Papa John’s Commits To DSR & Leah Pritchett

Schumacher Racing

Papa John’s Pizza has committed to a full-season sponsorship of Don Schumacher Racing and driver Leah Pritchett in the Top Fuel division of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

The full season effort comes after Papa John’s sponsored Pritchett in five events last season. Papa John’s will sponsor Pritchett in 20 of the 24 events on the NHRA calendar.

In addition to Papa John’s Pizza, FireAde 2000 Personal Fire Suppression Systems will be a co-primary at four events (tentatively Gainesville, Charlotte 1, Atlanta and Bristol). Mopar will return to join Papa John’s on her car at Denver, Mopar/Pennzoil will be her sponsor at Reading and Pennzoil will be her lone sponsor at the second event in Las Vegas.

The 28-year-old Southern California native and graduate of Cal State San Bernardino, drove in 15 races for DSR last year and qualified for the Countdown to the Championship playoff, where she finished a career-best seventh in points with her first Top Fuel victory (Phoenix) and first No. 1 qualifying position (Reading, Pa.).

DSR Director of Racing Todd Okuhara will return as her crew chief with assistant Joe Barlam and team manager Scott Okuhara.