 Driver
Erica Ortiz
A young up-and-coming driver, Erica
Ortiz has teamed up with the Stevens Family to drive their
new Top Fuel Dragster. "My dream has always been to race in
Top Fuel, and thanks to the Stevens Family, I am elated to
finally realize my dream" reports Ortiz, who at 27 has
worked her way up the various levels of drag racing.
A native of Florida, Erica was raised
with no known influence to drag racing. "My parents
could hardly change a tire," she said of her traditional
Hispanic upbringing. Still, Erica fell in love with
all things automotive, and shortly after she graduated high
school in 1998, got her first taste of drag racing.
On a quest for knowledge, Erica
studied hard at her new found passion, eventually landing a
job at a local Orlando Speedshop called Lugo Performance
Racing, a company that built some of the area's quickest and
fastest street/strip cars. While working at the Lugo shop,
Ortiz took interest in the mechanics as well, studying under
the shop master, Dennis Lugo. With this
new found knowledge, Erica began her ascent up the drag
racing hierarchy.
After some great successes in the street car style classes,
Erica made her move to her own Pro Modified racing
operation. In 2006, Ortiz founded Horsepower & Heels
Racing, with the trademark "Who says Horsepower & Heels
don't mix?" flare. In her rookie year,
Erica made it to her first final and finished #2 in the
points.
Erica's success in heads up racing
has already established her as a person of interest in the
media. As a competitive and professional female in a
predominantly male dominated sport, her story is appreciated
well beyond the realms of hardcore race fans. Because of her
unique image, Erica's reach and promotional abilities extend
outside the racetrack.
From regular magazine coverage,
prominent community membership & interaction on the web,
radio, television, interviews and personal appearances,
Erica is an outspoken individual in the racing industry,
also contributing her occasional journalistic talent in
several pen'd articles about the sport.
Her website is
www.HorsepowerandHeels.com
for more information.
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