T JUST 24 years old , Monique Ambruosi wears many different hats . When she ’ s not wearing her helmet in the driver ’ s seat of her Comp dragster , she ’ s often found wearing a welding mask as a full-time metal fabricator in her father ’ s shop . She also serves as the social media and marketing manager for Ambruosi Racing , is a crewmember for her father ’ s Top Alcohol Funny Car team , and represents FuelTech USA as an ambassador .

Ambruosi ’ s career in drag racing began at the age of 14 , but her passion for the sport started even earlier . At 13 , she was already learning the ropes by working on her dad ’ s Funny Car . The early exposure allowed her to grasp the fundamentals of drag racing , fueling her dedication to motorsports and eventually turning it into a full-time career . As a young girl , Ambruosi spent a lot of time at racetracks watching her father compete . By the age of 12 , she was dismantling engines at his shop and the experience eventually progressed to servicing the cylinder heads in between rounds on race day as a crew member .

In 2019 , Ambruosi began the process of building her current Comp dragster , and she was involved every step of the way . At just 19 years old , she utilized skills passed down from her father to fabricate the fuel tank , oil tank , and custom metal brackets on the car , all done in-house . Once her Comp dragster was rebuilt , equipped with a 355 Holden engine and 550 FuelTech Engine Control Unit , Ambruosi completed her licensing process at Heathcote Park Raceway in Victoria , Australia .

“ The moment we fired the car up in the water box to complete my first pass in the Comp dragster was the moment of realization that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life ,” Ambruosi explains . “ I love this sport so much .”

Ambruosi currently competes in the National Drag Racing Championship series , racing alongside her father at events throughout Australia . While her main focus is on attending races and winning rounds , she has a larger goal of someday winning a championship . Off track , Ambruosi works with FuelTech , where she is involved in content creation and brand promotion for the Australian social media channels . She helps the company grow its brand by applying her extensive skills in media and marketing .

Ambruosi also promotes products from SP Tools and SS Custom Engineering through her own social media channels , highlighting her

daily essentials for when she ’ s working in the fab shop . In a short time , she has developed her own unique style and uses the power of social media to share her passion for fabrication and drag racing with a global audience .

One of Ambruosi ’ s favorite parts of drag racing is meeting talented individuals within the industry , many of whom have become lifelong friends . Being a role model for younger racers is also very important to Monique ; she encourages everyone she meets to follow their dreams , be kind , and stay true to themselves .

“ It amazes me that I now have young racers looking at me the same way I used to look up to my role models ,” Ambruosi says . “ Being a positive role model for the younger generation means everything to me because that ’ s where it all starts .”

Ambruosi hopes that her skills in building , crewing , and driving race cars , along with documenting her journey on social media , will inspire others to follow a similar path . When asked about her future plans , Ambruosi expressed her desire to continue making a positive impact in the industry . She dreams of one day racing in America as she believes it represents the pinnacle of motorsports .

“ Drag racing has brought me many opportunities so far . From traveling to America to meeting the FuelTech team to securing a partnership with them , I have met so many great people throughout my time in this industry ,” Ambruosi says . “ It has allowed me to continue learning and evolving in the sport , which is something I am forever grateful for .” – MADELYN MARCONI DI

152 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 191