World champ Mia Tedesco hoping to reach new heights in 2017
GAINESVILLE, FL – 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.”
