Pro Stock champ Erica Enders fulfilled lifelong dream with 2015 U.S. Nationals title

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders was drained after the U.S. Nationals in 2015, and understandably so, because she put everything she had into the race. Having won it, fulfilling a lifelong dream, Enders was physically and mentally exhausted.

Enders, driver of the Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge, returns as defending champion of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, held this weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

“That was probably, aside from the championship, the coolest racing accomplishment that I’ve ever had,” Enders said. “To try to accomplish something for 25 years and to finally get it done was one of those culmination moments.

“I think my crew chief, Rick Jones, put it in perspective. We have to be tough out here, especially being a girl, and it’s very crucial to show no emotion, but it was hard to be emotionless after that win. Rick summed it up best. He said that he had been trying to win that race for 40 years, so my 25 years looked pretty measly compared to that.”

Enders’ victory was one of many highlights of her 2015 season, one where she won nine races and repeated as Pro Stock champion. She beat V. Gaines, Larry Morgan, Greg Anderson, and Drew Skillman to win the U.S. Nationals for the first time.

That win came two years after Enders was the fastest racer on the property at Indy, but she slowed down in the final and lost.

“In 2013, I literally had one stolen from me, and I didn’t understand why at the time, but to be able to accomplish it with such a tremendous group of men (at Elite Motorsports), people that I love more than anything, that’s why God made us wait,” Enders said. “It was a huge accomplishment, and we are going to the U.S. Nationals this year with our heads held high because we are the defending champions, but it is also a very crucial race because it’s the final race before the Countdown is set.”

The 10-driver field for the Countdown to the Championship, which determines the 2016 champion, is set after Indianapolis. Enders moved into ninth place in Brainerd, Minn., but she has yet to clinch a spot.

Last year, Enders led the points standings heading into Indy and wrapped up the No. 1 spot heading into the Countdown with her semifinal win over Anderson.

“Things are a little different than they were last year,” Enders said. “I had to win the semifinals over Greg Anderson last year at Indy to go into the Countdown in the No. 1 position, and now we’re fighting for a top-10 position, which is kind of ironic. We will do our best and see what happens.

“It’s a fun race, it’s a long race. It’s definitely a marathon race. We have five qualifying passes and race day on Monday, so I am looking forward to it. Indy is something that every racer wants to accomplish, so we will see if we can do it again.”

Pro Stock qualifying sessions are scheduled for 7:15 p.m., Friday; 2:45 and 6:45 p.m., Saturday; and 11:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Sunday. Eliminations start at noon, Monday. FOX Sports 1 will air qualifying action from noon to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday. Eliminations will air live Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on FOX Sports 1 and from 1 to 4 p.m. on FOX. (All TV times listed in ET).