With one more race on the schedule, second year Pro Stock driver Camrie Caruso is looking to make her first Top Ten finish exiting the NHRA Nevada Nationals. The third generation drag racer has worked her way up the NHRA ranks from Junior Dragster to the most competitive door-slammer class in the world, NHRA Pro Stock.
Driving the Powerbuilt Tequila Comisario Day of the Dead Chevrolet Camaro Caruso made four solid qualifying runs on Friday and Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. On Saturday Caruso made her quickest run in qualifying a solid 6.632 second pass at 205.63 mph which moved her up to No. 10 before she settled into the No. 12 position coming into race day.
“We were consistent in qualifying, but we just couldn’t break through to get into the top half,” said Caruso, who won the first Pro Stock Allstar Callout specialty race. “This class is so tight when it comes to performance and our KB Titan Racing cars have been doing really well. We didn’t make great runs on Saturday, but we stepped up on Saturday.”
In the opening round today the Powerbuilt Tequila Comisario Day of the Dead Chevrolet Camaro pulled up beside a KB Titan Racing powered Camaro driven by championship contender Matt Hartford. Caruso was looking to move up higher in the top ten and Hartford was racing to keep his championship hopes alive. Both Camaros jumped off the line together but as Caruso accelerated down track the car made a move to the middle and on a cool windy track her race car began sashaying in the left lane. In a veteran move Caruso kept her car on all four Goodyears but had to lift as Hartford drove away.
“I had my hands full for sure and I really wanted to stay with it, but I didn’t think it was a good idea,” said Caruso. “That was the closest I have come to getting upside down. This Powerbuilt Tequila Comisario Day of the Dead Chevrolet Camaro is too beautiful to destroy for a win light. I had a good weekend but we just need to find a little more power earlier in the weekend so we can run up front with the top cars.”
Going into the final race of the season Caruso will be looking to pick up her second win of the season and cap and solid second year on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. With two weeks off Caruso will be back at the KB Titan Racing shop following a busy week at the SEMA show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“I will be spending a couple days at the SEMA show for sponsor appearances and some media opportunities then my focus is going to shift to winning the last race of the season,” said Caruso, who picked up her first Pro Stock win this season at the Arizona Nationals. “We have some big plans for the off-season and this Countdown was an improved effort over last year. I have big goals and I want to finish 2023 strong and carry some momentum into 2024.”
This story was originally published on October 31, 2023. 
