Enders Charlotte II final report

Enders exits in second round at zMax Dragway

Erica Enders, ZaZA Engergy Chevy Cobalt

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

CHARLOTTE (Sept. 18) – ZaZa Energy Pro Stock driver Erica Enders fell in the second round Sunday of the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at zMax Dragway.

Enders made the fourth-quickest pass in Round 1 to beat Warren Johnson, making a run of 6.568 seconds at 210.80 mph.

In the second round, Enders faced No. 1 qualifier Jason Line for the third consecutive race. Line and KB Racing teammate Greg Anderson had combined to win the last four Pro Stock races, as well as being No. 1 qualifier five races in a row, including Charlotte.

"I knew I had to be up on the wheel," Enders said. "When somebody's got four-hundredths on you, you've got to be as perfect as you can. We were 17-thousandths on the wrong side."

Enders left the start line .017 seconds too soon, making a pass of 6.551 seconds at 210.93 mph. That run would have beaten every other driver in the second round – except Line, who went 6.525 seconds at 212.09 mph.

"They're the people to beat right now," Enders said of Line and Anderson. "Until we find more power and speed, it's going to come down to my left leg.

"We're testing tomorrow. You better believe that I'll be working on it all day."

There were several upsets in Pro Stock, as points leader Anderson, as well as Allen Johnson, lost in the first round. Three other Countdown drivers, Mike Edwards, Shane Gray and Greg Stanfield, lost in the second round.

That means Enders remains in the championship hunt with five races remaining in 2011.

"We're going to keep plugging away at it," Enders said. "The guys are hard at work at the engine shop. We'll find it. We're going to be all right."

Enders and the ZaZa energy team return later this week for the AAA of Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex on Sept. 23-25.