 Orlando, FL-- The annual Orlando World Street Nationals are the pinnacle of the street-style racing scene. After a long hard year of racing, drivers make the haul to sunny Orlando to compete in what has become known as the Street Legal Superbowl of racing. Promoter and track owner Carl Weisinger best sums up the Nationals:
"Everybody who's anybody in fast doorslammer drag racing shows up in Orlando, and then a hard-core, hammer-down, wide-open drag race explodes into action. No jets, no circus acts, no throttle stops or delay boxes. No bracket racing, no boom-box contest, no bull, no test runs, no dragsters, no practice, and NO CRY BABIES!"The Pro Street class is made up of a wide range of class competitors. Anything from a blown pro mod, to twin turbo charged Pro 5.0 cars meet in Orlando. Thus, the field is a tough battleground to enter, and Erica was thrilled to have achieved a qualified position into eliminations. "Orlando is a tough field. We're out there competing with blown promods and other very different combinations. My goal entering the weekend was to make a strong showing and qualify for the field. Though not as strong as I would've liked, I was thrilled with the #23 position out of 67," Erica said of her qualifying efforts. Qualifying with a 6.88 at only 177 mph, Erica had a chore getting the car into the field. The track got loose at the top end, and Erica was forced to pedal the car to try and make it in. The car did post a career best 1/8th mile ET of 4.37 @ 167 mph. But her big disappointment came with the waste of her first qualifying attempt: "We've been having some transmission problems with the transbrake on the starting line. 1st round, the car rolled through the beams before locking down, and started the clock early. According to the incremental and our computer data, that pass was a 6.69 @ 205mph," Erica stated of her skewed 7.69 @ 205 posting in the first round. Luck was just not on the Horsepower & Heels team's side for the weekend, as her 1st round exit was the result of a faulty ignition fuse that shut the car off shortly after its launch. NOTEWORTHY: Erica qualifies #23 out of 67 Pro Street Entries before exiting 1st round with ignition problems >>> View Event Photo Gallery <<< |
