Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Reigning world Super Gas champion Mia Tedesco begins defense of D3 title



INDIANAPOLIS (April 26) -- Mia Tedesco made history last year when she became the first woman in 65 years of organized drag racing to claim the Super Gas world championship. A big part of that accomplishment was the work she did in Division 3, where she also won the 2016 title.

For that reason, and many others, this weekend's Division 3 opener at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis is a race where the 23-year-old Tedesco really hopes to shine. In addition to Super Gas, Tedesco will be competing in Top Alcohol Dragster, where she is the defending North Central Region champion.


"We're really looking for a big weekend," said Tedesco, who hails from Pittsburgh, Pa. "Both cars are running well. We're coming off a runner-up finish in Top Alcohol Dragster down at the Houston national event so that car is good to go. The (Super Gas) Cavalier has been good too, we're just haven’t been on the right side of some super-close races.

"Whenever you're at a home race within your division, especially the first one of the season, you want to have a big weekend to get everything off to a good start. I'm excited for this race."

Tedesco has won Indy in the past, albeit under some dubious circumstances she'd rather not repeat this time through in her CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/Schepel Motors/NGK/Lucas Oil Top Alcohol dragster and CARS Vehicle Service Contracts /VP Racing Fuels Super Gas Chevrolet Cavalier.

"Two years ago we were here and I crashed the Cavalier pretty hard," Tedesco said. "But I climbed out of the car, went and got in the dragster and ended up winning the race, so it was the best of both worlds that weekend. We got a big regional event win but did about $75,000 worth of damage to the Super Gas car."

To make sure she gets the most out if this visit to the Racing Capital of the World, Tedesco and crew chiefs Dave Hirata (Top Alcohol Dragster) and Jason Lynch (Super Gas) plan to get some testing in prior to the race.

"They are opening the track up Thursday for a test and tune and I think we'll take advantage of that time and make some passes," Tedesco said. "That’s how important this race is for us. We're halfway through spring and heading to summer and it's time to make sure we're getting the most out of both cars."


Thursday's open test and tune runs from 12-8 p.m. Time trials and qualifying action in Super Gas will take place from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday, with the first TAD qualifying session slated for 4 p.m., Friday. Super Gas qualifying concludes between 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, with the first round of eliminations scheduled for 6 p.m., Saturday. TAD qualifying concludes with two more rounds at 1 and 5 p.m., Saturday. Super Gas eliminations continue at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, with TAD eliminations starting at noon.


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