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Leah
Pruett CLT Pro Mod Winner over teammate Melanie
Troxel 
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Snippets
Results
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Contact: leahpruettleduc.com
or E-Mail
pruettracing@aol.com http://bit.ly/97rNBG
Bio
Name: Leah
Pruett-LeDuc
Nickname: The Heartbreaker
Age: 20
Status: Un-single
Years racing: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Birthplace: Redlands, California
Residence: Cherry Valley, California
Racing goals: To drive an NHRA Nitro Funny Car on
the circuit… And own my own professional team
someday…. someday
Favorite racers: Jack Beckman (NHRA) and Dan
Wheldon (IRL)
Philsophy: No free rides
Greatest Influence: My parents for sure
Physical preparation: Running and working out my
right arm especially (brake hand)
Mental preparation: Practicing on my Portatree and
going through perfect and not so perfect passes in
my mind.
Hobbies: Going to my husband’s CORR races,
hiking with the dogs, and being productive (I know
that’s not a hobby but it’s what I do in
my spare time)
Favorite music: Country!
Favorite CD: Audio Adrenaline - Underdog
Personal vehicle: 2002 Toyota Tacoma
Favorite Car: Lamborghini Murcie’lago LP640
(I’ll have it someday.. )
Favorite TV Shows: The Simpsons and NHRA Drag
Racing
Favorite Movie: Taladega Nights and Diamond P
Favorite Actor: George Clooney
Favorite Actress: Cameron Diaz
Favorite Food: Bean and Cheese
Chimichanga
Leah was born in Redlands
California and raised in a racing environment. Her
father, Ron Pruett was an entrepreneur and land
speed racer. Leah’s father truly wanted to
have sons, but it seems the Lord wanted him to have
two daughters instead. Her parents took an unusual
route of spending family time together by
introducing Leah and her sister to the newly formed
NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League in 1992. The minimum
age requirement was eight years old, so the day
Leah turned eight she started drag racing,
beginning at the Pomona Fairplex. Jr. Drag racing
instantly became her life, She loved the sport, the
mechanics, the uniqueness, but most of all the
competition. Leah was no weekend warrior; she and
her father took her racing very seriously. Leah not
only competed in the NHRA circuit, but became
National Champion, Regional Champion, 2x Division
Champion and 2x track champion, 4x National team
Champion and Wicked West Coast Champion. They even
traveled the nation to run the IHRA circuit, and
she was the first Jr. Drag racer on the west coast
to win an Ironman (equivalent to an NHRA Wally).
During her last two years of Jr. Drag racing, Leah
and her father founded a heads up racing
association known as the WICKED WEST COAST 330.
Their mission was to allow the older racers the
freedom to push their Jr. dragsters to the limit in
a shorter distance while allowing the racing to
still remain safe. After winning her last
championship at age sixteen, Leah and her father
left the Jr. Drag racing scene as well as the
growing association. The WWC330 still lives on
today and has been incorporated into the NHRA Jr.
National Events.
This is where the real fun
begins. At this time Leah was sixteen and wanting
to continue racing, but not in Super Comp like many
other Jr. dragster graduates did, due to the costs,
time commitment with the NHRA, and low odds of
moving up through the ranks. Leah and her family
took the route less traveled once more and bought a
retired Alcohol Funny Car chassis. Leah raced it
throughout California in the CIFCA series with a
blown alcohol 450 Chevy, before transforming it
into an altered. Now that the car had a ‘32
Bantom roadster body on it, she could compete in
the Goodguy’s Vintage racing association. The
requirement to run with the group was that the body
style of the car must be older than 1978. She raced
in a category known as Nostalgia Eliminator 1,
which limited the elapse time to 7.60, which is
close to 190 mph. Leah loved the group, the people
were friendly, the races were only 1-2 days long as
oppose to running the 3-4 day NHRA races, and the
competition was stiff. However, success did not
come as easy for Leah as it had in her Jr. dragster
days. Leah and her father struggled with the
tune-up for almost a year, for the car was
extremely inconsistent, as in always too fast! It
was during these years Leah developed a strong work
ethic for racing and was determined to make every
race in pursuit of a win, even with only a crew of
three; Dad, Leah, and of course Mom. Consequently
Leah did come out victorious taking a first place
win and number one qualifier in Sacramento Ca,
along with numerous semi-final appearances in
Tucson and Phoenix AZ throughout the 2007 season.
Leah had her fare share of tire shake, getting out
of the groove and even chassis breakage due to
violent tire shake. Piloting the altered for three
years taught Leah driving skills that have
ultimately enabled her to become comfortable
wheeling her nostalgia funny car in a short time.
Although Leah was still in high school during this
time, she had been working on her first media kit
and was able to start a lasting sponsor
relationship with Dickies Girl Apparel.
By nature and genetics,
Leah is a person of improvement and achievement.
Leah and her father both caught the bug of the
Nitro Nostalgia Funny Car movement and knew they
had to be a part of the highest level of nostalgia
drag racing. These funny cars run upward of 240 mph
with elapse times dipping into the 5 second range
and Leah couldn’t wait to get started. The
decision was unanimous, “Lets do it! “.
Leah and her father agreed to sell the altered and
have a nostalgia funny car chassis built. The
relationship between Leah and her father became a
partnership. Ron was able to supply the racecar,
but it was up to Leah to raise money to cover all
of the racing expenses, including maintenance. Ron
partnered with Les Leggitt to supply the 426 Hemi
for the nostalgia funny car, Les had provided the
motor, Ron was providing the car, and Leah began
the search to provide the funding. Leah knew she
had a difficult challenge ahead of her; to raise a
large amount of money before the racecar ever
hit’s the strip. After hundreds of cold calls
to companies, numerous new media kits sent out and
dead ends, she caught a break. Leah’s already
established associate sponsor Dickies Girl stepped
up to title sponsor on the nostalgia funny car.
Leah captured many associate sponsors throughout
the building months of the car, and was able to
raise enough money to race the nostalgia funny car.
However, since the car was not running at this
time, Leah needed to assure sponsors of exposure,
and she did that by landing her own TV show on the
network OCTANE TV named Funny Girl, the show was
about the build of the funny car, with much product
and logo placement. The show aired for six months
and she was happy to experience something so unique
and give exposure to her sponsors. However, Leah
says she would rather not do anything like that
again. At this time Leah was 19 years old and had
been enrolled in college full time as a
Communications major with an emphasis on mass media
for two years. Her college efforts are to serve one
purpose only, and that is to provide her with the
necessary verbal and marketing skills to help her
financially and personally become a professional
drag racer on the NHRA circuit.
Simultaneously, during the
build of the Nostalgia Funny Car Leah was contacted
by team owner Don Schumacher. At the time Gary
Scelzi, driver of his Mopar/Oakley Funny Car was
announcing his retirement and Don was looking for a
replacement. Leah was fortunate enough to have Don
request an interview with her at a race in Sonoma
CA. There were over 30 other seasoned, semi
professional and professional drivers interviewing
for this position as well, Leah was undoubtedly the
youngest at 19 years old, but not the only female.
Don gave Leah the opportunity to make a short 200
foot squirt in the MTS Funny Car later that year in
Indianapolis. She proved to him that she was
comfortable in an 8,000 horse powered funny car and
was ready for more. But Gary Scelzi decided he
would not retire, leaving Don with no available
room or need for Leah on his team at that time.
However, Don being the business man he is, decided
not to dismiss Leah and to continue her testing
knowing that a good, young, and upcoming female
driver is difficult to come by. Don Schumacher has
allowed Leah to test his NHRA nitro funny cars on
three separate occasions as of August 2008; (August
2007 in Indianapolis IN, February 2008 in Phoenix
AZ, June 2008 in Martin MI) After a total of seven
runs including tire shake and tire smoke, Leah has
made a 700 foot pass at her quickest and fastest
time of 274 mph at 5.29 e.t. Don Schumacher Racing
has continued to show interest in creating a driver
development program with Leah and they are
currently arranging for further testing and
licensing passes.
Once the nostalgia funny
car was finished being built in late 2007, Leah and
the crew went to Las Vegas to upgrade her license.
During her second run, Leah endured ’new car
blues’ when the engine kicked the number four
rod out through the block resulting in a fire and
oily mess with expensive repairs. Leah executed all
safety procedures and got the car stopped and fire
put out very quickly, needless to say she passed
the safety portion of the test, and got her
Specialty Fuel License.
Leah has been competing at
NHRA and NFCA sanctioned events since then, and her
nitro nostalgia funny car endeavors have proved
successful. Despite having a new car and team, Leah
has qualified for every race, achieved two semi
final finishes and has won more than one round on a
hole shot just this year. Leah is very pleased with
the 2008 season and is thankful just to be driving
such a fast car and compete with the best. Leah and
her team have proved to the crowds and competition
that they are not to be taken lightly.
On February 16th, 2008
Leah married CORR and SCORE off road racer Todd
LeDuc, son of legend off road racer Curt LeDuc.
Snippets
Congrats on your win in Charlotte.
* * *
Pro Mod newcomer Pruett-LeDuc excited about
first Indy experience. 
* * *
Leah Pruett- LeDuc Crowned NHRA Hot Rod Heritage
Series Champion (Auto Club Raceway - Famoso, Ca -
October 17, 2010)
* * *
The 52nd edition of the famed March Meet at the
Auto Club Raceway - Famoso, Ca may go down in the
record books for having the largest funny car field
since 1980, finishing the final rounds on Monday,
or providing record breaking runs. But for Leah
Pruett-LeDuc, she made her own history by not only
winning the event in Funny Car, but also being the
first female to do so at the March Meet.
* * *
Nostalgia Funny Car driver
Leah Pruett-LeDuc became the first person in
history to reach 250 mph in a Nostalgia Funny Car.
The record breaking run took place at Sacramento
Raceway's 33rd Annual Nitro Nite of Fire on
Saturday, where she posted a 6.07 et at 250.37 mph
in round one eliminations.
Results
Pro Mod newcomer Pruett-LeDuc
excited about first Indy experience
It’s been too long since Leah Pruett-LeDuc was
behind the wheel of at Get Screened America Pro Mod
Series car at an NHRA event, so this weekend’s
57th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by
Lucas Oil couldn’t get started soon
enough.
“It is an honor to compete at the US
Nationals, especially in the super dynamic and
unpredictable class of Pro Mod,” Pruett-LeDuc
said. “You would like to tell yourself,
it’s just another race, but really it is not.
It’s the Big Go.
“The history and prestige behind the U.S.
Nationals alone is enough to give you goose bumps
when realize you’re going to be a part of
it.”
Although there has been a two-month gap in the
Get Screened America Pro Mod Series schedule,
Pruett-LeDuc and the R2B2 Racing crew of the
supercharged ProCare Rx Camaro have not sat idly by
waiting for the pages of the calendar to turn.
“We made some changes to bring the car up
to speed, but not anything drastic,” she said.
“We also competed at the ADRL event in
Richmond Va., recently, which allowed us to get the
ultimate testing experience, where it placed the
car, crew and myself back into competition
mode.
“Personally I have been on the road with
the ProCare Rx Toyota Funny Car team, and enjoy
practicing my lights on a Christmas Tree app I
downloaded for my phone. It keeps my reactions
fresh.”
Although this is just her third Pro Mod race,
Pruett-LeDuc is brimming with confidence heading
into Indy.
“Every time I get into the Pro Mod car I
know I have a fighting chance of the win light
coming on in my lane,” she said. “I have
so much confidence in (crew chief) Bob Newberry,
the crew and equipment. I am blessed to be a part
of an established, competitive program, which I
give the credit to for our success.
“I am not big on dreaming — I’m a
doer more than a dreamer, but you can’t help
but imagine how exhilarating that Sunday and Monday
would be as you win round after round.”
Qualifying for the Get Screened America Pro Mod
Series gets under way with one round of qualifying
at 4:30 p.m. EDT on Friday. Qualifying continues
Saturday with two sessions starting at 2:30 p.m.
and the last chance to make the U.S. Nationals will
be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Eliminations begin Sunday
at 4:30 p.m. and continue on Monday afternoon.
Leah Pruett- LeDuc Crowned
NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series CHAMPION( Auto Club
Raceway - Famoso, Ca - October 17, 2010 )
The 2010 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series Championship
in Nitro Funny Car was clenched by Leah Pruett-
LeDuc at the California Hot Rod Reunion, October
16, in Bakersfield CA. After winning the season
opener in Bakersfield at the March Meet, Leah
maintained a steady lead in the points throughout
the season, and was able to wrap up the
championship by winning the second round at the
CHRR.
The Plueger & Gyger / Deja Vu Showgirls
nostalgia funny car made it to the final round at
the CHRR in Bakersfield, however the weather
decided the final round was ment for another time,
and place. Due to a rain out, the final rounds of
Top Fuel and Funny Car were rescheduled to be held
at the NHRA World Finals in Pomona, CA, November
12-14 to crown the CHRR winners. Due to time
restrictions and an abundance of oil downs during
the World Finals weekend, the final round between
Leah Pruett- LeDuc and Mark Hentges did not happen.
Leah was ultimately crowned the winner by her
quicker e.t. from the semi final round in
Bakersfield, 5.82 elapse time at over 245 mph. To
add to the Championship win, Leah and the Plueger
team finished of the season by winning the
California Hot Rod Reunion, even if by default.
"I was extremely excited about running the final
round at Pomona at the National event. We did what
we wanted to do, make the 2010 season come full
circle with our win at the start, and a win at the
end of the season. The Championship alone is sweet,
but to end the season with a win makes it that much
sweeter" said Pruett-LeDuc. "Although this is the
third championship win in a row for the Plueger
Team, we really worked hard for this one. This year
we were not the fastest or the quickest on the
track like we were previously, but we still got it
done. There are many people to thank, but must of
all Deja Vu Showgirls for their support of me
throughout the entire season, and enabling me to
race these races to win the championship. I would
also like to thank Steve Plueger, my crew chief
Paul Trabue, the team, as well as RCD Engineering,
Benchmark RV, Dairy Queen, Clevite, and Lucas
Oil."
The Championship title has received a great deal
of press and recognition in the industry for Leah,
the team, and her sponsors. Most recently Leah was
featured on ABC Channel 7 in the greater LA area
for her participation at the World Finals. Look for
a feature on Leah in the upcoming issue of Hot
Rod Magaszine.
Leah Pruett- LeDuc Wins the March Meet in
Nostalgia Funny Car: Auto Club Raceway -
Famoso, Ca - March 5-8, 2010 )
The 52nd edition of the famed March Meet may go
down in the record books for having the largest
funny car field since 1980, finishing the final
rounds on Monday, or providing record breaking
runs. But for Leah Pruett-LeDuc, she made her own
history by not only winning the event in Funny Car,
but also being the first female to do so at the
March Meet.
Pruett-LeDuc wheeled the Déjà Vu
sponsored 'Plueger and Gyger' Funny Car through
five rounds of eliminations before being crowned
the winner on Monday afternoon. The final round
consisted of new generation driver Pruett-LeDuc
defeating NHRA veteran Gary Densham. Pruett-LeDuc
ran a 5.811 at 242.65 mph to Densham's 5.986 at
236.34 mph.
"I am beyond happy right now," said Pruett-
LeDuc after her final round win, "This weekend is
extremely special to me. This is my first nitro
win, Ron Capps was my team mate for the weekend, I
beat Gary Densham in the final round, I have a new
sponsor, Déjà Vu, and I am racing for
Steve Plueger. It doesn't get any better than
this!"
Pruett- Leduc's road to victory began with a
first round win over Jeff Bennett's 'Candies' and
Hughes' Camaro running a shaky 5.87 to his 6.51. In
the second round, Tim Boychuck's 5.82 was no match
for Pruett- Leduc's 5.73, making her the second
quickest of the event behind fellow team mate Ron
Capps who wheeled the 'L.A. Hooker' to a 5.67
earlier in the meet. It was Paul Romine in the
third round that set the new mph record at 253.02
mph against Pruett-LeDuc, but she was quicker than
him, and put him on the trailer with a back to back
5.73 to his 5.84 elapse time.
Numerous oil downs and inconsistent rain
throughout the weekend delayed the original
schedule of the event, and ultimately required
rounds four and five of the Funny Cars to be
completed on Monday.
Consequently, Pruett-Leduc's fourth round match
up, Lee Paul Jennings was unable stay and compete,
leaving Pruett-LeDuc with a bye into the final
where she defeated Gary Densham.
The rest can be considered history as Leah
Pruett- LeDuc's win at the 52nd March Meet was also
he first win ever in a Nitro Nostalgia Funny Car.
As for the future, it looks mighty bright for
Pruett- LeDuc and the Plueger Racing Team.
* * *
Nostalgia Funny Car racer
Leah Pruett-LeDuc, will make her debut into the
NHRA Nitro Funny Car class at the 2009 Pomona World
Finals, November 12-15, driving the John Lindsay
and Phil Miller owned Chevrolet Monte Carlo Funny
Car sponsored by DragStar and TIGERFLOW Systems,
Inc.
Schedule
Whats next for 2011?
The Plueger Race team will continue to field two
nostalgia funny cars in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage
Series in 2011. Leah Pruett-LeDuc is currently
looking to secure sponsorship and funding to
continue to race for Steve Plueger next season and
defend her championship. Leah is always
entertaining opportunities to make the step into
the NHRA Full Throttle Series. Stay tuned.
* * *
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