SONOMA, Calif. (July 24, 2022) - The Elite Motorsports Pro Stock team had a
phenomenal showing this weekend at the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals. Pro
Stock star Erica Enders not only earned her sixth win of the season but also
qualified No. 1 for the third time this year.
Four of Elite’s outstanding drivers qualified in the top half of the NHRA Camping
World Drag Racing Series Pro Stock field including Enders, who parlayed that
qualifying position into a victory on race day as she powered her Melling
Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro into the winners circle.
This marks the 70th final round of her illustrious career and her 40th national
event win (including one sportsman victory). However, despite a career full of
event wins and four world championships, Sonoma Raceway has been
somewhat elusive for Enders. Before today, the standout Pro Stock driver had
never been to the finals at this fan-favorite track.
After winning the semifinals, Enders noted, “We are taking this Melling
Performance Camaro to the final round which is something I have never done in
Sonoma before. I get to race G.A. (Greg Anderson). You can never count that
guy out but I could not be more proud of my team. This is so exciting!”
Starting line advantages paved the way for the Elite Motorsports drivers
throughout eliminations. In the first round of competition, Enders faced her Elite
Motorsports teammate Fernando Cuadra Jr. who went red giving Enders her first
win of the day. In another all-Elite first-round matchup, Fernando Cuadra Sr.
faced Troy Coughlin Jr. Coughlin cut an impressive .038-second light and took
that advantage all the way down the track for a first-round win. Aaron Stanfield
defeated Deric Kramer thanks to a powerful starting line advantage and a solid
run of 6.522-seconds at 210.21 MPH. Meanwhile, Bo Butner got the starting line
advantage over Chris McGaha and powered his Johnson's Horsepowered
Garage Chevrolet Camaro to defeat C. McGaha. Rounding out the first round of
eliminations with a red light of only -.001, Cristian Cuadra lost to Kyle Koretsky.
In the second round of the day, Enders defeated Mason McGaha thanks to
gaining the starting line advantage and laying down a pass of 6.540 at 211.43.
Stanfield beat former Rookie Of The Year Dallas Glenn to move into the
semifinals where he would face Enders. On the other side of the ladder, Kyle
Koretsky got the better of Coughlin despite identical reaction times; and Greg
Anderson defeated Butner.
Stanfield rolled through the beam in the semifinals giving Enders the win to
propel her into the final round against current world champion Anderson. Her
pass of 6.527 at 211.00 gave her lane choice over Anderson.
All hands were on deck in the Elite Motorsports pit area as Enders prepared to
face Anderson. The crew came together with lightning speed and precision in
order to make it to the staging lanes on time. Coming into the finals, Anderson
and Enders both had 23 round wins against each other, amplifying the intensity
on the track as they rolled into the beams.
With a .018 reaction time, Enders got the starting line advantage once again and
held on for a holeshot win against Pro Stock veteran Anderson, even after she
lost the engine near the finish line.
“Any time you can hold one of these awesome Wallys in your hand it’s a good
day,” said Enders. “My guys really rallied. We had to change a bunch of stuff in
the pit. G.A. was waiting for me. It was kind of one of those rushed finals. Then
we were about 150 feet shy of the finish line and my engine let go. Thank God
we got it done for Melling Performance. I have never won here in Sonoma in 18
years of Pro Stock. This win means a whole lot to me. We’ve been talking about
that wine goblet all weekend!”
This is the first win for the Elite Motorsports team since losing patriarch Royce
Freeman Sr. less than two weeks ago. In an emotional interview minutes after
the win, Richard Freeman simply said, “This is for my old man. Love you pops.”
In the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Elite driver David Cuadra powered
his Top Sportsman Cobalt to two round wins, first defeating Mike Ferderer
followed by Robert Strohm, before going out in the third round against Gerald
Bucklin. In Martin, Mich., Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings newcomer, Marty
Robertson, brought his Elite-powered 1968 Procharged Plymouth Barracuda to
the NMCA Power Festival for a special exhibition showcase.
- Elite Motorsports, LLC PR / Courtney Enders -
Photo: Elite Motorsports, LLC PR / Courtney Enders / Auto Imagery / NHRA
RPM Pro Stock Round By Round:
ROUND ONE -- Mason McGaha, Chevy Camaro, 6.540, 211.26 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 11.652, 75.46; Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.722, 179.59 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 9.718, 94.07; Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.549, 208.46 def. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, Foul - Red Light; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.544, 208.59 def. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.547, 210.97; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.522, 210.21 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.544, 208.81; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.535, 211.33 def. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, 6.632, 209.49; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.540, 208.33 def. Steve Graham, Camaro, 8.441, 113.84; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.517, 211.86 def. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, Foul - Red Light;
QUARTERFINALS -- Anderson, 6.572, 208.04 def. Butner, 6.579, 210.14; Koretsky, 6.558, 209.30 def. Coughlin Jr., 15.096, 55.20; Stanfield, 6.534, 210.28 def. Glenn, 6.552, 208.39; Enders, 6.540, 211.43 def. M. McGaha, 6.546, 211.03;
SEMIFINALS -- Anderson, 6.557, 208.94 def. Koretsky, Broke; Enders, 6.527, 211.00 def. Stanfield, Foul - Red Light;
FINAL -- Enders, 6.574, 196.62 def. Anderson, 6.565, 208.01.
See a full recap of the weekends winners from David Kennedy at nhra.com:
https://www.nhra.com/news/2022/balance-power-has-shifted-gladstone-enders-tasca-and-force-win-sonoma
See Sunday's photo gallery from NHRA.com staff:
Unofficial points standings following the completion of the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals:
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