Two-time Pro Stock champ Erica Enders dreams of a ‘white hat’ day in her home state

DALLAS, TX — Two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders scratched a huge entry off her personal bucket list during her 2015 visit to Texas Motorplex when she won the annual AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals, thereby completing a sweep of the races in her beloved home state of Texas.

As is tradition at the event, Enders was outfitted with a cowboy hat in the winner’s circle and she picked a black one for a very specific reason.

“We were bad hombres that year and that win in Dallas went a long way to locking up our second straight championship,” Enders said. “We were taking no prisoners and kicking a lot of butt and it seemed fitting that I put on a black hat that day.”

Should Enders return to the winner’s circle this time through, she has a different plan, one that once again would reflect her mood.

“You never know how we’d feel at the end of the day because it depends on the journey the day presents,” Enders said, “but if you asked me right now I’d say it would be a great feeling and one that would make everyone on this Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro race team pretty damn happy.

“If we’re lucky enough to win again, and I know we’re fully capable of making it happen, I’d probably ask for a white hat. It would be nice to be the good girl at the end of the day for once. We’re probably not in the title fight at this point so the next best thing is to win these last few races and move up as high as we can.”

Enders already won a race earlier this year in Epping, N.H., making her one of nine different Pro Stock drivers who have scored this season. She also was runner-up in Atlanta, Chicago and Seattle.

Aside from her victory at Texas Motorplex in 2015, the Houston native was runner-up at this facility in 2012.

“It’s always a big deal for me whenever we race in Texas,” Enders said. “No matter where my travels may take me, this is the place I love the most. Racing in my home state also means lots of extra support and family at the track, and that carries over to all the guys on the Elite team because we’re based in Wynnewood, Okla.

“We plan on testing more before the race so we’ll be fully prepared to get after it and try to win another hat, a white one.”

Pro Stock qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:15 and 5:15 p.m., Friday, and 1:15 and 4:15 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations begin at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will carry the first day qualifying action live from 5-6 p.m., Friday. Live eliminations will air on FOX Sports 1 from 1-4 p.m., Sunday. (All times are local and subject to change.)