POMONA, CA – Third generation drag racer Camrie Caruso, driver of the Powerbuilt Tools Chevrolet Camaro, was recognized as the 2022 NHRA Rookie of the Year during the final qualifying session at the Auto Club Finals in Pomona yesterday. Caruso and Top Fuel rookie Scott Farley were named finalists prior to the NHRA Nevada Nationals and following a vote by a national panel of motorsports journalists Caruso became just the fifth female driver to win the award which was first presented in 1990. Caruso along with the 2022 Camping World Drag Racing Series class champions will be celebrated tomorrow night during the NHRA season ending championship banquet at the Pechanga Resort Casino.

“I am so proud to win this award and it wouldn’t be possible without the support and love from my Poppa, dad and mom,” said Caruso, who qualified No. 13 for the 57th Auto Club Finals. “We achieved so many of my goals this season from qualifying No. 1, to getting to a final round to qualifying at every national event, we didn’t check all the boxes, but I am very thankful. The competition is so tough out here and to be recognized as the Rookie of the Year is a tremendous honor. Thank you to all the media that voted for me.”

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DENVER, NC – Thirteen months ago accomplished sportsman racer Camrie Caruso announced to the motorsports world she would be making the move into NHRA Pro Stock competition in the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. In three months the third generation drag racer with the assistance of her father Marc and a network of professional contacts, put together a Pro Stock team that included power supplied by Titan Racing Engines and tuning direction from two-time Pro Stock world champion Jim Yates. As the season ends at the Auto Club Finals Caruso is arguably a lock for the NHRA Rookie of the Year award and has established herself as one of the rising young stars in a class that is both ultra-competitive and littered with young talent.

Caruso will roll into Auto Club Raceway at Pomona with the Powerbuilt Tools Chevrolet Camaro that also sports branding from season long backers Sand Haulers of America and Tequila Comisario. With four qualifying sessions on the schedule Caruso will be eyeing a top half of the field qualifying position and a continuation of her season of success.

“I always knew I wanted to race Pro Stock and I feel like I made the most of my rookie season,” said Caruso, during one of her many appearances recently at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. “We had a lot of goals at the beginning of the season and we achieved a lot of them. One goal was to win a race and we have one more chance this season to get that box checked. I am going to give it everything we have this weekend in Pomona.”

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LAS VEGAS, NV – The Powerbuilt Tools Chevrolet Camaro and rookie driver Camrie Caruso came into the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend looking to continue her development and chase her first professional win. This was Caruso’s second appearance at the Las Vegas track following the spring Four-Wide Nationals earlier this year. The third-generation driver who worked her way up from junior dragsters through the sportsman ranks has been battling one of the toughest Pro Stock fields in recent memory. Caruso was looking to keep her consecutive qualifying streak alive and after two days and four sessions the former Top Alcohol Dragster driver national event winner entered her 18th consecutive race as the No. 11 qualifier.

In the first round Caruso was paired up against Troy Coughlin Jr. for the second race in 2022. In their previous match-up Coughlin narrowly defeated Caruso in the second round of the Northwest Nationals in Seattle. Today Caruso was looking to take her Powerbuilt Tools Chevrolet Camaro with power from Titan Racing Engines to the quarterfinals.

Caruso pulled up to the starting line and both cars launched with Coughlin getting a nose on Caruso’s Camaro as they approached half-track. As the finish line closed in, Coughlin was able to hold off a charging Caruso for the round win. At the stripe Coughlin’s winning time of 6.627 seconds was a tick quicker than Caruso’s 6.665 seconds. Both teams slowed slightly from their best qualifying times and Caruso will head to Pomona looking to close out her rookie season on a high note.

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DENVER, NC – Rookie of the Year front-runner and Pro Stock driver Camrie Caruso is teaming up with long-time sponsor Right Trailers to support up and coming drivers in the junior dragster ranks. Beginning today and running through November 13, 2022, junior dragster racers can submit a request to join the Right Trailers’ “Race to Succeed” program and receive a free firesuit jacket. Interested junior dragster drivers just need to email their 2023 racing plans, a photo of their junior dragster and any notable accomplishments or goals to ccaruso@righttrailers.com. Entries should also include the racer’s full name and firesuit jacket size.

“My racing career started in the junior dragster class and I am excited to help out some future drivers with Right Trailers’ ‘Race to Succeed’ program,” said Caruso, who advanced from juniors up through the sportsman ranks to Pro Stock. “I am a big goal-setter and love to see other kids with the same passion I had growing up whether they want to be a professional driver or a crew chief or just love drag racing. This sport is awesome and I am looking forward to seeing all the submissions.”

Caruso along with representatives from Right Trailers will evaluate each submission with plans to support over a dozen drivers from across the country. The program is open to any age junior dragster competitor and winners will be announced during the PRI Show in Indianapolis on both the Right Trailers website and Camrie Caruso social media channels.

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DENVER, NC – Rookie Pro Stock driver Camrie Caruso has raced her way through some of the toughest competition during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and NHRA Countdown. The 24-year-old who resides in Denver, North Carolina, will bring a new look to the NHRA Nevada Nationals with the Powerbuilt Chevrolet Camaro powered by Titan Racing Engines looking to close out the season with a signature win at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Last season in Vegas rookie Dallas Glenn took the Pro Stock win and went on to Rookie of the Year honors. Caruso, one of two finalists for the 2022 top rookie award, would like nothing better than to duplicate Glenn’s feat this weekend.

“It is great to be a finalist for Rookie of the Year and winning that award was one of my pre-season goals,” said Caruso. “We have qualified for every race and I feel like the team is getting better but this is a marathon not a sprint. The homestretch is coming up with Las Vegas and Pomona and we want to finish strong.”

This will be a return engagement for Caruso at the Las Vegas track located 20 minutes from downtown. The rookie driver competed in her first NHRA Four-Wide Nationals here earlier this season. The familiarity will be a welcome element to the driver who has been competing on brand new track week in and week out throughout the season.

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DALLAS, TX – First year Pro Stock driver Camrie Caruso, the front-runner for NHRA rookie of the year, took in as much of the Stampede of Speed in advance of the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals as she could. On Thursday night Caruso joined 50 other NHRA drivers and riders at the Pre-Stage FanFest for the free autograph session the day after she joined her crew chief Jim Yates, two-time Fall Nationals winner, at the inaugural Champions Dinner recognizing former Texas Fall Nationals champions. Friday through two qualifying sessions Caruso and her Titan Racing Engines powered Camaro were in the mix of a quick Pro Stock class racing under the lights for $7,500 during the second session. Racing the Sand Haulers of America Camaro with backing from OZ Saferooms, the former junior dragster and Top Alcohol Dragster race was ready for her second race in the Lone Star State. The Saturday qualifying sessions initially presented race day conditions, but a cool front rolled into north Texas and made race day a roll of the dice of all the Pro Stock teams. As the No. 9 qualifier Caruso gave up lane choice to No. 8 qualifier Matt Hartford.

For the second week in a row Caruso faced Hartford in the first round. The Sand Haulers of America Chevrolet Camaro was looking to reverse the results from two weeks ago in St. Louis at the Midwest Nationals. Unfortunately, the results were the same and Caruso had to endure another learning experience as she develops in the toughest category in the Camping World Drag Racing Series.

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DENVER, NC – After a week off following the start of the six-race NHRA Countdown playoffs rookie Pro Stock driver Camrie Caruso is ready to get back on the track and chase her 2022 season goals. The third-generation driver will be wheeling the Sand Haulers of America Chevrolet Camaro with power from Titan Racing Engines during the 37th NHRA Texas Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex this weekend. It was just last year at the Stampede of Speed that Caruso announced she would be competing full time on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Since that press conference Caruso has been on a whirlwind of an experience as she and her Caruso Family Racing team have competed in every national event and with three races to go in the season are still in the championship mix.

“We are looking forward to these last three races of the season,” said Caruso. “Starting the Countdown with back-to-back-to-back races was tough but we made it. I have been working on my driving all season and our Sand Haulers of America Camaro is running quick again. We had a great race the last time we were in Texas and I am hoping to get one more win light.”

In the spring at just her fifth pro race Caruso, the favorite for 2022 NHRA Rookie of the Year, earned the No. 1 qualifier at the NHRA Spring Nationals in Houston and then raced to the final round. It was a breakout event for the former Top Alcohol Dragster driver who like so many professionals started her career in junior dragsters. That weekend brought added media exposure and more marketing opportunities for the driver from Rochester, New York, who now lives in Denver, North Carolina.

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DENVER, NC – With three races remaining in the NHRA Countdown rookie of the year front-runner and Pro Stock championship contender Camrie Caruso along with Caruso Family Racing have added OZ Saferooms to their Sand Haulers of America Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stock race car during the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals this weekend. OZ Saferooms builds the first and only above ground seamless concrete tornado structure. Caruso is battling a tough field of Pro Stock competitors and marketing support continues to assist the young driver as the 2022 NHRA season winds to a close.

“We have been very fortunate to race and compete against established multi-car teams all season thanks to our marketing partners,” said Caruso, the No. 1 qualifier at the Sporing Nationals earlier this season. “We will have Sand Haulers of America as the primary sponsor at Texas Motorplex, but the addition of OZ Saferooms is a great addition and their product saves lives which is amazing.”

OZ Saferooms became a FEMA mitigation success story when they took a direct hit, in the direct path of an F5 Tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. The OZ Saferooms sustained no damage and saved lives. The seamless saferooms can be formed and poured directly on a client’s lot and there are also prefabricated saferooms available as well.

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ST. LOUIS, MO – After three consecutive NHRA Countdown races Rookie of the Year front runner Camrie Caruso has maintained her position in the Top Ten and will exit the NHRA Midwest Nationals sitting in ninth place tied with veteran Bo Butner. Keeping her qualifying streak alive Caruso has started every race this season and this weekend she entered race day as the No. 10 qualifier facing Matt Hartford for the first time in eliminations. Earlier this season at the pre-season test session in Arizona Caruso made her first side-by-side run behind the wheel with Hartford.

Today with playoff points on the line Caruso pulled up alongside Hartford, who was looking to move up in the Top Ten and pick up his second win of the season. Caruso was also focusing on winning and solidifying her position as one of the rising stars in NHRA. The Sand Haulers of America Chevrolet Camaro, which gets its power from Titan Racing Engines, had made three respectable qualifying runs Friday and Saturday recording times of 6.556, 6.544 and 6.553 seconds to prepare for the first round.

Both Pro Stock Camaros executed their burnouts and rolled the pre-stage beams. Each driver took their time and Caruso rolled into stage and Hartford followed a few seconds after. The engines revved and Caruso hammered the throttle and the young driver leapt off the line. Unfortunately, she was .040 seconds early resulting in a redlight disqualification.

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DENVER, NC – Every driver experiences trials and tribulations during their rookie season racing on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. For Pro Stock standout Camrie Caruso, a third generation drag racer competing at the highest level in the door-slammer category, her first season has been challenging and eye-opening. This weekend the Denver, North Carolina, resident will bring the Sand Haulers of America Chevrolet Camaro powered by Titan Racing Engines to World Wide Technology Raceway looking for her first win and momentum to move up in the Pro Stock points. As a Countdown contender who has qualified for every race this season Caruso has already had a solid rookie debut.

Two races into her first Countdown experience Caruso has made quality runs and been strong behind the wheel off the starting line, but multiple race day win lights have eluded the front-runner for NHRA Rookie of the Year. A No. 8 qualifying effort at the Betway Carolina Nationals got the team pointed in the right direction and Caruso is excited to make her first appearance in St. Louis.

“I like back-to-back races,” said Caruso. “It keeps everyone on the team in the groove and focused. We don’t lose any speed or momentum because we are always in race mode. I am good with these races so close together and I know the guys are excited to get back to the track in a few days.”

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