CHANDLER, Ariz. (April 04, 2023) – Erica Enders and her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / SCAG Power Equipment Pro Stock team have a unique opportunity to win three events in one weekend at Firebird Motorsports Park.
With only three qualifying sessions, the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and a postponed final round from the Winternationals, every run down Firebird Motorsports Park will count for Enders at this weekend’s NHRA Arizona Nationals.
Enders will kick off the event with the first round of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge where she’ll faceoff against Greg Anderson who she defeated in the NHRA Winternationals semifinals. The Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge features a rematch of the semifinalists at the previous event offering a bonus purse and bonus championship points. The second and final round of the Challenge will be contested Saturday during the second qualifying session.
The final session of qualifying could be a milestone for the six-time reigning world champion as she races against Dallas Glenn in the rain delayed NHRA Winternationals finals for her 50th national event win. She’ll then have the chance at a second Wally on Sunday for her 51st national event victory, 50th in Pro Stock. It would also be her third win at the Arizona Nationals.
“I’m really looking forward to this weekend in Phoenix. When we roll off the trailer, every pass is an elimination round,” Enders said. “I’m really excited about having an opportunity to win two Wally’s in one weekend. To be able to score our 50th and 51st win in the same weekend, is pretty substantial.”
Enders and the JHG / Melling / SCAG team enter this weekend having not yet lost an elimination round of racing in 2024. Enders’ year kicked-off with a $125,000 win at the SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout in Bradenton, Florida followed by her first victory at Gainesville Raceway at he NHRA season opening Gatornationals where she was also the No. 1 qualifier.
“We have a really fast racecar right now and I have the best guys in the business, at Elite. I’m the final piece to that trifecta and I love what we are able to do together. We have to capitalize on every round, especially while we are hot. As always, my money is on US.”
Enders, who has wins at the NHRA Arizona Nationals from 2013 and 2020, will be joined by seven teammates in the Elite Motorsports camp:
Veteran Jeg Coughlin Jr. returns to Firebird Motorsports Park behind the wheel of the SCAG Power Equipment / Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer looking to tally his fourth victory at the facility. He won in 2000, 2009 and 2019.
Aaron Stanfield, driving the JHG / Melling/ Janac Brothers Racing car, will be looking for his second victory to add to his 2022 win at the NHRA Arizona Nationals.
Troy Coughlin Jr. will be looking to flip the script on his two first round exits to start the season. Last year Coughlin handled his JEGS.com / White Castle entry to the first Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge race for the Pro Stock category.
In his sophomore season, Jerry Tucker and the Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer/SCAG team are chasing hteir first Pro Stock win behind the wheel of what was Enders’ 2023 championship car.
The Cuadra Boys, consisting of brother Fernando Jr., Cristian and David, enter the weekend in hot pursuit of landing Corral Boots, Cuadra and Columbia Impex in the winner’s circle for the first time in their careers. Cristian opened his season with a runner-up finish at the Gatornationals, falling to Enders.
Pro Stock competition at the NHRA Arizona Nationals begins with three rounds of qualifying Friday at 4:00 p.m. and Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 11:00 a.m. beginning with nitro. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with qualifying shows Friday at 9:30 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET. The NHRA Winternationals finals will air Saturday at 10 p.m. ET. Eliminations for the NHRA Arizona Nationals will air Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.