No shortage of confidence for two-time champ Erica Enders as eliminations near

PHOENIX, AZ – Two-time world champion Erica Enders will begin Sunday’s eliminations from the No. 10 qualifying spot in Richard Freeman’s Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro at the 33rd annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

Enders will bring her bright red racer to the starting line in Round 1 to race No. 7 qualifier Shane Gray. Her 6.558-second, 211.53-mph qualifying mark is just a touch behind Gray’s 6.548 posting.

The most successful female Pro Stock racer in NHRA history, Enders has 21 national event victories in her career, including a trip to the Phoenix winner’s circle in 2013. She was runner-up finisher here in 2015.

Despite the uncharacteristically average qualifying spot, the ever-affable Texas native shows a sheepish grin when asked about her team’s preliminary runs.

“To be honest, we’re still testing some things,” Enders said. “We were trying stuff all throughout qualifying. We have our baseline set-up we know we can go back to for race day. Tomorrow morning I have all the confidence in the world we’ll be just fine.

“I don’t mind my draw at all and I don’t really think lane choice is a big deal here. Having said that, the whole program is moving in the right direction. Both of my teammates went a 6.541 so we at least know we can go that. Heading into race day, I’m totally optimistic – totally confident. I’ve won here before, and we’re excited to be back in Phoenix. So, we’ll see what happens. Like always, I put my money on us.”

The Elite Motorsports contingent includes Enders, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Vincent Nobile. Coughlin qualified No. 5 and Nobile landed in the No. 4 slot.

Enders enters tomorrow’s eliminations in fourth place in NHRA Pro Stock championship points. She raced to a semifinal finish at the season-opening Winternationals two weeks ago in Pomona, Calif.

Eliminations start at noon MT, Sunday. Television coverage of qualifying is on FOX Sports 1 from 10-11 p.m. MT, Saturday, followed by three hours of elimination action from 4-7 p.m. MT, Sunday.