Second round exit leaves KLR Group's Erica Enders seeing red

SONOMA, Calif. - KLR Group driver Erica Enders left the NHRA Sonoma Nationals with the Sears Point Raceway on Sunday track record for elapsed time.

Erica Enders

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

But she was bitterly disappointed with a second-round loss, falling when she left a tic too soon in her matchup with Greg Anderson.

Enders had a .009-second reaction time in her first-round victory over J.R. Carr, but then left .003 seconds early in the second round.

"I just came out on the wrong side of it," Enders said. "I think all my red lights have been three-thou, and that stinks. I'm mad, but I took a shot at it. It was on the wrong side. I absolutely hate letting my guys down when they give me a good hot rod."

Erica Enders

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

But on the bright side, Enders drove her GK Motorsports Chevrolet to a pass of 6.512 seconds at 211.56 mph in the first round, lowering the track record. Carr ran a 6.622 second pass at 203.28 mph.

No other Pro Stock driver went quicker the rest of eliminations Sunday, meaning Enders will hold the record for at least one more year.

"We posted low ET of the event and track record, and that's something we'll get to hold for a year," Enders said. "It really doesn't mean much on Sunday when you're not holding the trophy. But when you look at the positive things, it's good that we have a race car that is improving every week."

Enders remained sixth in the Pro Stock points standings with three races remaining before the Countdown to the Championship. In the last four races, Enders has one victory, qualified No. 3 twice and qualified in the top half of the field all four times.

"We've got a good race car," Enders said. "It's consistent. It's starting to come around right at the right time, too, with the Countdown just around the corner. We'll be all right."

Next for Enders is the final leg of the Western Swing, next weekend's O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Seattle.

Source: Geiger Media