By: Elite Motorsports
MADISON, Ill. (Sept. 27, 2024) – Elite Motorsports will field eight Pro Stock teams at this weekend’s NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, race three of six in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. Aaron Stanfield and Erica Enders lead the pack of six Elite drivers that have a chance to claim the 2024 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Championship.
Enjoying a career-best season, Stanfield and his Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / Janac Brothers Racing team enter this weekend’s Midwest Nationals sitting just eight points out of the lead. Stanfield has been a dominant competitor through the last eight races collecting five wins in six final round appearances. He most recently finished runner-up at zMAX Dragway outside of Charlotte.
“We definitely have momentum. We didn’t get the win last weekend in Charlotte, but we kept the momentum going with a runner-up finish. We’ve been consistent, the car, the Elite guys, and the guy behind the wheel,” Stanfield said. “Having three race weekends in a row contributes to that. I’m looking forward to racing at World Wide Technology Raceway. Hopefully the weather holds out for us but whatever runs we do get, we’ll take advantage of them and try to collect as many points as possible. It’s all about taking advantage of the opportunity in front of us and being grateful it’s there. It’s not going to be easy, but we’re definitely going to give it our best shot.”
Stanfield will be looking for his first win at World Wide Technology Raceway, he came close in 2023 with a runner-up finish to rival Greg Anderson after qualifying only seventh.
Just 45 points behind Stanfield in her JHG / Melling / SCAG Power Equipment hot rod is six-time and reigning world champion Erica Enders. Enders has earned her positioning with four final round appearances including a victory at the season opening Gatornationals. Enders has recently put together a three-race streak of qualifying in the top two and reaching at least the semifinals. She ended the regular season with a No. 2 qualifying spot and semifinal appearance at the U.S. Nationals before racing her way to a runner-up finish from the No. 2 spot at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pennsylvania, the first race of the Countdown. Most recently, Enders earned her sixth No. 1 of the season before racing to the semifinals at the Carolina Nationals.
“Everybody wants to start the countdown off on the right foot, if you get in too big of a hole it’s hard to dig yourself out. We’ve taken steps in the right direction. There’s still a lot of racing to go, a lot of points to accumulate, and a lot of tough competition,” Enders said. “I have a really fast race car which adds some pressure on me to do my job on the Christmas Tree. I promise you, as a driver, there’s nothing worse than posting a really fast time, and the guy next to you posting a slower one, and still turning the win light on. I’ve got my work cut out for me, but the confidence is very strong in my equipment and my team.”
Enders will have history on her side as she looks for her 50th national event victory, 49th in Pro Stock, to send her to the top of the standings. Enders has visited the winners circle a total of six times at World Wide Technology Raceway (2022, 2021, 202, 2019, 2013, 2012). In 2023, Enders was the No. 1 qualifier and finished the weekend with a semifinal appearance, enough to jump her into first in the points and lead to her sixth world title.
Six-time world champion, five-time in Pro Stock, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and his SCAG / Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer team remain in striking distance of the lead sitting fifth by 166 points. Jeg Jr. has earned one No. 1 qualifying position and hoisted the Wally three times this season. He’ll be looking for a third career win at the World Wide Technology Raceway.
Cristian Cuadra, who represents Corral Boots, Cuadra and Columbia Impex along with his brothers David and Fernando Jr., is the only one of the Cuadra Boys Racing trio who has earned a chance at the Pro Stock championship. Cristian earned his spot by finishing the regular season sitting No.8 thanks to a runner-up finish to Enders at the Gatornationals, three semifinal points finishes and solid qualifying efforts. Cristian has now moved his way into sixth in points after three consecutive quarterfinal exits.
Fernando Jr. and David will join their brother at the Midwest Nationals after spending the last two weekends over season on business.
Jerry Tucker and the Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer team are seventh heading into World Wide Technology Raceway. They’re coming off a quarterfinal finish in North Carolina. Tucker has a runner-up finish and three semifinal round appearances in just his second season competing in Pro Stock.
Troy Coughlin Jr. and the JEGS.com / White Castle team round out the six Elite Motorsports drivers with a. chance at the Pro Stock championship. Troy Jr. picked up a win earlier in the year at New England Dragway but has been handed early race day exits by his teammates for five consecutive races.
The NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway will kickoff with four rounds of qualifying on Friday and Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 11:00 a.m. with Pro Stock first round hitting the track at noon. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with qualifying shows Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET and an eliminations show on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET.
