett-Leduc and the RoadRage.com Camaro are ready to participate in this weekend’s Get Screened America Pro Mod Series race at the Ford Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Even though Pruett-Leduc’s home and the R2B2 Racing shop are on opposite sides of the country, she kept close tabs on the progress on permanent repairs to the RoadRage.com Camaro following a crash into the gravel trap during the first round of eliminations in Englishtown, N.J.

“Honestly it stinks being in California while all the guys are back in Duluth (Ga.) putting the car back together,” Pruett-Leduc said. “They would send me updated pictures during the week but it’s not the same thing.

“I really have to thank Kevin Mutters and the R2B2 Motors guys for giving us a new coat of paint and of course the race team for working long hours rebuilding the car in-house.”

Pruett-Leduc hopes to repay the team in the best way possible on Sunday afternoon.

“I owe them a trip to the Winner’s Circle and plan on doing that this weekend in Bristol,” she said. “After my crazy first weekend of racing a Pro Mod, I feel confident we’ll put a good number on the board in qualifying and go some rounds on race day.”

Pruett-Leduc qualified seventh in her first effort in a Pro Mod and won a round.

“I can’t thank Roger Burgess enough for this opportunity,” she said. “I’m excited to go to Bristol and make all the hard work my crew did this past week really pay off.”

Get Screened America Pro Mod Series racing gets under way at 4:30 p.m. EDT from Bristol Dragway. Qualifying will conclude on Saturday at 1 p.m., which will be followed by the first round of eliminations, which are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. the same day. Eliminations will continue on Sunday afternoon.

Contact: Geiger Media at 832-971-9345 or rob@go2geiger.com.