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SOMONA, Calif. -- Pro Stock driver Erica Enders is getting comfortable in the Team Schumacher Dodge Stratus R/T, and is ready to get back to going rounds and having success in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Pro Stock class.
For her, it starts at this weekend's Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, a track at which she has fond memories. "Last year (as a rookie) it was my first race to qualify in the top half of the field, and it was cool," said Enders.
"Unfortunately, we had to face Richie (Stevens Jr., now her teammate at DSR) in the first round, and he sent us home early," added the Houston native.
Goals for this weekend? "It's very important to get the car qualified, and to go a few rounds on Sunday. We're hanging onto the top 10 (in points), and we definitely want to stay in there so we can go to the championship banquet at the end of the year."
ERICA ENDERS QUICK FACTS:
* Tenth in 2006 NHRA Pro Stock standings after 14 events
* Qualified No. 8 at 2005 Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals, lost first round to Richie Stevens Jr.
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing after Midwest Nationals (St. Louis), the 12th race of 2006
* Career-best elapsed time is 6.670-seconds (Chicago 2, 2005)
* Career-best mph is 207.56 (Englishtown, N.J. 2006)
* Only female driver to qualify No. 1 in a Pro Stock field (Topeka, Kan., 2006)
* Reached her first Pro Stock final in her rookie season (Chicago 2, 2005)
* Defeated Rickie Smith for her first professional round-win (Reading, Pa., 2005)
* Has 37 career wins in the Jr. Dragster division, six Super Comp victories, and one Super Gas win.
* Had her life story made into the Disney Original Movie "Right on Track" in 2003
* First Woman to compete in NHRA's Pro Stock category since 1993
* First Woman in NHRA history to qualify in the top half of a Pro Stock field
* Started drag racing at the age of 8 in 1992
* Original Jr. Dragster car is on display at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum
* Has driven Pro Stock, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Jr. Dragsters
* 2000 Sportsman Rookie of the Year
* 1995 Jr. Dragster Driver of the Year
Enders Wants to Get Back in the Groove in Sonoma
SOMONA, Calif. -- Pro Stock driver Erica Enders is getting comfortable in the Team Schumacher Dodge Stratus R/T, and is ready to get back to going rounds and having success in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Pro Stock class.
For her, it starts at this weekend's Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, a track at which she has fond memories. "Last year (as a rookie) it was my first race to qualify in the top half of the field, and it was cool," said Enders.
"Unfortunately, we had to face Richie (Stevens Jr., now her teammate at DSR) in the first round, and he sent us home early," added the Houston native.
Goals for this weekend? "It's very important to get the car qualified, and to go a few rounds on Sunday. We're hanging onto the top 10 (in points), and we definitely want to stay in there so we can go to the championship banquet at the end of the year."
ERICA ENDERS QUICK FACTS:
* Tenth in 2006 NHRA Pro Stock standings after 14 events
* Qualified No. 8 at 2005 Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals, lost first round to Richie Stevens Jr.
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing after Midwest Nationals (St. Louis), the 12th race of 2006
* Career-best elapsed time is 6.670-seconds (Chicago 2, 2005)
* Career-best mph is 207.56 (Englishtown, N.J. 2006)
* Only female driver to qualify No. 1 in a Pro Stock field (Topeka, Kan., 2006)
* Reached her first Pro Stock final in her rookie season (Chicago 2, 2005)
* Defeated Rickie Smith for her first professional round-win (Reading, Pa., 2005)
* Has 37 career wins in the Jr. Dragster division, six Super Comp victories, and one Super Gas win.
* Had her life story made into the Disney Original Movie "Right on Track" in 2003
* First Woman to compete in NHRA's Pro Stock category since 1993
* First Woman in NHRA history to qualify in the top half of a Pro Stock field
* Started drag racing at the age of 8 in 1992
* Original Jr. Dragster car is on display at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum
* Has driven Pro Stock, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Jr. Dragsters
* 2000 Sportsman Rookie of the Year
* 1995 Jr. Dragster Driver of the Year
