LEAH PRUETT AND RINNAI TOP FUEL TEAM REACH SEMIFINALS AT INAUGURAL NHRA POTOMAC NATIONALS

BUDDS CREEK, MD — Leah Pruett and the Rinnai Top Fuel Dragster team delivered a strong performance at the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway, qualifying third and advancing to the semifinals before falling to Doug Kalitta.

Pruett posted consistent runs throughout the weekend, recording a best of 3.771 seconds at 331.12 mph in the fourth qualifying session to earn the No. 3 spot. In eliminations, she dispatched Spencer Massey in the first round with a 3.786 at 323.97 before defeating Will Smith in the quarterfinals with a 3.786 at 330.80. Her semifinal run of 3.787 at 329.91 wasn’t enough against Kalitta’s 3.772 at 334.15.

The result keeps Pruett third in the Rinnai Top Fuel Dragster unofficial points standings. The 12-time national event winner has reached the quarterfinals or better in every race this season.

“Talk about top tier performance of a race car and team,” said Pruett. “Putting down solid laps, all seven of them, from the time the trailer door came down on Friday to when we put it up on Sunday after the semi-finals. Very proud of this Rinnai team. The crew chiefs are definitely having a really good time because the car is reacting to changes with the new package.”

Pruett was also complimentary of the new venue. “The inaugural Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway was a success. This race track could not have executed any better. Managing high horsepower and being at sea level with what we thought would be a marginal track turned out to be better than we all expected.”

The NHRA national event tour continues this weekend.