We are honored to announce Lea Ochs as an official member of Car Chix! Lea Ochs earned her spot as Ms. July in the Axtmann Automotive Performance sponsored month of the 2020 Car Chix Calendar after competing in the 2019 Car Chix Women of Motorsports Contest.
LEA OCHS BIO
NICKNAME: Lead Sled Lea
PHOTO CREDITS FOR SUBMITTED PHOTOS: Phillip Kinney (my little brother), Freakshow Photography
PROFESSION: Realtor®
YOUR VEHICLES (in photo): 1978 Ford Fairmont Stationwagon
MOTOR/SPECS:
We have two set-ups… the one we run when we are not in the Ultra Street class is:
427ci Dart LS Next block built by Gary Ochs/Ochs Performance
Brian Tooley spec’d cam and intake
Mast Motorsports heads, built by Darin Morgan
98mm turbo by Jose Zayas
RACING CLASS/TEAM/DIVISION: We race most shootout events in the Outlaw Street class. We
participated in 2018 Drag Week. Most recently we have been racing in the ultra street class at No
Mercy and Lights Out, and plan to branch out into some local Limited 275 events.
HOMETOWN: Whitewright, Texas
HOMETRACK: Northstar Dragway
PERSONAL WEBSITE/FANPAGE: www.facebook.com/LeadSledLea Instagram and Snap: TheLeaOchs
CLUBS/AFFLIATIONS/SPONSORS: Ochs Performance, 2JMFab, Brian Tooley Racing, Sonnax, Freakshow
Performance, Dart Machinery, Concept Performance, Nitrous Outlet, Callies Performance, Ross
Pistons, Atomizer Racing Injectors, AFCO, Ignite Racing Fuel, Mast Motorsports, Hydrastar Drivetrain,
J&M Fabrication and Kustoms, Billet Specialties, JayFab
ACCOMPLISHMENTS/ACHIEVEMENTS:
2019 Doomsday Prepped Outlaw Street Class Winner
2019 Texas True Street Shootout Outlaw Street Class Winner
Drag Illustrated 2019 “Hottest Ladies In Drag Racing”
Featured in June 2019 NHRA National Dragster Magazine
2019 One of two women at the Invitational exhibition race, during the NHRA National event at Joliet
2018 and 2019 Car Chix Woman of Motorsports
2019 Car Chix Women of Motorsports calendar, Miss July
2018 – Car Chix Women of Motorsports calendar, Miss September and Cover Feature
2018 – Participated in our first Drag Week
2017/2018 – Featured in Drag Illustrated and Car Craft Magazine
2017 Doomsday No-Prep winner – True Street/Outlaw Street combined class
2017 Texas True Street Shootout – True Street Runner Up
2017 – Became the first female to win a no-prep event in the true street/outlaw street combined
class. First female to win a no-prep event on a small tire and in a door slammer car.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
2019 Doomsday Prepped Outlaw Street Class Winner
2019 Texas True Street Shootout Outlaw Street Class Winner
Drag Illustrated 2019 “Hottest Ladies In Drag Racing”
Featured in June 2019 NHRA National Dragster Magazine
2019 Invitational event during the NHRA National event at Joliet
FAVORITE QUOTE/SAYING: Team Work Makes the dream Work
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS: I grew up in a car family. We
spent weekends at the drag strip watching my step-dad (I call him pops) race. My first car was a 1972
nova with a shift kit. It wasn’t fast, but I cruised around the streets of Lawton, Ok chirping the tires
and looking for races. As we got older, three of my six brothers built their own cars and bikes and took
over my stepdad’s role behind the wheel. After a few years of following my brothers around and
supporting them, my husband and I decided to build a car. In 2012, the original Lead Sled project
began. I remember my first pass in the original Lead Sled. I was learning the car and my brother was in
the passenger seat. It was a motor only pass. At the end of the track… I yelled over the sound of the
motor “my shift light never came on!” He yelled back “you didn’t get fast enough!” We hot lapped and
made another pass after that… we still tell that story and laugh. We’ve come a long way since that
day.
My husband also grew up with a passion for cars. I call him my mechanical genius… there doesn’t
seem to be a problem he can’t solve. Our combined passion for performance and the origination of
the Lead Sled led to the creation of Ochs Performance.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS:
Simply put… the people. We’re so blessed to have made so many amazing friends because of the
sport. Even though we’re all competitive, we support and encourage each other. Spending time with
our friends at the track is something we both look forward to.
Racing is an escape… I love that I can climb in the driver’s seat and forget about everything else. The
adrenaline rush I get when I pull up to the water box to make my first pass on race day is something
that never gets old!
The thing I love the most is that my husband and I do this together, as a team. He is my biggest fan,
and his support and encouragement pushes me to be the best version of myself.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST CAR/RACING/MOTORSPORTS RELATED MEMORY:
Winning Doomsday in March 2017 at our home track, North Star Dragway. That’s where I became the
first female to win a no-prep event in the true street/outlaw street combined class. We were
surrounded by so many friends and family and we celebrated that victory as a team. Winning is
always fun and rewarding, but it’s even better when we’re surrounded by so many people who love
and support us. The Doomsday race series is promoted by our good friends Michael Hollis and Barrett
Green… to take that win at one of their races and at our home track made it so incredibly special.
WHAT IS YOUR WORST CAR/RACING/MOTORSPORTS RELATED MEMORY: I wrecked the Lead Sled in
May 2017 at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis during Shannon Morgan’s Redemption No-Prep race. I was
competing in the True Street Class on Friday and my opponent and I were the third cars down the
track. I lost traction mid-way down the track and hit the wall at 100+mph. It totaled the car… and sent
me to the ER. I’m so very fortunate to have walked away with only a concussion and a bone contusion
in my right arm. My mom gave me a guardian angel and it stayed pinned to the floor near my shifter…
she had her work cut out for her on that day! My safety equipment did it’s job and saved me from
what could have been a much more tragic outcome.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR NEXT SEASON: We have a full season of racing and travel planned. We
have two engine/turbo set-ups. We would love to be able to fine tune the Ultra Street (smaller) set-up
and be a fierce competitor in the Ultra Street class at the Duck X events.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: We love to hunt, in our backyard! Pig hunting has
become an obsession.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP SONGS FOR WHEN YOU ARE DOING CARS THINGS / RACING:
I have a play list that I listen to when I’m getting ready to race… one of my favorites from that list is
Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BLOGS, WEBSITES OR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES THAT YOU
FOLLOW?: Freakshow Photography, World-Wide LS Owners, NX Gonzo Video, Max Cackle Photos.com
ADVICE TO OTHER WOMEN IN MOTORSPORTS OR WOMEN INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED IN
MOTORSPORTS: Don’t let anyone tell you that “you can’t”. Dream big, and reach for the stars!
