Florida Tech Jet Dragster Driver Elaine Larsen Fastest at NMRA Ford Nationals

Two-time World Champion Wins Both Exhibition Runs 

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Institute of Technology driver Elaine Larsen hit speeds of over 276 mph in both of her runs to post exhibition wins at the National Mustang Racing Association (NMRA) Ford Motorsports Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway just outside of Reading, Pennsylvania, on April 30.

Larsen, a two-time world champion jet dragster driver, defeated Larsen Motorsports driver Dawn Perdue, a Pennsylvania native who was familiar with that track.

In her first pass Saturday, Larsen was clocked at 276.92 mph with an elapsed time of 5.756. Her second pass achieved 276.86 mph and a time of 5.779.

“It was great to be with the NMRA this weekend; I definitely have mustang fever. But wouldn’t trade my FIT jet dragster for anything,” Larsen said. “The car is running consistent, and that is what it takes to win races. Every pass down the track, the jet dragster and I get to know each other a little better.”

Brian Tocci, Larsen’s crew chief who is enrolled in Florida Tech’s MBA program, added, “Elaine and I made a great team and took home the win for Florida Tech.”

The next event for Larsen Motorsports will be the Chevy Performance Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 3-5. Today, however, Elaine Larsen will be in the spotlight once again.

Larsen will join more than two dozen other sports and community leaders in being inducted into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame at a ceremony and banquet Friday night at Cocoa Beach Country Club.

Inducted in the Professional Category, Larsen’s class also includes Marco Dawson for golf, Sasha Kaun for basketball, Billy Stein for baseball and Leonard Weaver for football.

Each inductee will be featured in a video tribute. View Larsen’s video by clicking here.

More information on the Florida Tech-Larsen Motorsports affiliation is available at http://jetdragster.fit.edu.

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