Q&A

• Cigarettes are disgusting! I am not a fan of smoking... We're around enough tire smoke as it is!
• When did you start your sport I first raced a Super Comp dragster at 16 and started competing at 18. I have been involved in drag racing my entire life!
• Years as a professional I've raced the full circuit for 3 years and hope to move to pro next year.
• The crowds can sometimes be overwhelming. The great thing about our sport is that fans can be very involved in what's happening with the race. They can watch in the stands, meet the drivers, see the team tear down and rebuild the race car, and watch the warm up.
• 5 Items I can't live without My cell phone, my Thumps, my Ford truck, my helmet, my makeup case!
• Number of years participating in your sport 23 years! (And 9 months in the womb!)
• Once I wanted to be a tornado chaser! I loved the movie Twister and actually got really into weather and storms and tornados! I thought it would be amazing to have a career in something so exciting. In the I ended up in a career just as crazy! The only thing is we hate bad weather as we can't race in it!
• Favorite Films Dumb and Dumber, Pearl Harbor
• Filming can drive us crazy! Some days it's fun to film for the reality show and other days you just don't feel like being followed around but you get used to it. As far as being filmed for local T.V. news stations we often film these during the first day or so of qualifying and it' fun because you're in a new town with a new audience and you're hoping they'll come out for the weekend and see the race!
• Travel can be hell! We travel about every other weekend to races all over the country. We start testing in January and our race season goes from February to November, however we often have sponsor events and/or match races on our off weekends. I don't even ever completely unpack my suitcase...I just do my laundry and repack it!
• If you were not a pro racer you would be A cop or 2nd grade teacher!
• Favorite Books The Cay, The Client, all romance novels!
• I prefer to actually not be in the spotlight! Strange with the sport I'm in but I'm actually very shy. This is why I love being a part of a team and working together. Together you have the highs and the lows but you stick together and you learn and get better.
• Party animal or mellow TV on the couch I'm pretty mellow unless I'm out with my close girl friends or my team after a race, or unless someone's making margarita's! Then we get a little wild! We're young and gotta have fun right?!
• The risks in drag racing include crashing and fire. Fire is a bigger fear in the funny car because the engine is in front of the driver and there is a race body over you so there is always a risk of being trapped. We are constantly coming up with new ideas to make these cars safer and wear many different safety items like fire suits, R3 neck restraints, arm restraints, head padding and fire walls inside the car.
• Favorite Bands Nickelback and 3 Doors Down
• Favorite TV Shows Nip/Tuck, The O.C., Driving Force (premieres July 17!)
• To me, Oakley is: An awesome company that really cares about selling great product and loves their athletes. As a race car driver for Oakley I've had a great experience with the people involved and always enjoy anything to do with the company! (Especially the World's Best Sports Marketer Deanna McArdle!)
• I don't feel pain in my race car. I sit in a seat that has been formed around my body. My entire suit is not totally comfortable as it has many layers and can get pretty warm but it keeps us safe so we don't mind wearing it. The only pain I've ever felt in my car was when I had a fire and had some smoke inhalation, but I was fine by the next morning.
• If you could be someone famous, who would you be Jessica Alba: she is perfect, her boyfriend's cute, and she gets to do fun stunts and lots of action in her career!
• The last time I I tried a sport other than racing was during the off season in Lake Tahoe. My boyfriend Dan got me a snowboard for Christmas...I spent the entire day head first in snow. Bruises, soreness and a few days with pneumonia later, I'm thankful that I survived! And I give people who snowboard professionally a lot of credit!
• Oakley is a fun company with people who truly love their product and what they do. They are very active in many different types of sports including drag racing and are very supportive of females doing anything they put their mind to!
• Who / What inspires you Drivers include John Force (my dad!), Shirley Muldowney and all gal racers. Others include my teammates and crew members who can take a demolished piece of metal and make a rocket out of it in less than an hour!
• My parents are my biggest fans and are so supportive of anything I choose to do. They give great advice from to very different angles and are always there for me. I wouldn't be drag racing if not for my folks and I'm so happy to have them both involved in racing as well!
• What move / trick are you working on I've recently gotten my license in a fuel funny car but I'm working on getting down the track without blowing everything up! Also, I'm continually working on reaction times and pedaling the car (but only when needed!)
• Favorite Drink Coca Cola, margarita's...any flavor!!
• The fans are so supportive no matter if you win or lose. They pat you on the back when you win and they remind you that there's always next race if you don't. The kids are the best because they are always so excited and impressed by the race cars. I used to run around the track when I was a little kid and collect driver autographs so it's fun to see these fans and be on the other side of the signature!
• What are your favorite songs currently loaded onto your Thump? Anything fast paced...I jog with my Thumps all the time!Anything fast paced...I jog with my Thumps all the time!
• Alcohol is saved for after the race weekend or on off weekends at home with friends. With the sport we're in, obviously alcohol and racing DO NOT mix!
• What is more important to you than racing? My family and pets!
• Do you have any other special talents (music / write / draw / paint) I have a degree in Radio-TV-Film and use it to make promotional race videos for John Force Racing. I've played the piano since I was 4 and my recent addiction is...Boxing! I even have pink gloves!
• Any last words Never! My mom says sometimes she fears I'll never stop talking! Well, I am my father's daughter!