NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

After a tough start to the 2025 season, six-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders hopes to continue her momentum from last week’s race in Epping and as far as she’s concerned, there is not better place than Bristol Dragway, site of this weekend’s 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

Enders is not only a six-time Pro Stock world champion, but she is also the winningest female across all of motorsports, with 49 wins to her lengthy list of accomplishments. However, Enders has sat on 49 wins for far too long as she hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since the 2024 season opener in Gainesville. After finishing runner-up last weekend in Epping to her longtime rival and reigning world champ Greg Anderson, Enders is confident the Elite Motorsports camp has turned a performance corner with her Johnson's Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Scag Power Equipment car.

“We worked nonstop,” Enders said. “We made some substantial changes and spent a lot of time on the dyno. We applied everything we learned at the shop to the track during some testing at Tulsa. Pro Stock is not for the weak. It’s competitive problem-solving and we take a lot of pride in how well we work together, accomplishing things legitimately. We may be down now but they will not keep us down forever.”

This weekend’s Bristol race marks the eighth event of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Scenic Bristol Dragway is always a highlight for drivers and fans, and that holds true for Enders as well.

“I feel good going into Bristol. I feel like we have a direction to head in and a small pep in our step,” said Enders, who has three wins Bristol wins to her credit. “Bristol has always been good to me and is one of my favorite tracks to race. I’m definitely looking forward to the weekend.”

In 2024, Erica Enders won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, and following her runner-up finish in at the NHRA New England Nationals, she will also be slotted into this weekend’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Enders will rematch with her Elite Motorsports teammate Aaron Stanfield, while points leader Anderson will meet up with Matt Hartford. 

Enders made significant progress in Epping, moving up to ninth in points, and has another opportunity to make a big leap with plenty of season left.

“Confidence takes time to build, whether it is in yourself, your team or your equipment," Enders said. "It’s kind of like trust, easy to lose, hard to gain. Don’t get me wrong, we have definitely turned a corner, but we also still have a ton of catching up to do. I promise there is no other group that I’d rather go to battle with than my guys at Elite.
 
“I look around and realize how lucky I am, to have a group like I have. From their work ethic to the content of their character, to their never quit mentality. We have been through so much together as a big family. This year has been tough on us personally and professionally, but the cream will always rise to the top.”