Category Archives: Erica Enders

Consistent Erica Enders still asking for more from Melling Performance/Elite Camaro

Consistent Erica Enders still asking for more from Melling Performance/Elite Camaro
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 19) — Fresh off a runner-up finish at the NHRA tour’s last stop in Seattle, two-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders has proven her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is very consistent this weekend at the 36th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

Enders qualified mid-pack in the No. 8 position in the elimination field, running a best of 6.665 at 206.42 mph to go with a 6.679, a 6.682 and a 6.695. While the car is repeating well, Enders says an issue getting out of the starting blocks is holding them back. Continue reading Consistent Erica Enders still asking for more from Melling Performance/Elite Camaro

Multi-time Brainerd champ Erica Enders an eyelash away from her next victory

Multi-time Brainerd champ Erica Enders
an eyelash away from her next victory
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 16) — Just a few days removed from competing in the closest drag race of the entire NHRA season, two-time Brainerd champion and crowd favorite Erica Enders knows she only needs to gain an eyelash of performance to score her next victory, which she hopes will come at this weekend’s 36th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. Continue reading Multi-time Brainerd champ Erica Enders an eyelash away from her next victory

Erica Enders finishes second in Seattle after closest race of NHRA season

Erica Enders finishes second in
Seattle after closest race of NHRA season
KENT, Wash. (Aug. 6) — Professional drag racing is the only motorsport in the world with the need to time things to the 10-thousandth of a second, an increment of time put to the test in the final round of Sunday’s 30th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals when two-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders was edged by Drew Skillman by .0006 seconds, or an estimated one inch, making it the closest drag race of the entire season. Continue reading Erica Enders finishes second in Seattle after closest race of NHRA season

Two-time champ and No. 4 qualifier Erica Enders looking for more Seattle success

Two-time champ and No. 4 qualifier Erica Enders looking for more Seattle success
KENT, Wash. (Aug. 5) — Erica Enders was fighting for her playoff life the last time the NHRA tour passed through Pacific Raceways. This time around, she easily secured her spot in the 2017 Countdown to the Championship by simply qualifying for the elimination field of the 30th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals. Continue reading Two-time champ and No. 4 qualifier Erica Enders looking for more Seattle success

Seattle success on the mind of two-time Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders

Seattle success on the mind of two-time
Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders
KENT, Wash. (Aug. 2) — Erica Enders has placed a push-pin in this weekend’s 30th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways as the place she would most like to get her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro back into the winner’s circle.
Continue reading Seattle success on the mind of two-time Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders

Despite her best run of the weekend, Erica Enders edged in Sonoma’s opening round

Despite her best run of the weekend, Erica Enders edged in Sonoma’s opening round
SONOMA, Calif. (July 30) — A late night in the Elite Motorsports pit produced a massive turnaround for two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders, who had struggled mightily through two days of qualifying for this weekend’s 30th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals. Unfortunately, despite posting her best run of the meet by far, Enders came up just short in her first-round race with three-time 2017 winner Bo Butner. Continue reading Despite her best run of the weekend, Erica Enders edged in Sonoma’s opening round

Crowd favorite Erica Enders hoping for better results on race day in Sonoma

Crowd favorite Erica Enders hoping
for better results on race day in Sonoma
SONOMA, Calif. (July 29) — The first two days of the 30th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals have been a bit of a struggle for two-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders, but that hasn’t dampened the spirits of the always popular pro from Houston.

“We definitely have an issue that we are working to fix,” Enders said after qualifying a season-low 15th on the grid with a 6.949 at 211.89 mph. “Everybody is doing all they can to figure out what the Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro wants and, so far, it’s just not translating to
the scoreboard. Continue reading Crowd favorite Erica Enders hoping for better results on race day in Sonoma

Melling Performance pro Erica Enders vying for vintage victory at Sonoma Raceway

Melling Performance pro Erica Enders
vying for vintage victory at Sonoma Raceway
SONOMA, Calif. (July 26) – Two-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders has her sights set on some racing redemption in her bright red Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro this weekend at the 30th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals at scenic Sonoma Raceway, set in the heart of Northern California’s wine country.

“We love going to Sonoma,” Enders said. “It’s one of my favorite places to race, and let’s face it, a trip to the wine country is certainly fun and something my whole team looks forward to every year. This year I’m hoping to finally get a Wally (trophy) in Sonoma and get a little payback on the Christmas Tree after Denver.” Continue reading Melling Performance pro Erica Enders vying for vintage victory at Sonoma Raceway

Two-time Pro Stock champ looking for Denver victory from No. 2 qualifying position

Two-time Pro Stock champ looking for
Denver victory from No. 2 qualifying position
DENVER (July 22) — Erica Enders’ Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro has been the second-quickest racecar after all three Pro Stock qualifying sessions contested this weekend at Bandimere Speedway as the world’s best quarter-mile drag racers line themselves up for the elimination rounds of the 38th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.

Now she just needs to figure out how to end race day one spot better. Continue reading Two-time Pro Stock champ looking for Denver victory from No. 2 qualifying position

A Bandimere prayer comforted, inspired two-time Pro Stock champ Erica Enders

A Bandimere prayer comforted, inspired
two-time Pro Stock champ Erica Enders
DENVER (July 19) — In the anxious moments just before Erica Enders clinched her first Pro Stock championship in Pomona, Calif., John Bandimere stopped in the staging lanes to wish her luck. Being a spiritual man, Bandimere, longtime owner of Bandimere Speedway in Denver, site of this weekend’s 38th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, said a quick prayer with Enders, an impactful moment that has stuck with the 22-time national event winner. Continue reading A Bandimere prayer comforted, inspired two-time Pro Stock champ Erica Enders

Melling Performance moves to title sponsor position on Erica Enders’ hot rod

Melling Performance moves to title
sponsor position on Erica Enders’ hot rod
WYNNEWOOD, Okla. (July 5) — Melling Performance, a longtime associate sponsor of Elite Motorsports and two-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders, will become title sponsor of the 22-time national event winner for five national events, beginning with next weekend’s 20th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago and continuing through the 63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indy.

“Everyone at Melling Performance is excited about our association with Erica and Elite Motorsports,” Melling Performance CEO Mark Melling said. “After being at the races, I thought it would be great to see the Melling Performance Decal on the doors of Erica’s RED #9 racecar. It reminds me of the Bill Elliott days in NASCAR. Continue reading Melling Performance moves to title sponsor position on Erica Enders’ hot rod

Erica Enders eager to take her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Pro Stocker to Chicago

Erica Enders eager to take her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Pro Stocker to Chicago
CHICAGO (July 5) – Two-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders has a wealth of quarter-mile excitement to draw from this weekend as she takes the controls of her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro at the 20th annual Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals, just outside of Chicago.

“Chicago has a lot of meaning to me because we won our first Pro Stock race there in 2012 after seven long years of trying,” Enders said. “It was such a huge deal, a culmination of so many things. It felt wonderful. It was a big relief and also immediately made you want to do it again. I’m always excited to head back to Chicago.” Continue reading Erica Enders eager to take her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Pro Stocker to Chicago

Too quick at the Tree, two-time champ Erica Enders departs Norwalk race early

Too quick at the Tree, two-time champ
Erica Enders departs Norwalk race early
NORWALK, Ohio (June 25) — As the driver of the lower qualified car in the less-favored left-hand lane, two-time world champion Erica Enders knew a stellar reaction time would help her Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro race team tremendously in their Sunday morning match-up with teammate Vincent Nobile. Continue reading Too quick at the Tree, two-time champ Erica Enders departs Norwalk race early

Once again, Erica Enders opens eliminations against an Elite Motorsports teammate

Once again, Erica Enders opens eliminations against an Elite Motorsports teammate
NORWALK, Ohio (June 24) — For the fifth time this season, two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders will face a teammate from her Elite Motorsports camp at the start of eliminations. This time its Vincent Nobile, who she’s opened against twice previously and faced four times overall in 2017 competition.
Continue reading Once again, Erica Enders opens eliminations against an Elite Motorsports teammate

Two-time champ Erica Enders set to scoop up another trophy in Norwalk

Two-time champ Erica Enders set to
scoop up another trophy in Norwalk
NORWALK, Ohio (June 20) – Two-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders’ confidence going into the weekend’s 11th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park is extremely high.

The spunky 33-year-old driver of the Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is excited about her team’s momentum and she’s anxious to build on her group’s recent successes, which have her eying a run at a third NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series championship. Continue reading Two-time champ Erica Enders set to scoop up another trophy in Norwalk

Erica Enders misses out on third final round of season by .006 seconds in Tennessee

Erica Enders misses out on third final round
of season by .006 seconds in Tennessee
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 18) — Two-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders came up two feet short of what would have been her third final-round appearance of the 2017 season after a close semifinal contest with class points leader Bo Butner Sunday afternoon at Bristol Dragway.

After beating Alan Prusiensky and one of her Elite Motorsports’ teammates, Vincent Nobile, earlier in the day, Enders got a .007-second jump on Butner in their race and held the lead until somewhere around halftrack when the winner of the Houston and Atlanta races passed her and inched away to take the finish line stripe by .006 seconds. Continue reading Erica Enders misses out on third final round of season by .006 seconds in Tennessee

Allen Johnson Hopes to Bring the Thunder to the Valley on Raceday in Bristol

Allen Johnson Hopes to Bring the Thunder to the Valley on Raceday in Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 17, 2017) – Marathon Petroleum Co./J&J Racing Dodge Dart driver Allen Johnson drove his way to the No. 7 spot after four rounds of qualifying at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

On Friday, Johnson began his qualifying efforts with a solid 6.730-second pass at 205.13 mph. Battling against high humidity, the entire Pro Stock class made their best attempts in the extreme conditions. In the second session, Johnson and the Adam Hornberger-led team clocked in with a 6.745, 204.26. Continue reading Allen Johnson Hopes to Bring the Thunder to the Valley on Raceday in Bristol

Just days removed from Epping victory, Erica Enders takes dead aim at Bristol crown

Just days removed from Epping victory,
Erica Enders takes dead aim at Bristol crown
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 17) — Two-time drag racing world champion Erica Enders celebrated her 22nd national event win less than two weeks ago in Epping, N.H., and the sport’s most prolific female Pro Stock driver is geared up to repeat the feat after qualifying a lofty third in the field of the 17th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Continue reading Just days removed from Epping victory, Erica Enders takes dead aim at Bristol crown

Erica Enders eager to go racing at her all-time favorite track — Bristol Dragway

Erica Enders eager to go racing at her
all-time favorite track — Bristol Dragway
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 14) – Like with most things in life, people have favorites. Some may have a favorite pizza joint, while others may have a favorite golf course they like to play. Most times these favorite places are special to a person for a reason unique to them.

Bristol Dragway is one of those favorite places for two-time world champion NHRA Pro Stock driver Erica Enders. This weekend as the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series competes in the 17th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Enders will be at her favorite race track with high hopes of even more success at the picturesque quarter-mile. Continue reading Erica Enders eager to go racing at her all-time favorite track — Bristol Dragway

Two-time champ Erica Enders comes up short in battle of Elite Motorsports teammates

Two-time champ Erica Enders comes up
short in battle of Elite Motorsports teammates
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 11) — As expected, the nearly identical cars of Elite Motorsports teammates Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin Jr. ran a close race in Sunday’s first round of eliminations at the 48th annual NHRA Summernationals. This time, it was six-time champ Coughlin edging out two-time champ Enders by .02 seconds.

“We went up there without lane choice and faced a very hot and tricky racetrack,” Enders said. “My guys gave me the best possible racecar they could give me but we weren’t able to get (to the finish line) first unfortunately for this Elite Motorsports/Transportation Impact Chevrolet. Continue reading Two-time champ Erica Enders comes up short in battle of Elite Motorsports teammates