Sisters Erica and Courtney Enders recently used an off-NHRA Pro Stock weekend to experience NASCAR at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill.
“We were welcomed with open arms,” said Erica Enders, NHRA’s five-time Pro Stock champion who had VIP passes for the weekend. “It was really neat to see Kenny Wallace, Clint Bowyer and Rusty (Wallace) and all these people that just walked up to me and Courtney and knew who we were and asked how our stuffs going.”
At one point the duo decided to check-out the fan experience behind the grandstand to compare it to the NHRA’s midway. Erica even shopped at the merchandise trailers to determine how she could “up my game.”
“It was definitely a learning experience in all aspects,” Enders said. “People that say NASCAR is silly, they just need to go to a race because it was really impressive. We bought like 300 neon shirts that Courtney and I saw on Instagram that we really wanted. Then we went to the Heritage trailer. We wanted to buy like ‘Raise Hell, Praise Dale (Earnhardt)’ shirts. Courtney loved Jeff Gordon growing up so we were looking for really cool 24 gear. We had a blast.
“I was like, ‘Man! Why didn’t I choose to go turn left?!’”
Pruett Nearly Loses Tech Hauler
NHRA Top Fuel competitor Leah Pruett secured her first No. 1 qualifier position of the season at Bristol Dragway during the Thunder Valley Nationals, but the weekend came close to starting in a more disastrous fashion.
“Our tech trailer almost burned to the ground coming here,” Pruett said. “We had really hot brakes and then no brakes. We have temperature gauges on the trailers on all of the tires. They were able to stop it and take it to get it repaired in a timely order.
“We did not lose any parts or pieces and the trailer is safe. That just goes to the maintenance we do on our trailers, but ultimately, we hear about that happening throughout time.”
Enders Enjoys Coaching Role
Five-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Erica Enders says her role with Elite Motorsports has changed since the organization now has a total of nine drivers. The 39-year-old Texas resident is currently a coach as well as a competitor.
“I’ve taught a lot of the people in our camp how to drive,” Enders said.
In addition to Enders, the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock camp includes Cristian Cuadra, Aaron Stanfield, Troy Coughlin Jr., Bo Butner III, Fernando Cuadra, Fernando Cuadra Jr., David Cuadra and Jerry Tucker.
“I’m there every day and every week and I’ve tested cars with them,” Enders said.
Enders says she takes a great deal of pride in the Cuadra family “because I’ve really had the opportunity to teach them from the ground up.”
“We’ve talked about the mental toughness side of it,” Enders continued. “Once I can get a hold of their brain and make them believe in themselves as much as I and we do they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.
“It’s been really awesome to help Fernando Jr., to help Cristian, and we just got David his high school diploma a few weeks ago. I’m enjoying my coaching job.”
