Two-time Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders eyeing Epping for first win of 2017
EPPING, N.H. (May 31) — Two-time Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders doesn’t put much faith into racing luck. Her years at Texas A&M’s Mays School of Business taught her to be much more analytical in her thoughts, something she will continue to apply this weekend at the fifth annual NHRA New England Nationals in New Hampshire.
“The Pro Stock class goes in cycles,” Enders said. “Since the beginning of the class 30-something years ago, it’s been very cyclical. Certain drivers get on top, stay there for a period of time, and then someone else comes along and has their time. There may have been less races in the past so the cycles seem longer in the history books, but when you count the events, it balances out pretty evenly.
“We had an incredible run, especially in 2014 and 2015 when we won our two championships and 15 races, but then last year another group came along and had their time. The only changes to the cycles come from the fact there are so many multi-car teams nowadays. But if you replace teams with individual drivers from the past, the cycles are very similar.”
Racing out of the Elite Motorsports camp, Enders has three title-contending teammates in Jeg Coughlin Jr., Vincent Nobile, and Alex Laughlin. She firmly believes her group will resume control of the class very soon, and points to the overall success Elite drivers have had this year.
“Jeg was in the finals at the last race in Kansas and that was his second final of the year,” she said. “We’ve all qualified well and had our moments. The overall performance definitely is there. We just need to get all our ducks in a row at one race.
“I look at this team and I know we’ve got the horsepower, I know we’re driving great racecars, no doubt we have the best people in the business wrenching on these cars, and I usually drive pretty well. When the pendulum swings, we’ll be unstoppable again, and it could swing at any time. We’re right there.”
Enders says New England Dragway would be a perfect place to have the first all-Elite Motorsports final of the year, which would produce the first victory for the team since her win at the end of 2015 in Las Vegas.
“These races on the east coast are always fun because the fan base for our class is so substantial,” Enders said. “People in Epping and Englishtown love the factory hot rod class. They understand what it takes to make these cars go and they appreciate what we’re doing. Of everywhere we go, Epping and Englishtown are the two best stops for our class. They absolutely pack the stands every time we’re there and that makes us want to perform so much more.”
“I’m ready for our first win of the year and to do it in Epping would be awesome.”
Pro Stock qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., Friday, and 1:30 and 4 p.m., Saturday, with eliminations starting at 12 p.m., Sunday. First day qualifying action will be shown live at 7:30 p.m., Friday, on FOX Sports 1. Elimination action will be start at 4:30 p.m., Sunday. (All times are local and subject to change).