NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The first three races in the new-look Pro Stock class haven’t brought the desired results for two-time defending world champion Erica Enders. But if she is looking for good vibes and a swift turnaround, her recent stellar track record shows there might not be a better spot for that to happen than The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

It is the site of this weekend’s 17th annual Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals and Enders has cashed out big time over the past two seasons in Las Vegas. Of everything that’s made up her dominant two-year stretch in Pro Stock, there may be nothing more impressive than what she’s done in Las Vegas.

She has won the spring and fall race at the track each of the last two years, but it hasn’t stopped there. Enders has claimed the last two K&N Horsepower Challenge titles, an all-star bonus event that takes place during the spring race. A third double-up weekend is on the line for Enders and her Mopar Performance/Elite Dodge Dart GT, and she’s ready to erase the sour taste of three first-round losses to open the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

"It's awesome to have that kind of run, and it's pretty unheard of," Enders said. "We've had an incredible two years there, and we've got a great opportunity ahead of us to do well this weekend. Twenty-two consecutive round wins in a row is huge, so Vegas has obviously been good to me. I’m hoping Lady Luck will get on our side this weekend. We certainly haven't had the best start to the year."

Richie Crampton (Top Fuel) and John Force (Funny Car) were also last year’s winners of the event that will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including three hours of live finals coverage starting at 5 p.m. (ET) on Sunday. It is the fourth of 24 events in the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Series season and Enders is focused on a turnaround.

The sleek new Pro Stock cars feature a number of differences, including fuel-injected engines, shorter wheelie bars, flat hoods and a 10,500 RPM rev-limiter. It’s made for a massive adjustment, and Enders and her Elite Motorsports team are still tracking down the answers. It’s not been ideal, and three first-round losses have provided frustration, but Enders knows her team too well to think things won’t get turned around quickly.

"All of that starts with your leader, and [team owner] Richard [Freeman] is really positive about it and kept us all swimming in the right direction – a term he likes to use,” said Enders, who has 21 career wins. “It would be very easy to get down, especially when you're used to winning, but that's part of the process we've got to go through to get our new program up and running. It's only a matter of time before we're back where we were before. Like I tell the fans all the time, 'Just hang on; we're coming.'"

The slow start is a far cry from the last two seasons, when Enders won a combined 15 times, but she trusts the process. In order to find solutions, Enders said she’s seen plenty of hard work, effort, determination and perseverance from her team, which means the talented Texan may be back to her winning ways soon enough.

Enders has won 22 straight rounds at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, including sweeps of the K&N Horsepower Challenge and Sunday finals the last two years.

“They're the best group of people in the whole world, so I know the tables are going to turn,” Enders said. “It's just a matter of time. It's a brand-new program, and they work every day at it. I’m hopeful Vegas will be that turning point in our season like it was last year."

"I've certainly got the best group of people, and the adversity that we're going through only makes us stronger, only makes us work harder, only wants us to fight for it more. I wouldn't want to go to battle with anyone else."

Enders’ Vegas win a year ago was her first of the year, kicking off an impressive stretch. It started a string of three victories in four races and she was never lower than second the rest of the year.

She will face an uphill climb this weekend in Vegas, in part because of the dominance of the Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaros driven by Greg Anderson and Jason Line. Anderson won the most recent race in Gainesville and has two victories in 2016, while Line holds the points lead and a win in Phoenix. Other challengers include teammates Drew Skillman, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Bo Butner, Chris McGaha, Allen Johnson and Vincent Nobile.

Her first round matchup in the eight-car K&N Horsepower Challenge field is Johnson. Other opening round matchups include No. 1 seed Anderson versus fan vote winner Coughlin, Line against Shane Gray and Skillman versus McGaha.

“It's definitely a huge weekend, and we've been fortunate enough to double-up the last two years in a row,” Enders said. “That's the same goal going into this weekend. I've said it every week this year that it's a tall order, but with the right group of people, anything is possible, and I certainly do feel like our program is coming around. We had a good off-week at the shop and found some things we think are going to put us in the right direction. Our hopes are high, and we're very confident. It's definitely going to be a challenge, but when it's your day, it's your day. We're hoping for three in a row."

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 1 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, April 2, at 1 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 3.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-644-4444 or visit www.LVMS.com. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult.