Enders rides career-best pass into record field

DINWIDDIE, Va. (Oct. 14) - Pro Stock favorite Erica Enders thrilled her loyal legion of fans by successfully qualifying for the quickest 16-car field in drag racing history Saturday at Virginia Motorsports Park. Enders posted a career-best pass of 6.630 seconds at 207.75 mph in her Revive-USA Dodge Stratus R/T to lock up the final position at the inaugural Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals.

"Ever since we bought this team early last month we've literally been working around the clock to get things set up the way we want them to be," said Enders, who turned 23 last Sunday. "This is a great first step for us and I'm so proud of my guys. They definitely earned this one.

"We knew from the start that team ownership was going to be a lot of work but we're loving it, even though we're exhausted at the end of the day. The goal is to get this race team to a championship level and any time you run your career-best and make the quickest field ever, you've taken a big step in that direction."

Fans of this weekend's race, which was pushed back a week by torrential rains, have been treated to the best showing of Pro Stock racing in the 31-year history of the class. Everyone in the qualified field has run the quickest and fastest times of their career to earn the right to race for the trophy Sunday.

"It's exciting for the drivers and it's exciting for the people in the stands also," Enders said. "It seems like every time someone puts a big number up there someone else comes right behind them and runs even quicker. It's almost hard to believe when you think about how quick we're all running."

Enders posted a 6.630 at 207.75 mph Friday and backed it up with a 6.631 at 208.20 mph in Saturday's first round. She wrapped up qualifying with a 6.638 at 207.78 mph.

"David (Nickens, crew chief and engine builder) has finally had time to build a motor his way and it's obvious he's made some serious gains," said Enders, who will open eliminations against points leader Jason Line. "No one"s more determined to have success out here than David and I'm really happy for him right now.

"We've accomplished our first goal of making the field. Now we need to get ready for race day and try to win some rounds."

Race coverage will run from 7-9:30 p.m., Sunday, on ESPN2.

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For more information, contact Don Armstrong at 713-202-4849.