Enders continues to settle in at Don Schumacher Racing
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 14 of 23 SCHUCK'S AUTO SUPPLY NHRA NATIONALS Pacific Raceways Kent, Wash. Race Date: July 21, 23, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Will Truitt, 317-340-8866; willtruitt@earthlink.net ENDERS CONTINUES TO SETTLE IN AT DON SCHUMACHER RACING KENT, Wash. (July 19, 2006) - Pro Stock pilot Erica Enders hopes her transition to Don Schumacher Racing continues its seamless progression this weekend at Pacific Raceways for the Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals. Last weekend at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, she made her debut in the Team Schumacher Dodge Stratus R/T without any testing in that particular car and qualified No. 13, then lost a tough first round of eliminations against Ron Krisher. "I'm excited to get back into the car now that I am more familiar with it," said the Houston native. "It will take a little bit of stress off of me for the weekend. Before, I had no idea what to expect, but Shaun (Carlson, teammate and driver of the Team Mopar/SRT Dodge Stratus) and everybody at DSR made the transition really smooth last weekend." This will be Enders' second trip to Pacific Raceways as a professional NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series driver."Last year (as a rookie) was the first time I raced here," she said. "We never came up here and raced before (as a Sportsman driver) because it is so far from Texas, but it's a cool stop on the Western Swing. I'm hoping to do a little better than last year (No. 16 qualifier) and not have a first-round exit." ERICA ENDERS QUICK FACTS: * Seventh in 2006 NHRA Pro Stock standings after 13 events * Qualified No. 16 (6.751) at 2005 Seattle event, lost first round to Mike Thomas * Joined Don Schumacher Racing after Midwest Nationals (St. Louis), the 12th race of 2006 * Career-best elapsed time is 6.670-seconds (Chicago 2, 2005) * Career-best mph is 207.56 (Englishtown, N.J. 2006) * Only female driver to qualify No. 1 in a Pro Stock field (Topeka, Kan., 2006) * Reached her first Pro Stock final in her rookie season (Chicago 2, 2005) * Defeated Rickie Smith for her first professional round-win (Reading, Pa., 2005) * Has 37 career wins in the Jr. Dragster division, six Super Comp victories, and one Super Gas win. * Had her life story made into the Disney Original Movie "Right on Track" in 2003 * First Woman to compete in NHRA's Pro Stock category since 1993 * First Woman in NHRA history to qualify in the top half of a Pro Stock field * Started drag racing at the age of 8 in 1992 * Original Jr. Dragster car is on display at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum * Has driven Pro Stock, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Jr. Dragsters * 2000 Sportsman Rookie of the Year * 1995 Jr. Dragster Driver of the Year WEEKEND SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, July 21, PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS are at 3:30 and 6 p.m. SATURDAY, July 22, PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS are at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. SUNDAY, July 23, Pre-race ceremonies are at 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: Saturday, July 22, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET). Sunday, July 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations at 8 p.m. (ET). Sunday, July 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET). SATELLITE: Friday, July 21, 11-11:30 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 10R / Transponder 24k (Downlink frequency: 12184 MHz, horizontal) Saturday, July 22, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 10R / Transponder 24k (Downlink frequency: 12184 MHz, horizontal) Sunday, July 23, 11:30 p.m.-Midnight (ET) Galaxy 10R / Transponder 24k (Downlink frequency: 12184 MHz, horizontal) ***