DALLAS, TX — Erica Enders is known as the reigning Pro Stock world champion. She’s also referred to as the points leader and odds-on favorite to win this year’s title, having led the standings for the last four races. She’s the most prolific female racer in class history and recently passed legend Shirley Muldowney for number of national event victories on the all-time list.
The bottom line is Enders can answer to a lot of different titles, but the one she relishes the most is a simple one: Texan.
Born and raised in Houston, Enders attended Texas A&M before chasing her drag racing dream full-time. The decorated driver of the Elite Motorsports Camaro often wears Texas-themed clothing and jewelry and always greets fellow Lone Star State inhabitants with a broad smile, no matter where in the world she might be.
It’s no wonder she’s so anxious to win this weekend’s AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas, a racetrack at which she has competed since she was 8 years old.
“It’s time to get a pro win up there,” Enders said. “This would be the perfect season to get it done because we already won the Houston race in April, so we could sweep the Texas races. That would mean a lot to me, being a Texas girl and all.”
Enders certainly has the horsepower to get the job done. She has won an NHRA-leading and personal-best seven national events this year, including at three of the last five stops on tour, and has a comfortable three-and-a-half-round lead over her nearest rival in the Mello Yello championship points with just three races left in the season.
She has been the No. 1 qualifier five times, had the quickest car on the property six times, and posted top speed at three different meets.
“It’s all about this incredible team that (owner) Richard Freeman has put together,” said Enders, who is married to fellow Pro Stock driver Richie Stevens. “The guys in the Elite pit are the best in the business. I’m just the lucky girl that gets to drive the car and do the interviews on TV.
“Being a Texas girl, I do take a lot of pride in my work ethic, and having a fast hot rod makes me work even harder to be perfect whenever I climb into the car and put on my helmet. It’s always a lot of pressure, but over the years I’ve figured out how to thrive off of that pressure. I actually drive better when the stakes are highest, and as much as we want to win this race and put more points on the board, I’ll be feeling it for sure.
“We’ve made a few real good runs at the Dallas trophy before but never with a car like this one. We’re ready to get it done.”
Pro Stock qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:45 and 5:45 p.m., Friday, and 12:45 and 3:45 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at noon, Sunday. All racing action will be shown on ESPN2.