LAS VEGAS (Nov. 6) – Mia Tedesco became the first woman to win the
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Super Gas national championship when she
claimed the title during the running of the Division 7 event Sunday at The
Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Tedesco led the Super Gas national points standings heading into
this race, and the 22-year-old had already finished accumulating points to her
national-title count with her CARS Protection Plus/VP Racing Fuels Super Gas
Chevrolet Cavalier. She had to wait on challengers Tommy Phillips and Brad
Pierce, who were racing in Vegas, before she could celebrate.
But when Phillips and Pierce went out in the second round, Tedesco
was assured the championship.
"It's still sinking in," Tedesco said. "I don't think
it's really hit me yet. I've been leading for a while, but I haven't really let
that mean anything. I haven't told myself I won anything until it was truly
official. It hasn't sunk it yet, but it sure is awesome.
"From the beginning, we let it over to God and realized how
blessed we are and that we really don't have any control. The goal at the
beginning of the year was to get 650 points, and we accomplished that – and the
championship followed with it. We were happy with our performance, whether we
ended up winning or coming in second or wherever. Thankfully, we ended up
winning."
Tedesco won two Super Gas races this season, a national event and a
Division 3 race at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. She's held the lead since
the summer, and no one could catch her.
But it was by no means a coast to the finish. Phillips was her
closest threat, and he needed to win in Vegas to pass Tedesco.
"He's one of the best Sportsman racers in this sport, so for
him to have to win this race to catch you is a pretty scary feeling,"
Tedesco said.
While waiting in the lanes Sunday to make her Round 2 pass, Tedesco
got word that Phillips went red against Lloyd Parfait.
"He was the immediate threat, and it was a huge weight lifted
off your shoulders," Tedesco said. "I never wish for him to lose, but
we all hugged and said, 'Good job. Now we only have one more to worry
about.'"
Pierce, who had to win in Vegas and Pomona to catch Tedesco, was
next.
"As I was pulling around the corner to make my run, our crew
chief opens my door and said, 'Congrats, champ! Brad just went red,'"
Tedesco said. "It was pretty incredible to try and go race after
that."
Tedesco composed herself and beat Diana Anderson that round, though
she fell in the third round. By then, of course, the celebration had begun.
"It's been a pretty crazy year," Tedesco said. "I've
been leading since the end of summer, and at first I was like, 'That's funny.'
I hadn't set a goal to lead the points. My goal was to win a national event
this year, go rounds and have fun, so when I started leading, I thought,
'That's pretty funny. I've never done that before.'
"Once I started leading, I led until now, and it was
incredible."
In addition to the Super Gas national title, Tedesco also won the
Division 3 Super Gas championship as well as the North Central Region
championship with her CARS Protection Plus/Schepel Motors/NGK/Lucas Oil Top
Alcohol Dragster.
Tedesco thanked her parents, Michael and Cindy; her sister Natalie;
boyfriend Andy Price, team manager Jason Lynch and crew chief Jason "Krusty"
Oteri. Plus, Tedesco gave a shout out to sponsors CARS Protection Plus, Lucas
Oil, Aamco, VP Racing Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tire, Quick Fuel Technology,
Wilkerson Racing Engines and Abruzzi Transmissions.
Tedesco's dad and boyfriend, as well as Lynch and Oteri, were at the
race to celebrate.
"We're
probably going to go to dinner, enjoy each other's company," Tedesco said,
"and let it sink in a little bit more."
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