GM FYI Blog

The California native and Chevy Cobalt sportsman driver scored Quick 16 wins at NHRA Sport Compact events at Moroso Motorsports Park in Florida, in April, and at Englishtown, NJ, in May. Earlier this summer, Chevy Racing caught up with Erica to discuss her strategy for success, which includes cheeseburgers with her crew and a lucky pair of shades. The interview is courtesy of GM Tuner Source, and we thought you might like to see what Erica had to say:

GM— Erica, it’s great to run you down. We know you’re a busy girl, and we just wanted to follow up with you to see how it feels to race your very consistent Cobalt. What’s it been like so far this year in ‘06?

EN— This year has been pedal to the metal which is the way I like it. Now that this semester is over, it’s been a lot more fun being at the track. While I was in school and trying to travel, I’d have to skip some classes. Let me tell you, trying to explain to a professor that you are missing class to travel across the country to drive race cars is a story that is right up there with “my dog ate my homework”. Most professors were cool, but some of them needed convincing. So once they understood the situation, I was able to take my homework to the track too. I’d be sitting in the pits working on homework while all the fun was going on. Homework in between rounds is not my idea of a good time. Now that school’s out for the summer, things have slowed down a lot and I’m thoroughly enjoying racing and hopefully won’t set foot in another library for three more months.

GM— OK, we have to ask this…. Why are you so consistent? You run incredible numbers time after time…What’s the secret? Do you have some kind of ritual dance that you do in the pit before you race?

EN— Well, since I’m a horrific dancer, I decided to eighty-six the ritual dance in the pits and try something else. Once we get in the staging lanes, I usually get in the car way before we run. The seats in the Cobalt are so comfortable that I like to get strapped in and then kinda snooze before the run. Once I’m napping, there is no time to get nervous. The consistency factor comes from just doing the same thing all the time, on and off the track. The key to doing well in our class is not to go the fastest, but to do the same thing every time so you can predict exactly what your car will do. If you can do that better than everyone else, you got it in the bag! It sounds easy, and I’ve gone blue in the face trying to explain it to some of my buddies, but it isn’t easy running those Quick 16 guys, they are out there to win. The real key to the consistency of our race car are the years we’ve raced at Irwindale Dragstrip against some of the best bracket racers I know. These guys and gals didn’t take it easy on me at all! I got beat time after time, and that forced me to learn how to drive consistently. Also, the consistency of the car is a result of the hard work of the guys that help maintain my car and who do all the wrenching. I don’t know how they do it, but they manage to give me the exact same car every run. Having a crew that can do that really makes the driver look good! They’re the ones that really make it happen.

GM— What’s your fastest time so far in your car, and what is your goal to reach?

EN— We actually set our new personal best E.T. in Englishtown, NJ at the last race we attended. We pushed the car a little harder than we did before and got an 11.15 out of it. It is so exciting every time you can push yourself and the car a little harder, especially when you can do it without breaking anything. We aren’t really sure where we are going to end up with the car, we just take it a day at a time. I think for this season our goal is to drop into the high tens. The Cobalt is a great car and I am very happy with where it is now, but you can always push it a little harder and I think that is what we intend to do.

GM— What are some of your favorite things to do when you go on the road to race? Do you have any rituals that you go through? Like eating a bucket of chicken the night before a big race etc.? Don’t be shy…. Spill the beans or chicken….

EN— We have been having so much fun on the road this season, in fact, I don’t think people should be allowed to have as much fun as we do! I actually do my first thing the day before we leave. I always get a pedicure the day before the race. You have to make sure that the gas pedal foot is taken care of, you know? We’re a team that likes to eat; food is crucial! Everywhere we have gone, we always eat out during the weekend. We have to have our big, juicy cheeseburgers, you know the kind that taste that much better after a long day at the track. As far as little things I do before I run, there really isn’t anything crazy, its pretty basic stuff. First of all, I never ever even think of going to the race track without my lucky sunglasses. I’ve had these babies since I was 16 and I don’t ever run without them. Also, I keep one of my favorite pictures in my back right pocket. It’s comforting to have it there with me. Finally, the last thing I do happens right before the burnout box. There is a song I sing to myself to kind of get me all pumped up. I would tell you the name of the song, but I can’t. It is that embarrassing! That’s about it though. Nothing too crazy, just a little superstitious when it comes to certain things!

GM— Wow! That song has to be something – I’m sure of it! Anyways, we have been hearing rumors that your new nickname is Wally Woman! We like that… So Wally Woman, how does it feel to of won not only 1 but 2 Wally’s here this year? Breakdown the experience for us, and what it really means to you.

EN— It’s pretty hard to explain the thrill of finally receiving something you’ve wanted since you were a little kid. Ever since I went to my first drag race and saw what a Wally was, I told myself that that was my goal. All I wanted was one Wally to set in my room. Of course, after the first one, you’re ready for the next. It is the best feeling I have ever had and I don’t think winning anything else could feel better than this did. It’s definitely nice to win other trophies, but a Wally is like a drag racing Oscar, that’s the one you want. Coming into this season, our goal was to win one NHRA sport compact race and take home the Wally. To win our first race of the season took the pressure off for the rest of the season. Going into Englishtown, we were there just to have fun. Winning Englishtown was too good to be true. We’ve gone way beyond our goal for this year, now we are just out there to do what we love the most, go racing!

GM— Erica, are you having fun this year or what?

EN— Our team has a saying, “Who has more fun than we do?” That statement just sums it all up. There really is no way to have more fun than we are having right now! Being able to travel and race at tracks I’ve only seen on TV has been a dream come true. Going through that tunnel at Englishtown gave me butterflies like you wouldn’t believe. It is a privilege to be racing down the same tracks that my favorite drivers did. Most of my racing before this season was at my little home track in Irwindale, California. I love Irwindale and I love all of the people there, but it has been surreal to be able to fly to different tracks, pit with someone like Gary Gardella, and race to win! So “fun” doesn’t really describe it, it’s more like out of this world!

GM— Thanks Erica, it’s been great talking to you. Keep up the good spirit, and the amazing driving. Do you have any final words for your fans?

EN—You kidding me? I always have something to say! Just wanted to thank everyone so much for all of the support and encouragement. I hope everyone keeps sending emails or visiting us in the pits! I’d especially like to thank everyone at GM, Gardella Racing, Sierra Chevrolet, Chicago Title, Barneys, BG, and Dalcorp. Because of the support from all of them we have been able to do what we love to do. This season has had a great start and I hope it continues, but it’s really no fun unless everyone is out there enjoying it with us! So I hope everyone is able to make it out to the track sometime.