Courtesy NHRA Communications
NORWALK, Ohio (June 23, 2023) – Defending Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders officially put her slow start to the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season behind her with a dominant performance two weeks ago in Bristol.
The five-time world champ jumped five spots in the points standings, but Enders knows there’s still plenty of work to be done in the midst of an important part of the schedule. That includes this weekend’s 17th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park, where Enders has won the past two years.
Adding in her recent showing in Bristol, where Enders qualified No. 1 and won the race in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance Chevrolet Camaro, and the 44-time event winner appears to be on a good path. But Enders also knows the time is now to put together a run.
“It’s definitely crucial now that we’re closing in on Indy,” Enders said. “We’ve got to go to work. We entered Bristol 14th in points, so it’s been challenging, but all you have to do is be there when it counts. But that’s something our team is tremendous at. When our backs are against the wall, they perform and we get things done. I’m not worried and we’ll be just fine. I wouldn’t want to go to battle with anybody other than the guys I have, but we’ve got some work to do and we’ll keep going after it.”
Mike Salinas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Enders (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won the 2022 event, and this year’s race be broadcast on both FOX and Fox Sports 1 (FS1), including eliminations on FOX beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 25. Enders started the weekend outside of the top 10 heading into Bristol, going from 14th to ninth in the span of a weekend.
It was a welcome turnaround for the championship team after a multitude of struggles to open the year. Going against the likes of points leader Dallas Glenn, Greg Anderson, Aaron Stanfield, Matt Hartford, Camrie Caruso, Deric Kramer, who has advanced to four straight final rounds, and Troy Coughlin Jr. doesn’t make things easier, but Enders likes the direction the team has taken. In Norwalk, she’ll take on Anderson in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday, while the other matchup in the bonus race will be Kramer and Cristian Cuadra. It will be the first appearance in the new bonus race for Enders, who admitted the tough times weighed on her early on this year.
“Going through the dry spell, you question yourself and your ability, if you still have it. All those things run through your mind,” Enders said. “But my team really lifts me up and they speak things into existence, and they make me believe in myself. It definitely helps knowing you’ve got a race car underneath you. You have to be able to clear your mind and that’s easier said than done. I believe that we are back, but I’m not going to do any shot calling. I’m going to let our scoreboard talk and we’ll just walk the walk.”
Top Fuel’s Salians will look for a repeat win in Norwalk, while also trying to stop points leader Justin Ashley, who has rolled to four wins in the first eight races. Other top names include reigning world champ Brittany Force, Antron Brown, Austin Prock, Leah Pruett, Josh Hart and Steve Torrence, while Ashley and Prock, and Brown and Doug Kalitta will face off in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge.
Hight’s first career Funny Car victory in Norwalk came last year, while Ron Capps, the back-to-back defending world champ, grabbed the points lead with his Bristol win. The rest of the field includes Matt Hagan, who has three 2023 wins, Cruz Pedregon, J.R. Todd, Tim Wilkerson and John Force. In the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday, Capps will rematch Chad Green and Alexis DeJoria takes on Hight.
Gaige Herrera has dominated in Pro Stock Motorcycle this year, winning the first three races of the season in the category. He fell to Steve Johnson in the finals in Bristol, while others to watch include defending world champ Matt Smith, Joey Gladstone and Eddie Krawiec. In the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday, Herrera will take on Angie Smith and Johnson will meet up with Hector Arana Jr.
The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports and Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown. After nitro qualifying on Friday, fans can enjoy a fireworks display that has been the perfect capper to night qualifying over the years. Autographs will also take place during the weekend at the Suzuki, Dodge and Mission Foods Midway Displays.
Fans are invited to the Nitro Alley Stage, which will help create a festive atmosphere leading into Nitro Alley. The Nitro Alley Stage will be the main entertainment hub in the pits when the Camping World Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets and much more. As always, fans get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Norwalk. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food, and fun for the entire family.
Race fans Norwalk can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the Norwalk event winners.
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 5:30 p.m. ET on Friday, 7 p.m. on Saturday, and then eliminations on FOX at 4 p.m. ET Sunday.
To purchase tickets to the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, fans can visit www.summitmotorsportspark.com or call 419-668-5555. For more information about NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.
