Papa Johns Pizza
DSR’s Pritchett drives Papa John’s dragster to track record, provisional pole
Beckman’s stellar run to No. 2 with Infinite Hero Dodge overshadowed
SONOMA, CA – Leah Pritchett seemed to be on the cusp of setting the second world record on Friday night at 
Sonoma Raceway near San Francisco but although her Papa John’s Pizza/Mopar Top Fuel dragster slowed just before the finish line it was quick enough to earn the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.
Pritchett, who set the record at Phoenix in the second event of the year at 3.658 seconds, blasted to a time of 3.669 at a slowing speed of 304.80 mph that still set the track’s elapsed time record.
“In these Q2 sessions you have to hang it out all on the line from a crew chief standpoint to a driver standpoint and stick with it because things are going to get funky out there,” she said of her dragster Powered by Pennzoil and led by crew chief Todd Okuhara and assistant Joe Barlam. “It got with it sooner than it ever had before and we didn’t even make it to the finish line.”
New Papa John’s Pizza Ad Features Underdog Story of 330-mph Dragster Driver Leah Pritchett
Papa John’s campaign spotlights her 11,000-horsepower, gold Papa John’s dragster, a salute to Papa John’s own symbol of sacrifice (his iconic Camaro Z28).
LOUISVILLE, KY – Last year Leah Pritchett lost her dragster when her team owner retired. Through a relentless 
persistence to remain in the top 10 of points earners, she found a way to continue to compete and caught the eye of Papa John’s.
“When I met Leah I admired her hard work and determination from the get go. She had some burn marks on her forearms from working on the clutch of her Top Fuel dragster,” said Papa John, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Papa John’s Pizza. “Back when I started making pizzas, I had oven burns on my arms all the time. We did what we had to do to get by because we were doing something we loved. Leah was devoted to pursuing her dream like I was.” “And we both share an unrelenting drive to always get better,” added Papa John.
That passion to pursue her dream resulted in Papa John’s sponsoring Leah and her racing team, Don Schumacher Racing (DSR). Leah’s determination and grit has culminated in a new television spot, which will begin airing Monday, June 26. In the spot, Leah shares the story of how her pursuit for better on the track parallels Papa John’s own belief in a better pizza. The commercial will run on cable sports and entertainment outlets including ESPN, MLB Network, TBS and others.
Pritchett guides DSR’s Demon dragster to third pole of season; Capps jumps to 3rd from 14th in NAPA Dodge, goes for fifth straight
EPPING, NH – Don Schumacher Racing’s Dodge Demon/Pennzoil dragster driven by Top Fuel points leader Leah 
Pritchett earned its third No. 1 qualifying spot Saturday in the NHRA New England Nationals at Epping, N.H.
It is the third pole of the season for Pritchett and as in the other two times when she earned the No. 1 seed, it resulted in a bye run to open Sunday in the 15-car field. She went on to win the titles from the pole at this year’s first two events of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season with DSR’s newest team.
The Funny Car leader at New England Dragway for DSR once again is the NAPA AUTO PARTS 2017 Dodge Charger R/T Powered by Pennzoil driven by reigning world champion and points leader Ron Capps, who will go for his fifth straight event title when racing begins at 11 a.m. (EDT).
CHARITY CHALLENGE ROUND 2: LEAH VS. PAPA JOHN
Papa John’s International Inc, the Official Pizza Partner of the NHRA, will have two gold cars on the racetrack this 
weekend at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals for the second round of the Charity Challenge to benefit the Infinite Hero Foundation.
“Papa John” Schnatter, chairman and CEO of Papa John’s Pizza, will try to even the score against Leah Pritchett, winner of three NHRA Top Fuel titles this year with her points-leading Papa John’s Pizza Top Fuel dragster.
“Papa John” will race his prized 1971 Camaro Z28, the same car he bought for $1,600 when he was 15 years old from money he made washing dishes at Rocky’s Sub Pub in his hometown of Jeffersonville, Indiana. He eventually sold it to keep his dad out of bankruptcy and start the very first Papa John’s pizzeria. In 2009, he was reunited with his cherished Camaro.
Pritchett’s third win regains points lead for Papa John’s Pizza; Capps, NAPA Dodge give DSR its fourth double-up in five races
HOUSTON – Don Schumacher Racing remains undefeated in Top Fuel and nearly perfect in Funny Car after five 
events this year when Leah Pritchett’s Papa John’s Pizza dragster team and reigning Funny Car world champion Ron Capps’ NAPA AUTO PARTS 2017 Dodge Charger R/T team won their respective titles Sunday in the NHRA SpringNationals at Baytown, Texas.
It marks the 68th time DSR has swept the nitro titles in the same event and fourth time in five Mello Yello races this year.
While Pritchett won a close race against Steve Torrence, whose clutch specialist is her husband Gary, Capps wasn’t aware that opponent Robert Hight had been disqualified for crossing the center line when his Funny Car’s engine blew into a fireball just before he crossed the finish line.
Pritchett’s win with crew chief Todd Okuhara and assistant Joe Barlam regained the points lead they lost to DSR teammate Tony Schumacher three weeks ago.
Pritchett goes non-stop during two-week break from NHRA tour, ready to reclaim No. 1 this weekend in Mello Yello race near Houston
BROWNSBURG, IN – Leah Pritchett has not driven her Papa John’s Pizza Top Fuel dragster down a dragstrip in 
nearly two weeks, but she hasn’t been lounging on a beach since the last race at Las Vegas.
Her return to the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series this weekend for the SpringNationals near Houston will provide somewhat of a respite from a very busy two weeks.
Pritchett, owns two wins and ranks second in points with her Papa John’s team led by crew chief Todd Okuhara and assistant Joe Barlam, was as busy as her Don Schumacher Racing team was preparing for Houston.
