By: Elite Motorsports
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 15, 2024) – Elite Motorsports enters this weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) motivated to keep the team’s six-race win streak alive. The team put their two-week break from the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season to good use with an exhibition event at Rockfalls Raceway in Minnesota.
Six-time and reigning world champion Erica Enders, three-time 2024 national event winner Aaron Stanfield, six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr., New England Nationals champion Troy Coughlin Jr., second year pro Jerry Tucker, and brothers David Cuadra and Fernando Cuadra Jr. competed at the NHRA Division 5 National Open Double Header in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Enders, who is looking for her second victory of the 2024 NHRA season (which would be her 50th national event win, 49th in Pro Stock) and third at BIR (2015, 2012), defeated Fernando Cuadra Jr. in the finals. Cuadra Jr. would leave the starting line first with a .016 reaction time but Enders’ 6.550 at 209.36 was enough to run down his 6.572 at 209.91.
“Jim and Debbie Greenheck from CTech own Rock Falls and they’re one of our partners so we go up in the summer and make some runs, we turned it into a bit of a match race. This year we took up seven cars and we had a really great time,” Enders said. “It’s a chance to get our whole operation ready for the Countdown to the Championship that’s just two events away. It’s a glorified test session on probably the coolest small drag strip I’ve ever been to. A lot of fans came out and there was a ton of Sportsman racers and people we knew. And it was on the way to Brainerd, so we’ve been in town for a couple days now.”
Enders and her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / SCAG Power Equipment machine started the three rounds of eliminations from the No. 1 position after laying down a 6.588-second pass at 208.78 mph in her second try down the track on Friday. Fernando Cuadra Jr. finished runner-up from the No. 6 qualifying spot.
Cuadra Jr. is making his return to NHRA competition this weekend along with his brothers David and Cristian after having to take two events off as they continue the transition of taking over the Corral Boots, Cuadra and Columbia Impex companies from their father, now retired Fernando Cuadra Sr.
Right behind Enders as the No. 2 qualifier at Rock Falls was the yellow JEGS.com / White Castle hot rod of Troy Coughlin Jr. He is looking to make a mark at Brainerd International Race way as he races for his fourth career No. 1 spot (first at BIR) and a second win on the season to bring his career total to six.
Jeg Coughlin Jr., like his nephew, is looking for his first No. 1 qualifying spot at BIR. However, if he makes it to the winners circle on Sunday, it will be his fifth victory at the facility (2010, 2007, 2002, 1999). He’s also been runner-up at the event twice (2014, 2000). Jeg Jr. will be sporting a new look on his SCAG / Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer machine. With BIR famous for its “Zoo” campground, the cats eye gold Pro Stock machine, along with the three nitro hot rods of SCAG Racing driven by Justin Ashley, Daniel Wilkerson and Dave Richards, will feature the animal version of SCAG Power Equipment products. Jeg Jr.’s car will have multiple products represented including the Cheetah II, Turf Tiger II, Tiger Cat II and the upcoming Tree Frog.
Aaron Stanfield and his JHG / Melling / Janac Brothers team are attempting to have a career best season for the young drag racing phenom. Stanfield has already recorded three victories in five final round appearances in the 2024 Mission Foods NHRA season. His previous best performance came in 2022 when he won three events out of seven final rounds and finished third in the points. With eight races left in the 2024 season, Stanfield and the JHG / Melling team are well on their way to a career best finish.
Jerry Tucker will be sporting a new look on his Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer / SCAG car as he continues to battle for his first Pro Stock victory. The new design, which will stay for the remainder of the 2024 Mission Foods NHRA season, is based off the new Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer can design that will be released soon. The new can will feature a collaboration with American country rock singer and songwriter HARDY.
Competition at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway begins with four sessions of qualifying Friday at 4:00 and 6:15 p.m. and Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with Pro Stock first round at 11:35 a.m. Television coverage of the event will begin with qualifying shows Friday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Eliminations will air on FOX Broadcasting Network (FOX) Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET.
