HOUSTON — Leah Pritchett’s Papa John’s Pizza dragster team chalked up a third Top Fuel title in five races in last weekend’s NHRA Spring Nationals at Baytown, Texas.

Pritchett, who won a close race against Steve Torrence, regained the points lead they lost to Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher three weeks ago.

“Heck of a day for this Papa John’s team,” said Breitung Township’s Ryan O’Dette, a member of the Pritchett race team. “I couldn’t be more happy to be a part of this team.”

Nineteen races remain on the schedule.

“What our Papa John’s/FireAde team with Mopar and Pennzoil has done is incredible” she said. “You want to get fired up by being mad or hating the person you’re racing, but I can’t do that when we’re up there racing against great guys like my teammate Antron (Brown) or Steve.

“For (crew chief Todd Okuhara) and my team, I say we’re good because I see it every day at the track and back at the shop.”

The Mello Yello series moves east from Houston next week to near Charlotte Motor Speedway for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in the second of three Mello Yello events in three weeks.