Lori Leal of Fairhaven gives a shout as she holds up her trophy for winning first place in the Powderpuff car race at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, 8/5/23. Submitted photo.
By Beth David, Editor
Fairhaven’s own Lori Leal won the Powderpuff car race at the Seekonk Speedway for the second time in two years. The latest win was this Saturday, 8/5. Powderpuff races are all female races at Seekonk and held every month. Ms. Leal said she tries to compete every month.
It all started a few years ago when she went to watch a friend compete.
They asked if she wanted to drive their car in the Powderpuff race and she did it.
“And that was it, I was hooked,” said Ms. Leal.
Before she knew it, her daughter Tori Price, who is a mechanic, found a sweet little Toyota for her. And Scott Martin, Ms. Leal’s fiance bought it for her.
“It was a really good car,” said Ms. Leal.
Ms. Price painted it and worked on it, and gave it the number 1010.
“Ten-ten has always been my number,” said Ms. Leal. “It has something to do with angels. I believe in that stuff.”
The 54-year-old highly recommends trying the races if they are even slightly interested.
“Do it. That’s what I say,” she said. “It’s very very exciting and it’s a huge adrenaline rush.”
But, she has no idea how fast she actually goes as she competes against about a dozen drivers.
“I have a gauge. I don’t know if it works,” she said. “I never looked down. You can’t take your eyes off the road, so I never looked.”
Lori Leal of Fairhaven holds her trophy for winning first place in the Powderpuff car race at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, 8/5/23. Submitted photo.
Ms. Leal also said her mother, Dolores, was the angel on her shoulders, and her father, Jim Leal, posed with the trophy this weekend.
“So I woke up this morning and I had to pinch myself,” she posted on Facebook. “It was such an awesome night. I came home, I showed my dad the trophy. He’s so proud of me, makes me feel good. My mother was the angel on my shoulders last night. I miss you so much.
Her brother and other family members have also encouraged her, she said.
“It makes me feel good,” she said.
Her father’s memory is not what it was, but she woke him up anyway to show him the trophy and tell him she won.
“I left it on the bureau for the night, so he’d remember,” she said.
L-R: Lori Leal of Fairhaven and her daughter and mechanic Tori Price, pose with the trophy Lori received for winning first place in the Powderpuff car race at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, 8/5/23. Submitted photo.
James Leal is beaming with pride as he holds the trophy his daughter Lori Leal won for coming in first in the Powderpuff car race at the Seekonk Speedway on 8/5/23, while the trophy she won last year is in the foreground. Submitted photo.
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