LEAH PRUETT DISCUSSES HER TOP FUEL ASPIRATIONS

Licensed fuel Funny Car driver and current NHRA Pro Modified competitor Leah Pruett says any report confirming her as the driver for Top Fuel’s Dote Racing is extremely premature. The past NHRA Nostalgia Funny Car champion also categorically denies any suggestions she’s attempted to buy the ride previously held by Hillary Will.

Pruett did confirm she’s planning to pursue a Top Fuel license driving the Dote Racing dragster on Monday following the O’Reilly NHRA Nationals in Charlotte, NC.

Pruett admitted Top Fuel has been on her radar since licensing for nitro Funny Car under the direction of Don Schumacher Racing. A reported Funny Car ride at DSR was close but never came to fruition. She kept her nitro Funny Car license current by driving for Roger Burgess’ r2b2 Racing last season at Reading.

Pruett plans to license in the dragster if only to expand her opportunities.

“I had been looking at Top Fuel even though I had a large focus on Funny Car,” said Pruett. “I’ve spent time around some of the Top Fuel cars and the opportunities seem pretty equal [to Funny car] to me. When the opportunity [to license] came about, I was already looking to expand my resume.”

Monday’s experience will be the first time she’s been in a dragster since piloting a gasoline-burning Super Comp entry at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School.

Pruett decision to license on Monday has already set the Internet message boards abuzz with speculation.

“I have an opportunity to get my Top Fuel license, and that’s all this is,” said Pruett. “Whatever their [Dote Racing’s] reasons are for Hillary having left the team, I’m sure this is between them. I’m excited Larry gets to drive the car. I just know that I get to get my license. I’d be interested to know what we could work out for next year, and no I don’t know what that holds at this time.”

Given her druthers, she’d like to keep her current Pro Modified ride with R2B2 Racing in addition to racing Top Fuel.

“In a perfect world, I’d love to,” said Pruett. “I haven’t had those conversations with Roger because this came about so quickly. We haven’t been able to discuss the situation. I definitely would love to, and I feel like I am getting a good handle on the Pro Modified car now. I really like my team and racing for Roger. I have a love of Pro Modified and would like to continue doing it.”

Pruett understands a lot must happen before anything official happens.

“There’s a lot more that needs to work itself out first,” she added. “I know that Larry Dixon is the confirmed driver for this year,” said Pruett. “As for next year, we cannot tell you who the confirmed driver is. I know that I have an opportunity to get my Top Fuel license on Monday after Charlotte. That’s really where we are at right now.”

 All articles and photography published in CompetitionPlus.com are protected by United States of America and International copyright laws unless mentioned otherwise. The content on this website is intended for the private use of the reader and may not be published or reposted in any form without the prior written consent of CompetitionPlus.com.

< Prev		Next >