Erica Enders Takes Top Spot at SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout

BRADENTON, Fla. (Feb. 09, 2024) – Six-time world champion Erica Enders and her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/SCAG Power Equipment Pro Stock team landed the No. 1 qualifying position Friday at the SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage at Brandenton Motorsports Park.

In the final qualifying session, Enders laid down an impressive 6.505-second pass at 210.21 mph to jump from the No. 12 qualifying position to the top spot earning the $10,000 cash bonus provided by Lucas Oil.

“We got here a week ago, and we did some testing and my race car performed awesome. Then we got to qualifying and we struggled. So I was a little nervous but I have a lot of confidence in my guys,” Enders said. “Going up there on that last run sitting No. 12, I asked my crew chief Mark Ingersoll, how do we look, and I could hear the confidence in his voice and then Jake Hairston, my tuner, came over and said we were fixing to go to the top. That gives me confidence behind the wheel.

“I’m super proud of my team,” Enders continued. “To be part of this, seeing the hard work, being part of the hard work, it gives me so much pride being here at the inaugural SCAG Pro Superstar Shootout. I just keep thinking, ‘If you build it, they will come.’ All the baddest drag racers on the planet are here, it’s packed and I’m having a ball. I’m stoked about it. This is a new beginning for the world of drag racing and I’m excited to be part of it.”

Race opponents for all rounds of eliminations at the PRO Superstar Shootout will be determined on a chip draw format. With her No. 1 performance, Enders earned the first draw picking the number two that matched with teammate David Cuadra as her first round opponent.

“The chip draw is a different format, I’ve been part of a few before. I was first to pick tonight and I just grabbed one and looked real quick and saw the number two. I thought I had Dallas Glenn because he was qualified No. 2 but it’s whoever else drew the number two,” Enders said. “When you occupy more than half of the field your odds of drawing a teammate are pretty substantial. I can’t say enough about the Cuadra family. We’ll just have to put our heads down and go to work tomorrow and we’ll see what happens. I hope for a really great outcome.”

With a 16-car ladder, Pro Stock eliminations at the SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage begin Saturday at 12:45 p.m. while the eight-car nitro eliminations begin at 2:30 p.m.

ERICA ENDERS, Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/SCAG Power Equipment
Qualifying: No. 1
6.505 seconds at 210.21 mph
First Round Opponent: David Cuadra
(Photo Credit: Tom McCarthy Photography)

AARON STANFIELD, Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Janac Brothers Racing
Qualifying: No. 6
6.523 seconds at 210.37 mph
First Round Opponent: Camrie Caruso
(Photo Credit: Auto Imagery)

TROY COUGHLIN JR., JEGS.com/White Castle
Qualifying: No. 10
6.538 seconds at 209.62 mph
First Round Opponent: Chris McGaha
(Photo Credit: Auto Imagery)

JEG COUGHLIN JR., SCAG Power Equipment/Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer
Qualifying: No. 7
6.523 seconds at 209.62 mph
First Round Opponent: Jerry Tucker
(Photo Credit: Auto Imagery)

CRISTIAN CUADRA, Corral Boots/Cuadra/Columbia Impex
Qualifying: No. 3
6.514 seconds at 211.10 mph
First Round Opponent: Fernando Cuadra Jr.
(Photo Credit: Auto Imagery)

FERNANDO CUADRA JR., Corral Boots/Cuadra/Columbia Impex
Qualifying: No. 8
6.526 seconds at 210.47 mph
First Round Opponent: Cristian Cuadra
(Photo Credit: Auto Imagery)

DAVID CUADRA, Cuadra/Corral Boots/Columbia Impex
Qualifying: No. 13
Q4: 6.550 seconds at 210.11 mph
First Round Opponent: Erica Enders
(Photo Credit: Auto Imagery)

BO BUTNER, Johnson’s Horsepower Garage/Jim Butner Auto
Qualifying: No. 5
6.519 seconds at 211.69 mph
First Round Opponent: Eric Latino
(Photo Credit: Auto Imagery)