Nitro burning cars at the 2014 March Meet (photo by Ted Soqui)
January 25, 2017, AAFD PR HQ, Los Angeles, CA—After recently setting the quickest and fastest times in an Arias-powered Nitro Funny Car, distaff driver Mendy “Nitro Kitty” Fry has signed on as the “shoe” for the “High Speed Motorsports” AA/Fuel Dragster and returned to the class (Nostalgia Top Fuel) — and the team — that gave her first shot in the vintage nitro-powered drag racing wars over a decade ago.
“I am so excited, I can barely stand it,” Fry reported. “Returning to High Speed — the team that gave me my first shot in Top Fuel, in Frank ‘Root Beer’ Hedge’s ‘Mastercam’ fueler — is like coming home.”
“Mendy has good experience in several Top Fuel cars and Funny Cars with a solid history of keeping them in one piece,” explained High Speed team owner and co-tuner Tom Shelar about Fry’s return to his fold. “This is a way to generate some new energy within both the team and the class — and an easy way to take fifty pounds off the car.”
A lighter entry based on a less-than-typical driver’s body mass is definitely an attribute, but Mendy and the High Speed team plan on punching above her weight.
“Our goal is to win a championship,” Shelar declared. “And take down (3-peat NHRA Heritage Series Top Fuel Champions) (Steve) Boggs and (Tony) Bartone.”
Shelar and Fry are on the same page. “It’s time to end Bartone’s championship streak,” Fry exclaimed, throwing down her own gauntlet. “We plan on running consistently in the 5.50’s, which means we should win more races than we lose.”
Which is no mean feat. “There aren’t any real slouches in this scene,” Fry added.
Besides winning races, Fry is tasked with an equally tall order — fulfilling the mission started by High Speed’s former driver, 2015 California Hot Rod Reunion Top Fuel winner Bill Dunlap.
“I hope I can do Bill’s legacy justice,” Mendy said. “Those are really big fire boots to fill.”
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