Pro Mod newcomer Pruett-LeDuc excited about first Indy experience

Drag Racing — 01 September 2011

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 29) – 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.