Big weekend in Top Alcohol Dragster has Mia Tedesco stoked about rest of the season

CHICAGO (July 9) -- Running two big events in the same weekend seemed to suit Mia Tedesco just fine as the reigning Super Gas world champion starred in her "other" ride, the CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/Schepel Motors/NGK/Lucas Oil Top Alcohol dragster, with a runner-up result in the 33rd annual JEGS Allstars race and a semifinal finish in the 20th annual Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals.

"I'm always really excited when we have weekends like this," Tedesco said. "Some of the divisional races have two events in one so you get used to running a bunch of rounds, especially when you're running more than one car. I love it because I love to race so the more seat time I can get, the happier I am.

"This whole weekend was a very good one for us. We went rounds in the alcohol car and learned a lot. Making it to the JEGS Allstars is an accomplishment in itself but to make it to the finals was very humbling. On top of that, to turn around and have a semifinal finish today in the regular national event was a huge confidence booster."

One of the select qualifiers for the elite JEGS Allstars race, which was contested Saturday, Tedesco opened elimination action with a win over Dean Dubbin, 5.286 at 278.00 mph to a dead-late Dubbin's 8.466 at 97.55. She then beat a red-lighting Megan Meyer with 5.429 at 269.13 mph to earn a final-round date with Joey Severance.

After nearly identical reaction times, Severance was able to inch away and take the Allstar trophy with a 5.258 at 267.75 mph to Tedesco's game but trailing 5.342 at 268.01 mph.

"We’ve been working out some kinks in the dragster so to make it to the JEGS Allstars final made us pretty happy," Tedesco said. "You know when you go up against Joey, a guy who has won two world championships in a row, that he'll be ready. He doesn’t make mistakes and we knew that so we put together the best run we could. We fell a little short but we were happy to be there and make him earn it."

Riding the momentum of her runner-up result in the JEGS Allstars, Tedesco powered into Sunday's eliminations for the Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals as the No. 2 qualifier.

She quickly dispatched Kris Krabil, 5.328 at 273.55 mph to Krabil's 5.562 at 243.68 mph, and then downed Duane Shields with a 5.307 at 280.19 mph to Shields' 5.391 at 274.66 mph to draw Meyer in the semifinals. This time Meyer was able to exact revenge from Saturday's loss to Tedesco with a 5.355 at 268.76 mph to Tedesco's laboring 5.970 at 206.29 mph. Tedesco’s 280.19 mph pass against Shields was best of the meet.

"We have been testing with the new dragster chassis this year so to go rounds both days and make solid runs feels good," Tedesco said. "It's also promising for the future.

"The sportsman cars are running well too. My CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/VP Racing Fuels Super Gas Chevrolet Cavalier is running really well, I just have to have some luck fall my way. We also are learning a lot about Jason (Lynch, (crew chief and teammate's) Top Sportsman car so I feel good about our team. I’m ready to be back at the track and I haven't even left yet." 

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Mia Tedesco seeks more straight-line success in defense of her Chicago title

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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Reigning Super Gas world champ Mia Tedesco staying patient as title defense moves to Norwalk

NORWALK, Ohio (June 20) -- By all accounts, reigning Super Gas world champion Mia Tedesco is having another banner season. She's ranked second in the North Central region and eighth nationally in her CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/Schepel Motors/NGK/Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster. She's also a lofty fourth in her CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/VP Racing Fuels Super Gas Chevrolet Cavalier in the Division 3 standings.

The only thing missing on her 2017 resume is a victory, something she'd love to change this weekend with two chances to win at the 11th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

"We've been racing long enough to know that some weekends, some years, everything seems to just fall into place and go your way," Tedesco said. "Other times it's a struggle for everything. Then you have seasons like this year where you are running really well but the wins aren't happening for whatever reason.

"All we do, all you can do, is keep racing. These things work out. We're always ready to win and we come to every race with all the pieces we need to win, we're just waiting for it to happen this year. I really don't spend a lot of time worrying about that stuff."

Norwalk would be the perfect place for Tedesco to visit the winner's circle again. She won here as recently as 2015 in Top Alcohol Dragster (in rain delayed action from the Chicago regional event) and Summit Motorsports Park is the closest national track to her native Pittsburgh.

"That win here was cool because it happened on July 4th and the Baders (track owners) always put on that huge fireworks display so it was a very memorable weekend," Tedesco said. "And definitely having this track so close to home -- it's only like two hours away -- brings over all our friends and family. It's a big party weekend and we have a great time in the pits.

"We have a lot of confidence in both cars right now so we'll just keep after it and the wins will come. I do know you can screw your head up if you think about it too much. You really just need to keep to what's right in front of you and do your job every round."

Tedesco Racing actually will have four cars in competition this weekend as longtime crew chief "Racin' Jason" Lynch will vie for the trophies in Super Comp and Top Sportsman.

"Jason won a few weeks back so he's in the zone," Tedesco said. "Maybe we can double-up in Norwalk. That would be fun."

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After two big Route 66 wins last year, Mia Tedesco hopes to keep Chicago streak alive

JOLIET, Ill. (June 2) -- Chicago is definitely Mia Tedesco's kind of town.

The reigning world champion in drag racing's Super Gas category blew through the Windy City last year and swept up both the Division 3 and the national event trophies in her CARS Vehicle Service Contracts /VP Racing Fuels Super Gas Chevrolet Cavalier.

At this weekend's Burndown at Sundown D3 race, Tedesco hopes to simply add to her perfect 14-0 record from 2016.

"We didn't drop a single round last year so if we can ride that momentum this weekend, we'll be really happy," Tedesco said. "Matching what we did last year is no small task. We know what it took and we know how hard it will be to repeat, but we're certainly going to try.

"I just feel so blessed to be back racing here with my teammate and crew chief Jason Lynch and our crew guy Jason Oteri. Jason's coming off a big win last weekend in Top Sportsman so we definitely feel like we have everything in place to win again."

Tedesco, the only female champion in Super Gas history, will have two chances to score a victory this weekend. In addition to her Super Gas entry, she'll be racing her CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/Schepel Motors/NGK/Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster.

"We're going rounds at every race but I haven't won yet this year," Tedesco said. "We're trying our best and sooner or later it will all fall into place. It's tough racing at this level. We're considered amateurs in the sportsman categories but there are a lot of professional amateurs running out here.

"Every round is so tough and when you have to win seven to get the trophy, like you do in Super Gas most of the time, you have to be pretty much perfect plus have things go your way to get it done."

At last year's divisional race, Tedesco logged seven round wins, including a tough finale against Jacob Elrod, to earn the hardware. She returned in July at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals and went seven more, finally beating Gabriel Torres to complete the sweep.

"Of course, every drag race you start from zero so although we have great data and awesome memories of last year's wins here, we have to prove ourselves all over again," Tedesco said. "We're ready." 

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Reigning world champ Mia Tedesco one of the brightest stars at Cavalcade of Stars

NORWALK, Ohio (May 18) -- Mia Tedesco became the first woman in the 61-year history of NHRA drag racing to win a world championship in the cutthroat Super Gas category last season, making her one of the biggest stars competing at this weekend's Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser at Summit Motorsports Park in Northeast Ohio.

Tedesco, who hails from Pittsburgh, Pa., will be racing both her title-winning CARS Vehicle Service Contracts /VP Racing Fuels Super Gas Chevrolet Cavalier and her CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/Schepel Motors/NGK/Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster at the event, giving her two great chances to score another victory or two.

"We're excited about this race," Tedesco said. "Both of my cars have been running great this year. We'd like to have a little more to show for it, but we've definitely learned over the years that you just have to keep working hard every weekend and the wins will come. Maybe this weekend will be the breakthrough race we've been waiting for.

"For sure we'll have fun. This is one of the closest racetracks to home so we always have a lot of friends and family make the trip over to cheer for us. That makes it special. Of course, it motivates you too because you always want to show your best side when your closest friends are watching."

The Tedesco family has a special relationship with the Bader family, who own Summit Motorsports Park. Michael Tedesco, Mia's father and team owner, also owns a drag strip, Pittsburgh Raceway, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

"The Baders are great friends of ours and we love coming to their track," Mia Tedesco said. "They put the fans and the racers first in every decision they make and it makes you feel pretty special when you come here to race. The races are always run well and are very organized. It's drag racing the way it's supposed to be over here.

"Considering how close we are with them, it would be really great to put one of these cars in the winner's circle and share that experience with them. I know last time we were here the Super Gas car was running super strong. We didn't do so well in the dragster but we'll hope for more this time through."

In addition to Tedesco's two entries, crew chief and teammate Jason Lynch will be pulling double duty himself, racing in both Super Gas and Top Sportsman.

"It'll be another busy weekend but we like it that way," Tedesco said. "This is the second Division 3 race of the season but the first one was rained out so really it's our first one. We have our titles to defend. It's time to get after it and race."

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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Runner-up finish in Top Alcohol Dragster helps Mia Tedesco warm up to Houston

HOUSTON (April 23) -- Mia Tedesco made a name for herself last year by becoming the first female driver in class history to win a world title in Super Gas. But "Miss Mia" also is a talented Top Alcohol Dragster driver, as witnessed by her impressive runner-up finish Sunday at the 30th annual NHRA Spring Nationals.

"Coming in with a new car this year and figuring out the bugs, if they had told me we'd go to a final this early in the season I would have taken that in a heartbeat," Tedesco said. "We are very pleased, especially after making the quickest and fastest pass we've ever had in this particular car. It was just a great weekend. Only one person is happier than we are at this point, and that's Joey (Severence)."

Severance simply had the better racecar this weekend. With the trophy on the line, the event's top qualifier beat No. 2 qualifier Tedesco with a stout 5.203 at 275.39 mph to Tedesco's 5.445 at 264.70 mph.

"Joey made a fantastic run just now that would have been hard to beat under any circumstances," Tedesco said. "After the pedalfest against Megan (Meyer) in the semifinals so we knew we had to back it down a little bit to try to get from A-to-B and take a shot at beating Severence. It was hard to get everything together in time for the finals but we did and we ended up having a good race. He was just too much for us today."

Tedesco started strong in the first round of eliminations Saturday night, easily beating 15th-ranked qualifier Karl Brounkowski with a 5.368 at 267.37 mph to Brounkowski's 5.619 at 241.41 mph.

An overnight cooling trend allowed for Tedesco's CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/Schepel Motors/NGK/Lucas Oil race team to tune up her dragster even more and she responded with a streaking 5.218 at 272.61 mph to beat Alan Bradshaw, who shutoff early and drifted to a 7.284 at 150.85 mph.

"Conditions were really good that round," Tedesco said. "The track also was really good. I heard some of the Top Fuel and Funny Car making record-setting runs so we knew we could go for it. We ended up making the best run on this car since we've had it so we were super pleased with that."

The semifinal wasn't as pretty, but it was definitely entertaining as both Tedesco and Megan Meyer lost traction during the race and had to fight it out to see who could gain control. In the end, it was Tedesco getting to the finish line first with a 6.786 at 257.09 mph to Meyer's 6.912 at 258.81 mph.

"As things got hotter, the track started going away and that race against Megan was just a lot of fun," Tedesco said. "We had stepped it up a little because she'd been running fantastic all weekend and I guess they did too because we both smoked the tires. Being in a fight like that and coming out on top was really awesome, especially since we are so close.

"We're just trying to get better and better every week. We're already excited about going to Indy next week. I'll be running Super Gas and Top Alcohol Dragster there too so we'll stay busy."

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Reigning Super Gas world champ Mia Tedesco honed in on Houston success

HOUSTON (April 19) -- Two years ago, reigning Super Gas world champion Mia Tedesco reinforced her true love for drag racing at the annual NHRA Spring Nationals. Now, with a return to Royal Purple Raceway directly ahead, Tedesco hopes to gain even more love for the Southeast Texas speedplant in the Houston suburb of Baytown.

"I've only been to this track once but it was a really cool weekend because of what happened," said Tedesco, who hails from Pittsburgh, Pa. "Jason (Lynch, crew chief and teammate) was racing Super Gas that weekend and he made it to the third round when his engine blew. We had about 45 minutes before the next round and none of us knew if we could make it back in time.

"I called the guys over from the (Top Alcohol) dragster team and a bunch of our friends and fellow racers saw what had happened and jumped in to help. We all worked together and swapped out that motor faster than I've ever seen before and we had Jason back for the next round. It was just so cool to see everyone help like they did."

Although Lynch couldn't complete the fairytale and win the race, the show of incredible sportsmanship lifted Tedesco and crew. It's something she immediately vowed to uphold should the need every arise among any of her fellow racers.

"It's what drag racing is all about: try to beat each other's brains out on the track but be friends back in the pits," she said. "We're always going to help where we can, even if you're helping the team you're scheduled to run next round. It's always more satisfying to beat people on the track then run a solo pass because they can't answer the call."

As usual, Tedesco will race for two titles at the Houston race, piloting the CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/Schepel Motors/NGK/Lucas Oil dragster in Top Alcohol and the CARS Vehicle Service Contracts /VP Racing Fuels Chevrolet Cavalier in Super Gas.

"We've already run a few NHRA races and we just got done with back-to-back bracket races so we're making a lot of passes," Tedesco said. "So far we haven't registered a win but there's nothing wrong with the cars. Everything is working well and my driving has been pretty good. We just need to get ourselves on the other side of some of these races that are decided by a few fractions of a second.

"I already have a great memory from Houston. Let's make some more this weekend."

Top Alcohol will hold three qualifying rounds at noon and 3 p.m., Friday, and 12:15 p.m., Saturday before beginning eliminations at 6 p.m., Saturday. If he advances, Laughlin will continue eliminations at 12:30 p.m., Sunday. Sportsman qualifying begins at 8 a.m., Friday. (All times listed in CDT).

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World champs Mia Tedesco, Jason Lynch head to Memphis for 25K Showdowns

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Match 29) -- Reigning NHRA Super Gas world champion Mia Tedesco and two-time IHRA champ Jason Lynch are taking five CARS Vehicle Service Contracts-branded racecars to Memphis International Raceway this weekend in hopes of cashing in big at the fifth annual 25K Showdowns presented by AmericanRaceCars.net.

With a rare off-weekend from NHRA action, Tedesco and Lynch, who serves as crew chief in addition to driving himself at select events, feel like they have the ability to pocket lots of money in the non-points race, that nevertheless holds lots of prestige in the drag racing community.

"Brian and Nick Folk and Britt and Slate Cummings put on a great race and because those guys are so well respected, they know exactly what it takes to attract all the best bracket racers from around the country," Tedesco said. "Whenever you have three 'Showdown' races in a row with each one paying $25,000 to win, all the bigtime racers are going to show up.

"In many ways, these big dollar bracket races are just as tough as an NHRA national or divisional race because of the talent level of the competition and how many rounds you need to go to win. I love it. You sure feel a true sense of accomplishment if you're the one left standing at the end of the day."

Tedesco and Lynch are bringing three dragsters, a Chevy S-10 pickup truck and a Pontiac Grand Am to MIR. They will decide who is going to drive which vehicle when they get there, and that line-up is subject to change each day.

"It can be a super busy time when you got five cars, especially if you start going rounds in all of them," Lynch said. "But it's a bunch of fun. It's also a great chance for me and Mia to get in some extra laps under real racing conditions. Seat time is so important and coming off a long winter break it means even more to both of us. We've only had two NHRA races so far but if things go right in Memphis, it will feel like three more full events by the end of the weekend."

The payouts for each day of the event include $25,000 to the winner, $7,500 to the runner-up, $1,500 to each semifinalist and $750 for each quarterfinalist. Payouts begin after the third round and buybacks are available.

In addition to the regular Showdowns, Friday will feature a Practice Tree Race paying $2,000 to the winner and $1,000 to the runner-up. On Saturday, there will be a 32-Car Shootout with the winner getting a new American Dragster or a 28-foot Vintage Outlaw Trailer. The runner-up will receive the prize not selected by the winner.

For more information, visit RaceMIR.com or call 901-WOW-RACE.

 

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Super Gas champ Mia Tedesco braced for first national event of title defense

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 15) -- After a quick tune-up at last weekend's regional event, newly-crowned Super Gas champion Mia Tedesco returns to Gainesville Raceway for the 48th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, which begin Thursday and run through Sunday at the historic central Florida speedplant.

"I feel really good, really excited, and we are definitely prepared for the weekend," said Tedesco, who races both the CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/VP Racing Fuels Super Gas Chevrolet Cavalier and the CARS Vehicle Service Contracts/Schepel Motors/NGK/Lucas Oil Top Alcohol dragster. "We made some really nice runs here at the regional race and we feel like both cars are working well.

"We made it to the third round in Super Gas and then my car died. Up to that point I was really happy with my driving and the tune-up Jason (Lynch, crew chief and teammate) put in the car. We just had a minor glitch end our day a little early. That's been fixed. In the dragster we just lost a really close semifinal race by .02 seconds. That happens all the time."

Growing up in Pennsylvania, Tedesco and her father Michael, who owns Pittsburgh Raceway, have been escaping the snow up north and racing the Gatornationals for as far back as Mia can remember.

"My entire family in Pittsburgh loves coming down here," she said. "Plus, we have a lot of extended family that live in Florida so this race always is a big reunion for us. We have a blast wherever we go but the Gators might just set the high mark.

"I'll definitely be thinking a lot about my Uncle Carmen this weekend also. This was his favorite race and even though we lost him two years ago he's always with us in spirit. I'd love to get a win here and dedicate it to Uncle Carmen. That would be really special for all of us."

As is always the case, both the Super Gas and Top Alcohol fields are stacked with big hitters, especially the east coast stalwarts who are just beginning their 2017 campaigns.

"Nothing comes easy in this sport," Tedesco said. "There's really great competition at every race. So many teams can win. It just has to be your day and everything has to fall into place for you to win one of these deals. I know if we do our jobs we'll have a great chance to go rounds and put ourselves in position to get the trophy at the end of the day."

Super Gas qualifying begins at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, and runs throughout the day. Eliminations kick off at 8 a.m., Friday.

Top Alcohol Dragster will run three qualifying sessions at 10:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Friday, and 10:30 a.m., Saturday. Round 1 of eliminations are scheduled for 4:45 p.m., Saturday, and continue at 9:30 a.m., Sunday. All times are listed in EDT.

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World champ Mia Tedesco hoping to reach new heights in 2017

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 8) – There's one thing Mia Tedesco knows for certain –she'll definitely be a target throughout the 2017 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

The No. 1 decals now adorning her Jason Lynch-tuned CARS Protection Plus/VP Racing Fuels Super Gas Chevrolet Cavalier are the most-coveted pieces of sticky vinyl in drag racing because they signify the rank of reigning world champion. 

Last year, multi-talented "Miss Mia" was nothing short of dominating in her completion of one of the most successful seasons in the history of NHRA Sportsman competition. The soft-speaking 23-year-old Pittsburgher let her driving tell the story; an exemplary narrative that included the Super Gas world championship, the Division 3 Super Gas championship, the North Central Region championship for the second consecutive year in her CARS Protection Plus/Schepel Motors/NGK/Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster, Division 3 Super Eliminator Driver of the Year, and the highly regarded "Person of the Year" denotation in Division 3.

When she rolls to the starting line this season, the eyes of competitors and fans will most certainly be drawn to see one of drag racing's brightest stars – watching to see what's next for the humble lady who last year became the first female racer ever to win the ultra-competitive Super Gas world title.

"I’m sure having the No. 1 on the side of our car is going to be like a target, but it doesn’t really bother me," Tedesco said. "I hadn’t really thought about it too much. I mean, generally the guys out here don’t like to get beat by a girl anyway so I don’t think it will be much different than it’s been in the past. Everyone races us hard."

Tedesco and her Dave Hirata-led Top Alcohol Dragster team also will undoubtedly strike fear in the hearts of their opponents on the quarter-mile in 2017. Last year the team won three NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional events, in Columbus, Ohio, St. Louis, and Gainesville, Fla., the same place where she and her Michael Tedesco-owned team will begin this year's two-car, straight-line assault.

"We've been testing in Valdosta (Ga.) and Gainesville to prepare for the season to start so we feel well prepared," Tedesco said. "Testing was great. We have all the same people returning with us this year so we're expecting great things again.

"It's really great to have all the same people on our team. Our team is our family and that's the way we race. We wouldn't have it any other way."

Tedesco finished eighth in national points in Top Alcohol Dragster in 2016. With all the success she had a year ago, she still wants much more, which should send shudders down the spines of any competitor that lines up against her this year.

"I’m just trying to embrace [last year's success] because it’s something I’ve been working for since I started racing so to finally do it is pretty awesome," Tedesco said.  "Instead of looking at any of the ways that may be negative or challenging, I’m just going to take it all like a positive thing and be confident about it. Nothing really bothers me competition-wise. What people think doesn’t really matter to me at all. I just do my thing and everything kind of falls into place how it needs to."

Away from the track also has been exciting for Tedesco. Last December, she got engaged to her now fiancé Andy Price. The couple has not decided on a date for their nuptials yet. The avid country music and Pittsburgh Penguins fan is also building a new house in her hometown.

"We're anxious to get going, for sure," Tedesco said. "It's been a busy couple of weeks, but we're ready to go racing. I've got a lot going on, but it's all great things. 

After the regional event in Gainesville this weekend, she and her team will remain in Florida to compete in next weekend's national event, the famed NHRA Gatornationals at historic Gainesville Raceway, where to no one's surprise she's also found high-level achievements.

"We ran our career best ET and speed at the Gatornationals last year (5.192 seconds, 280.60 mph)," she said. "It's one of the best tracks on the tour. Hopefully we can get the nationals win this year. We made the semifinals last year and almost made the final. We're hoping to take a couple extra steps this year."

With her record-setting blast last year in Gainesville, Tedesco became only the ninth driver in class history to speed past the 280-mph mark.

"It's going to be a good year," Tedesco said. "We always have a good time and have fun, and that's the most important thing. Don't get me wrong, wins are great, but there's so much more to it and that's the part I love."

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