Elaine Larsen
Elaine Larsen | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Larsen in 2022 | |
| Born | Michigan, US |
| Occupation | Drag racing |
Elaine Larsen is an American drag racer and motorsports company owner. She has won two world championships for her jet car drag racing. She was named to Forbes's 50 over 50 in 2025.
Biography
[edit]Larsen was raised by Mennonites in Michigan: her family were farmers who observed an "Amish-like" limited acceptance of technology.[1]
She married her high school sweetheart, Chris. The two began drag racing as a hobby, after Chris bought a Chevrolet Vega, and Elaine soon began to love it. The two decided to build their own jet dragster, utilizing her passion for racing and her husband's for aviation, and soon joined the pro leagues.[2] She has utilized second-hand jet engines from Northrop F-5 for these dragsters.[1] She has been described as "never giving in to fear" during her racing.[3] In 2011, she crashed into a wall at 280 miles per hour in Columbus, Ohio, during a drag race, and had to have titanium plates and screws installed in her skull. However, she continued racing.[1] In 2014 and 2015, she consecutively won the International Hot Rod Association Jet Dragster World Championships.[2][4]
She also headed the team at her jet racing research and development organization,[5] Larsen Motorsports, founded in 2006,[6] which also includes other drivers, all women.[1] She stepped back from full-time racing in 2022[7] after a tour titled the "Two Decades of Thrills: Full Throttle Tour".[8]
She has helped launch the Florida Tech Jet Dragsters Team.[2] She runs a nonprofit, Blazing Trails, which introduces students to STEM careers,[9] and stated that she works on it full time since her retirement from driving.[7]
She was featured in Jay Leno's Garage in 2016, and named to the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame that same year.[1][2] She was named to the Forbes 50 over 50 in 2025.[10]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 Guzman, Zack (July 15, 2016). "From Mennonite to drag racer: How this woman mastered the rocket car". CNBC. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Daily, Space Coast (March 8, 2021). "Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame's Elaine Larsen is a Jet Dragster World Champion, Co-Founder of Larsen Motorsports". Space Coast Daily. Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ Circelli, Deborah. "Women in drag racing: Larsen 'never gives in to fear'". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ Sonnenberg, Maria. "Q&A: 300 mph no problem for Elaine Larsen". Florida Today. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ Panzarino, Sue DeWerff (September 18, 2023). "Florida Tech and Larsen Motorsportshave designs on greatness". Space Coast Living Magazine. Archived from the original on April 10, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ Schmidt, Denise (May 21, 2026). "Fan View: How Josette Roach Joined Larsen Motorsports to Pursue Jet Car Dreams | Drag Illustrated". Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- 1 2 Wade, Kelly (July 7, 2022). "DI Interview: Jet Dragster Pilot Elaine Larsen Reflects on 20 Years of Racing | Drag Illustrated". Archived from the original on April 16, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ Illustrated, Drag (January 17, 2022). "Elaine Larsen Celebrating 20 Years of Jet Dragster Racing with 'Full Throttle Tour' | Drag Illustrated". Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ Price, Wayne T. "Larsen named to Forbes 50 Over 50 innovators list". Florida Today. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ McGrath, Maggie. "50 Over 50: Innovation". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 25, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
