NHRA's
Leah Pritchett Helps Amy At Skyline High School
by U.S. Army Alun Thomas, Recruiting
Battalion - Phoenix May 13, 2018
As one of the prominent drivers in the National Hot Rod
Association, Leah Pritchett is a force to be reckoned with on the
drag racing circuit.
During her first full year on the NHRA
Mello Yello World Championship series, Pritchett finished 5th
overall in the Top Fuel Dragster rankings in 2017, with four
national event wins.
As part of the U.S. Army’s NHRA
sponsorship, Pritchett, 29, was invited to talk to students at
Skyline High School on February 21, 2018 prior to competing in NHRA
qualifying at Wild Horse Pass Motor Sports Park, Chandler, Arizona.
February 21, 2018 - National Hot Rod Association driver Leah
Pritchett, talks to students at Skyline High School, Mesa in the
school auditorium. Pritchett was representing the U.S. Army
Recruiting Command, prior to racing in Chandler, Arizona. (U.S. Army
Photo by Alun Thomas, USAREC Public Affairs)
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Pritchett, who drives for Don Schumacher Racing, talked to 150
students about her experiences in racing and what motivates her to
be successful, both on and off the track, a process which began at
the age of eight.
“I started racing at the age of eight years
old and it’s hard to know when you’re that young, or an adolescent,
what you want to do in life,” Pritchett said. “What is it that
you’re good at? What is it you like? You don’t always know where
that path lies and I was no different.”
“You have to dig down
and figure out what makes you happy … you only have one life,” she
said.
Having grown up around drag racing, Pritchett said she
decided at the age of 13 to become a professional driver herself and
achieve it by any means possible.
“It was all I wanted to do
… I just didn’t know how to get there,” she said. “I came from a
regular family who worked seven days a week in the automotive
industry. I was offered a college scholarship after high school ...
I knew that was my chance. I was going to use it to become an
engineer.”
Pritchett said she needed the experience to get
into the world of professional drag racing, one way or the other.
“I was never good at math or science at high school, I was
better at English, communications and marketing,” she said. “I asked
myself how engineering would get me to my goal, so I had to get
creative. That meant going back to what I was best at.”
Pritchett said it was through her own will and determination that
she succeeded, ending up with a communications major from California
State University, San Bernadino.
“You may have dreams, you
may have goals, but don’t know how to get there … rely on your
passion, whatever it is,” Pritchett said. “It could be the Army,
which has a vast amount of careers, more than the other branches of
service. Any passion you have can be found in the Army.”
Pritchett said her communications degree helped leverage herself
with sponsors like Papa Johns, Pennzoil, the U.S. Army and Mopar car
accessories.
“It’s about a greater goal and that was my high
level plan … to be a professional racer. I had student loans, was
working two jobs, the whole bit,” she continued. “But I got there.
You might be thinking the same things I did at your age; what am I
going to do? But you have recruiters here to help you with those
questions.”
“I don’t have a military background and to me and
my friends it was a last resort,” Pritchett said. “Little did I know
that what I wanted to originally do, pursue mechanical engineering
or medical school, is something the Army could’ve provided me with.”
The Army can provide you with these career paths, she continued,
setting you up for success later in life.
February 21, 2018 - National Hot Rod Association driver Leah
Pritchett, poses with students at Skyline High School, Mesa, Arizona
by the official U.S. Army dragster. Pritchett was representing the
U.S. Army Recruiting Command, prior to racing in Chandler, Arizona.
(U.S. Army Photo by Alun Thomas, USAREC Public Affairs)
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“The Army gives you the chance to live the American Dream and serve
your country,” Pritchett said. “You don’t have to do it on the
frontlines either. There’s tons of careers that provide the defense
mechanisms for those who do. These are things I never knew about.”
Pritchett is co-sponsored by the U.S. Army, something she takes
great pride in.
“I'm excited when I get to represent the Army
and I wish I’d known more when I was younger,” she added. “So as you
circle back as to what it is you want to do in life, open your mind
a little bit.”
“Take advice from those who’ve done things
that are great, but have also failed … they’ll help you become the
person you want to be,” Pritchett said.
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