Pro Stock champ Erica Enders reaches new heights with No. 2 spot in Denver
DENVER (July 23) — Pro Stock champion Erica Enders would have loved to have held on to the No. 1 spot for the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals on Saturday at Bandimere Speedway, but though she fell .007-second short of that lofty perch, Enders and her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge team can hold their heads up high after qualifying No. 2.

“It would have been cool to get a green hat,” Enders said, referring to the special hats given to No. 1 qualifiers. “And tomorrow would have been a little cooler than normal because we would have a bye in the first round (because there are only 15 cars in the field). Continue reading Pro Stock champ Erica Enders reaches new heights with No. 2 spot in Denver →

Erica Enders returns to the top, snaring provisional No. 1 in Denver
DENVER (July 22) — She’s back!

Two-time champion Erica Enders returned to the top of the Pro Stock charts, grabbing the provisional No. 1 spot for the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals on Friday at Bandimere Speedway.

Enders dominated the class the past two seasons, winning 15 races and the championship in 2014 and 2015, but a change in rules and a switch to Mopar precipitated a small step back this season as her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge team worked to develop a new Dodge Dart and new fuel-injected engines. Continue reading Erica Enders returns to the top, snaring provisional No. 1 in Denver DENVER (July 22) — She’s back! →

Pro Stock champ Erica Enders ready to show what her Mopar can do in Denver
DENVER (July 20) — Two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders has come to Bandimere Speedway for the Mopar Mile-High Nationals for many years, always knowing how difficult it is racing in the thinner Colorado air, but this year Enders is driving a Hemi-powered Dart, and she relishes the chance to race on even terms with her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge.

“I’m pretty excited about the opportunity,” Enders said. “The Hemis have run well on the mountain for years and years and years. Hopefully, this can be a turnaround weekend for us.” Continue reading Pro Stock champ Erica Enders ready to show what her Mopar can do in Denver →

Despite stellar driving effort, Erica Enders falls in Chicago first round
CHICAGO (July 10) — Route 66 Raceway will always hold special memories for Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge driver Erica Enders.

The track is where Enders scored her first Pro Stock victory in 2012, helping elevate her to superstar status in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

The 2016 race, the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals on Sunday, won’t carry the same memories, but it could become a memorable event. Enders, the 2014-15 Pro Stock champion, has struggled this season as her team continues to develop their new Dodge Dart with fuel-injected engines.
Continue reading Despite stellar driving effort, Erica Enders falls in Chicago first round →

Pro Stock champ Erica Enders: Progress ‘absolutely’ being made
CHICAGO (July 9) — The smile is slowly creeping back onto the face of two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders.

Enders and her Elite Motorsports/Melling Performance Dodge team snared the No. 9 spot for the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals on Saturday at Route 66 Raceway, inching closer to the top cars in the Pro Stock class.

“I absolutely feel like we’ve made progress this weekend,” Enders said. “After Norwalk, the guys went back to the shop and made some pretty significant changes. The scoreboard has showed it a little bit this weekend, so that is something that has definitely been positive and has boosted morale. Continue reading Pro Stock champ Erica Enders: Progress ‘absolutely’ being made →

Pro Stock champ Erica Enders partners with Melling Performance for remainder of 2016
CHICAGO (July 8) — Two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders will partner with Melling Performance for the 12 remaining races on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule as a major associate sponsor.

Enders will drive the Elite Motorsports/Melling Dodge Dart during the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals this weekend at Route 66 Raceway to kick off the partnership.

“We’re excited to partner with Melling Performance,” Enders said. “They’re a very reputable name in all of motorsports, and we’re pleased to be able to introduce them to a whole new market.”

Enders is returning to the site of her first career victory, scored in 2012. Since then, she has become a superstar in the sport, winning six races and the Pro Stock championship in 2014 and nine races and the title last year. She recently was nominated for an ESPY Award in the Best Driver category for the second year in a row.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of Melling Engine Parts in Jackson, Mich. Melling services the original-equipment, replacement, and high-performance automotive markets with best-in-class engine components. Melling has a long successful heritage in motorsports competing at the highest level for over 45 years.

“Everyone at Melling Performance is excited about our new association with Erica and Elite Motorsports,” Melling Performance CEO Mark Melling said. “The power and speed of NHRA is a perfect fit for our company. Melling has been launching a ton of new performance engine parts, and we are pumped to see Erica launch our logos down the strip.”

Pro Stock champ Erica Enders
returns to site of first pro victory
CHICAGO (July 6) — Two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders returns to where all of her professional success started, Route 66 Raceway, for the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals this weekend.

Four years ago, Enders was still fighting for her first victory, racing to six final rounds over her career but without sealing the deal. However, when Enders and her team got to Chicago, they felt really good about their chances.

“I remember that day like it was yesterday,” Enders said. “When we got to the track on Thursday — I don’t know why but it happens at a handful of racetracks — we had a good feeling when we walked through he gate. I was always hopeful that whatever track we were at would be the track where I got my first win, but that was definitely an awesome weekend. Continue reading Pro Stock champ Erica Enders returns to site of first pro victory →

Reigning Pro Stock champ Erica Enders maintains focus through tough stretch
NORWALK, Ohio (June 26) — Reigning back-to-back Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders completed the 2016 schedule’s only stretch of four consecutive races with a positive outing in her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge Dart.

The stretch of races wasn’t kind to the most prolific female racer in class history as she bowed out in the opening round in the first three of the four events. But that turned a bit Sunday when she dismissed bitter rival Chris McGaha with an end-to-end job in Round 1 and gave current points leader Jason Line a huge scare in Round 2.
Continue reading Reigning Pro Stock champ Erica Enders maintains focus through tough stretch →

Pro Stock champ Erica Enders
drives Menards, Dutch Boy Paints
to No. 10 qualifying spot
NORWALK, Ohio (June 25) — Pro Stock champion Erica Enders will carry two new marketing partners, Menards and Dutch Boy Paints, into final eliminations after qualifying No. 10 for the NHRA Drag Racing Series race in Norwalk.

Enders’ Menards/Dutch Boy Paints Dodge Dart posted a top qualifying pass of 6.656 seconds at 207.37 mph over four sessions this weekend.

“It’s definitely been a good time with Menards and Dutch Boy on our car this weekend,” Enders said. “We’ve had lots of guests out this weekend for their first drag race, so I’m excited to introduce a new audience to NHRA.” Continue reading Pro Stock champ Erica Enders drives Menards, Dutch Boy Paints to No. 10 qualifying spot →

Dutch Boy/Menards driver Erica Enders hopes to scoop up another Norwalk trophy
NORWALK, Ohio (June 23) — Two NHRA Pro Stock world championship trophies sit in the New Orleans home of Erica Enders, but one of her prized trophies is an ice cream scoop.

Winners at Summit Motorsports Park receive a special billet ice cream scoop, symbolic of the popular ice cream served at the track. Enders scored at the 2014 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, winning the sought-after ice cream scoop, too.
Continue reading Dutch Boy/Menards driver Erica Enders hopes to scoop up another Norwalk trophy →

Pro Stock champ Erica Enders honored with ESPY nomination for Best Driver
WYNNEWOOD, Okla. (June 23) — Elite Motorsports/Mopar driver Erica Enders has been nominated for an ESPY Award following her dominant performance in winning the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock world championship.

Enders was nominated in the Best Driver category, repeating her nomination of last year. She will attend the ESPYs, hosted by John Cena, on July 13 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Continue reading Pro Stock champ Erica Enders honored with ESPY nomination for Best Driver →

Dutch Boy/Menards to partner with two-time Pro Stock champ Erica Enders
WYNNEWOOD, Okla. (June 21) — Dutch Boy Paints and Menards will partner with two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event this weekend at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

Enders will drive the Dutch Boy/Menards Dodge Dart prepared by Elite Motorsports at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.

“I’m honored to drive the Dodge Dart this weekend with such a recognizable brand on the door and the hood of our car,” Enders said. “I’m glad they’re giving us an opportunity to show them what we can do for them.”

To help kick off the partnership, Enders will appear at the Menards store in Sandusky, Ohio, on Wednesday. Enders and her Dutch Boy/Menards Dodge will be at the Menards at 1101 Lakecrest Parkway in Sandusky from 5 to 7 p.m. ET.

Menards has more than 280 home-improvement stores throughout the Midwest and is known as the low-price leader. The company has backed motorsports for many years, in the IndyCar Series, NASCAR, and ARCA.

Dutch Boy Paints, available at Menards stores, continues to be an industry leader in delivering innovative and high-quality products and packaging solutions.

Enders became the first woman to win the Pro Stock championship in 2014, earning the title in the final round of the final race. She repeated in 2015, winning nine times and setting NHRA records along the way. She is the only driver in NHRA history to win three consecutive final rounds on holeshots.

Enders and her Elite team partnered with Dodge to field the new Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge Dart for the 2016 season.

Pro Stock champ Erica Enders encouraged by progress in Bristol
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 19) — The win light didn’t come on in the lane for Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge driver Erica Enders, but a smile soon came over her face.

As the two-time Pro Stock champion slowed her Dodge Dart in the first round of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals on Sunday at Bristol Dragway, crew chief Rick Jones relayed her the numbers: 6.716 seconds at 206.32 mph.

They weren’t record-setting, but they were encouraging. Continue reading Pro Stock champ Erica Enders encouraged by progress in Bristol →

Dad’s message continues to push
Pro Stock champion Erica Enders
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 18) — On this Father’s Day weekend, the words of two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders’ dad have even more meaning to the defending Bristol Dragway winner.

Gregg Enders preached positivity to Erica as she moved up the ranks of NHRA drag racing, and she’ll remember those as she races her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge in the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals on Sunday at Bristol Dragway. Continue reading Dad’s message continues to push Pro Stock champion Erica Enders →

Rough launch negates Erica Enders’ chance at Englishtown glory
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 12) — Two-time and reigning Pro Stock champion Erica Enders did something very few drivers have managed to do over the years: leave the starting line ahead of five-time series champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. But despite her quick start — an .038 reaction time to Coughlin’s .046 start — her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge Dart began to rattle its giant rear slicks right away, allowing teammate Coughlin to pass her in the first few feet of the race and streak away fro the victory. Continue reading Rough launch negates Erica Enders’ chance at Englishtown glory →

Englishtown yields top-half qualifying result for reigning champ Erica Enders
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 11) — Reigning two-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders successfully qualified her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge Dart in the top half of the eliminations field for the third time this year with a pass of 6.617 seconds at 209.20 mph down Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

That’s the good news. Continue reading Englishtown yields top-half qualifying result for reigning champ Erica Enders →

Chemistry remains strong for Pro Stock champ Erica Enders and Elite Motorsports
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 7) — From her first day behind the wheel of an Elite Motorsports race car, Erica Enders knew she was in a special situation. Continue reading Chemistry remains strong for Pro Stock champ Erica Enders and Elite Motorsports →

Pro Stock champ Erica Enders, Elite team go down swinging in Epping
EPPING, N.H. (June 6) — Erica Enders and her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge team went down swinging in the first round of the NHRA New England Nationals on Monday at New England Dragway.

Enders and crew chiefs Rick and Rickie Jones made some major changes to the setup of her Dodge Dart, but despite leaving first in her matchup with Alex Laughlin, she couldn’t turn on the win light.
Continue reading Pro Stock champ Erica Enders, Elite team go down swinging in Epping →

Pro Stock champ Erica Enders
knows success is close at hand
EPPING, N.H. (June 4) — While strapped in her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge for the second qualifying session, two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders let out a loud cheer that was audible to those near her race car.
Continue reading Pro Stock champ Erica Enders knows success is close at hand →

Erica Enders welcomes role as defending Pro Stock world champion
EPPING, N.H. (June 1) — Becoming a champion in any sport can often be a burden to those who achieve the highest level of success, but two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders welcomes the role she earned in 2014 and 2015 by beating the best drivers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. As she races in the NHRA New England Nationals this weekend at New England Dragway, Enders carries the No. 1 on the side of her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge. Continue reading Erica Enders welcomes role as defending Pro Stock world champion →