NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The popular “every point counts” refrain is heard often during NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship playoffs and Erica Enders and her Elite Motorsports team are obviously taking it seriously. As she pursues her third Mello Yello championship, Enders banked 11 of 12 possible bonus points in qualifying while putting her Melling-backed Chevy Camaro into the top spot for the third-straight event and 22nd time in her career. Enders’ 6.506 from Friday night was not bettered on Saturday and she will race No. 16 qualifier Cristian Cuadra in Sunday’s opening round of eliminations.

Coming off a win in St. Louis, and runner-up finishes in Brainerd and Indy, Enders is arguably the hottest driver in the Pro Stock class. She was ranked eighth in the standings as recently as Seattle, but has climbed to the No. 2 spot following her final round win over Matt Hartford two weeks ago at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis. Enders’ next win will be the 25th of her professional career.

“Our last win in St. Louis was huge because we hadn’t won since the spring Charlotte race in 2018 and it seemed like an eternity,” said Enders. “I talk all the time about the peaks and valley of racing, and it looks like we’re peaking at the right time. We just need to keep it going for the last four races. We could have swept all 12 [qualifying points] but I hit the rev limiter a couple of times in Q3 and we lost out. I still got two points out of that and we managed to get 11 out of a possible 12 so I’m good with that. At the end of the season, every one of them counts.”

Enders’ teammate, Jeg Coughlin Jr., who is also in contention for his sixth Pro Stock title, is second after a 6.524 on Friday. Coughlin is looking for his first Pro Stock win since Phoenix, and the 82nd national event of his storied career. Coughlin, who also banked four bonus points, will take on fellow Countdown driver Val Smeland in round one.

Jason Line will look to maintain his lead in the standing from the No. 3 spot. The winner of the most recent Pro Stock event at zMax Dragway last October, Line will race Australian Shane Tucker in round one.