CHICAGO (July 6) – Reigning Super Gas world champion Mia Tedesco will have more than one opportunity for victory this weekend when the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series hits the track for the Fallen Patriots Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., outside of Chicago.
Tedesco, a 23-year-old native of Pittsburgh, made two trips to Route 66 Raceway last year and she took home a Super Gas title trophy both times in her CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/VP Racing Fuels Chevrolet Cavalier, one for the divisional event and the other for the national event. She knows defending her title this weekend will be challenging, but the spirited racer known as “Miss Mia” to her fans has never backed down from a challenge.
"I really love Chicago," Tedesco said. "Last year, I won both times I came here. I raced in the divisional race here in Super Gas again this year and made it to the quarterfinals. That’s the worst I’ve done here in two years and that was still going rounds so I’m really confident about the national event. I really like the facility and I like the track, it’s really smooth and fast."
Tedesco’s weekend of racing also includes the 33rd running of the “Best of the Best”, the JEGS Allstars. The best racers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series compete in the $124,000 race within a race, Saturday. The top points earners from NHRA’s seven geographic divisions and four Top Alcohol regions battle against each other after a yearlong points battle. Tedesco will again represent the North Central Region in her CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/Schepel Motors/NGK/Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster.
"I’m really excited about racing our Top Alcohol Dragster in the JEGS Allstars event," Tedesco said. "It’s a fun deal, plus you get to go up against the best racers in the country. I’m honored to be a part of it. Hopefully, we can bring home a trophy this year."
Tedesco raced her CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/Schepel Motors/NGK/Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster in the JEGS Allstars for the first time last year.
Despite not seeing her name in the win column yet this year, Tedesco’s ever-positive outlook keeps her grounded in times of struggle and in times of success.
"This year has been good," Tedesco said. "We haven’t won any races but my cars have been running well and I’ve been going rounds so I’m happy with our year so far. It goes like that, though. It’s how this sport is. It’s humbling. You can’t go out there and expect to win every race or even every round; you just have to do the best you can. Some passes you make will win one week but won’t win the next week.
"It’s just how it goes. I’m just keeping my head up and having fun and feeling blessed I get to do what I love to do. We just need to make laps and make good runs. It will just happen. I don’t think we’re doing anything wrong or making bad runs or need to change anything. It will happen when it happens."
Even without a win this year, Tedesco’s name remains high in the points standings. She’s ranked second in the North Central region and eighth nationally in Top Alcohol Dragster. She’s in fourth place in Super Gas in Division 3 standings.
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