This year, Angela has been less hands-on with the technical nuts and bolts than in years past, mainly because the sport has evolved so much during the past season. It's grown technically, and it's grown in terms of the amount of organization needed to compete.
"This year Chris chose more of the parts than I did," she says. The partnership is going on its third year and has become more specialized this season, with Angela neck-deep in media chores and budget responsibilities. "Last year I did a lot more [mechanical work]. It's just become so far advanced. When we first started, I chose all of the parts. I mean, it's just such a fast and advanced car; it's become a little out of my realm. I like to know everything that's going on, why we're choosing certain things. We discuss. Sometimes he'll come up with something better, or I'll come up with something better."
For as far as Angela has come in the drag world, it's hard to believe that she initially wanted to be a road racer. "I built a road race car," she says about her first Civic, which she bought straight out of college. "I did all this suspension stuff. I got the tires and the wheels. I took it out to Summit Point Raceway and drove it around, and I was like, 'I don't like slowing down at all.' I hated it. It was not the immediate gratification I got on the drag strip." The next thing she knew she had an engine swap and a turbo and was running 12s.
Since then, Angela's run a best of 9.58, which she hit in her previous race car last year. And despite the progress so far this season, she says she won't be satisfied until she wins. "I'm not as happy as I would be if I were running 8s. We're just having new-car blues. It's not a big deal. I know that it's going to get better. I know that it's going to get better really quickly. It's just a matter of getting all the little kinks worked out."
Fast FactsOwner Angela ProudfootHometown Washington, D.C.
Daily Grind Race car driver and owner of Angela Proudfoot Racing
Ride '03 Honda Civic Coupe race car
Under The Hood 1.8l Dohc Vtec (B18C) stroked to 2.0L, machined and sleeved by AEBS; Cometic head gasket, balanced crank; custom Crane cams; Eagle GSR rods; custom JE Pistons pistons; Total Seal rings; ported and polished head with all surfaces milled and a five-angle valve job (performed by BCE Racing); REV valves, valvesprings, and retainers; custom-fabricated intake manifold; Accel DFI Gen VII fuel management; Venom 1,600cc injectors; Aeromotive fuel regulator; AEBS fuel rail; Turbonetics velocity stack intake; Accufab throttle body; Kooks custom mandrel-bent stainless steel header with collector and custom 3- to 3.5-inch stainless steel exhaust; AEBS cam gears; Crane HI-7 ignition and plug wires; NGK plugs; Turbonetics Y2K turbocharger; Godzilla blow-off valve and New Gen wastegate; Innovative MSBC-1 boost controller; Nitrous Express direct-port nitrous system; Z10 external wet oil pump system, vacuum pump, oil pan, and oil cap; Fluidyne direct-fit Civic radiator; AEBS spark plug cover; Moore Performance Nitro driveline axles; Quaife LSD; B&M Racing shifter; Tilton carbon/carbon clutch; Quaife gear set
Stiff Stuff Eibach springs; Penske Racing shocks in front and Strange Engineering struts in back; Energy Suspension bushings; eight-point semi-Funny Car cage; rear back half
Rollers 15-inch Weld Magnum wheels; Goodyear Front Runner tires (28x10x15 in front, 26x5x15 in back)
Stoppers C&C brakes in front, Strange brakes in back; Goodridge aramid-braided brake lines; custom plumbing
Outside Apc Euro Taillights; custom fiberglass sunroof; custom fiberglass trunk and doors by MB Products; Frank's Custom Fiberglass composite front end; Troy Holloway custom paint scheme; Speedesign vinyl graphics