Enders goes to Dallas Pro Stock final eliminations in No. 2 spot

Home cooking would taste great for Texan Enders

ENNIS, Texas (Sept. 22) - KLR Group driver Erica Enders isn't shy about her love for her home state of Texas.

That makes winning in Texas high on the agenda for the 28-year-old Pro Stock driver. Enders, who was born in Houston and now lives in New Orleans, is one of the drivers to beat in the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex.

She qualified No. 2 and was in the top four in all four qualifying sessions this weekend.

"I had high hopes in Houston, and it didn't work out that way," Enders said. "To be back in Dallas in front of family and friends and a lot of sponsor people, I'm really excited and optimistic about what tomorrow holds.

"To be able to do it in my home state and wear that cowboy hat in the winner's circle would mean a lot."

Enders' top lap was 6.557 seconds at 210.57 mph in the third qualifying session

"We thought we could run high .54, low .55," Enders said. "We could've run better, but I'll certainly take that. There's more in the car, more in the run."

Enders was also third in Q1 and Q2 and fourth in Q4, piling up qualifying points as she looks to move up from her spot in the Countdown to the Championship. She came to Dallas tied for fifth in points, 115 out of the lead.

"We could've run a lot better than we did that last session, but we had an issue, and we found it and fixed it," Enders said. "Tomorrow, we're going to be good. I'm confident."

Enders faces fellow Texas Chris McGaha, who is from Odessa, in the first round of eliminations Sunday. McGaha qualified No. 15 with a pass of 6.616 seconds at 208.71 mph.

"The car's good," Enders said. "We've still got a great race car. No. 2's not a bad position to be starting in. My teammate and I are on opposite sides of the ladder, and he can help me tomorrow. We've got a consistent race car, and it's good on a hot track."

GK Motorsports teammate Dave Connolly starts from the No. 9 spot, meaning they could meet in the finals.

Enders has won three of the last eight Pro Stock races, reaching the finals in one other. She's also qualified No. 1 twice and has two track records over that eight-race span.

Source: GK Motorsports/Cagnazzi Racing