When we talk about racers who will drive anything anywhere, we usually think about short-track racers such as Tony Stewart and Kyle Larson.
But six-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Erica Enders is among those.
Enders, who finished fourth during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series participated in this week’s Race Industry Week sessions from the staging lanes at Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park where she is competing in this weekend’s Snowbird Outlaw Nationals for Pro Modifieds.
Enders, who drives for Richard Freeman’s Elite Motorsports in the Pro Stock class, is wheeling a car fielded by Scott Tidwell and is among numerous NHRA stars including Top Fuel champion Antron Brown, who are competing in the event.
“It was the opportunity to join forces with Scott Tidwell and he and Richard (Freeman) have been friends for a long time,” said Enders explaining her decision to compete in a Pro Mod in three races this winter. “Scott has been in drag racing a lot of years and he has great equipment like Richard does as well.
“The longer I am out here, I guess, the older and wiser I get. I am very picky about what I drive and the people that I work with. I would rather stay home and watch it on the computer than to get into something that is not safe. This deal came about and all of the stars aligned, and we have some of our great partners on board for this three-race winter series. I am excited.
“We came to have some fun and it keeps your skills sharp,” she added. “It is an automatic, so I have been messing with the guys that it is missing a pedal and you are really not busy in the car. It’s still fun, it’s a handful. It’s a lot of fun.”
Last summer, came news that Enders may race a Top Fuel car in the future. She said that’s still a possibility.
“It’s something that is still moving forward, but we are not going to go broke trying to do it,” Enders said on Wednesday. “Richard got a little overly excited and announced it a little bit early, but he likes to stir the pot. It is definitely something that we are still exploring.”
Still, Enders remains loyal to the Pro Stock class.
“To make the record clear, I will not get out of a Pro Stock to driver in Top Fuel,” she stated. “It’s not my thing. I love what I do in a Pro Stock car. It will be in addition to that program. Obviously, we are still working on the funding. When we have something to talk about, we will let Richard open his mouth again.”
As well, Enders is poised to chase her seventh Pro Stock title in 2025.
“I definitely have something to improve on this season,” she said. “We were fortunate to have my career-best season in 2022, winning 10 events and going to 13 final rounds. It was just a knockout season and we were fortunate enough to win the championship again the following season, but 2024 wasn’t the report card that I was proud to turn in. It was kind of one of those learning years. We were operating at about 40 percent.
“Things are going to look up next year. I talked to Mark yesterday and today. I personally have a lot of improvement to make. That is what I am most excited about, getting my head back in the game.”
