By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
Erica Enders, an NHRA Pro Stock driver, recently took the time to be interviewed by The Capital Sports Report. Her interview is about her racing career.
TCSR: What started your interest in drag racing?
EE: “I grew up around the sport. My dad used to race, and he started me out in this sport.”
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TCSR: Did you always want to race Pro Stock when you were younger?
EE: “That was always my favorite category growing up. I was actually going to go into Funny Cars and actually got my Funny Car license in 2004, and right after I got my license, I won a national event in my Super Gas car. After that, Victor Cagnazzi called me and asked me to come drive his Pro Stock car. It was a change in plans, but my heart has always been in Pro Stock since that time. Once I had the opportunity to do it, I jumped on it. It has been 7 years now.”
TCSR: You said you got a Funny Car license in 2004. Do you see that in your future?
EE: “No, Pro Stock is where my heart is. If an opportunity came up to drive a Top Fuel or Funny Car, I would at least consider it, but my heart is in love with Pro Stock. I would have to do well in this class before ever doing that. Right now, if an offer came up, I would say no way.”
TCSR: You are the most successful woman Pro Stock driver, but you have been close to winning your first race, going to the finals several times. Does that mean anything now, or will it mean more once you get your first win?
EE: “Well, I have been very successful in this sport, but until I win for the first time in Pro Stock, those accolades don’t mean that much. I am hoping it will happen soon. I think when it does happen, it will be an unbelievable experience. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the day that it will happen.”
TCSR: Earlier this season, you faced NASCAR driver Kurt Busch in a Pro Stock driver. What did you think when that happened?
EE: “It was cool. To have a NASCAR champion come over to the NHRA drew a lot of attention that this sport deserved. It also sheds a lot of light on Pro Stock. It was cool, and we couldn’t have gotten better media by racing him in the first round. It was pretty interesting because it was different than our normal race. It was exciting that we were able to come out on top.”
TCSR: When you beat him, did he come over and say anything to you?
EE: “He came over and we joked about it. He said his NASCAR buddies were going to give him crap for being beaten by a girl. I would have gotten the same crap in this sport had I gotten beat by a NASCAR guy, so we laughed about it. He was teammates with Allen Johnson, a fellow Pro Stock competitor, who is a good friend of mine and my boyfriend’s. It was all in good fun.”
TCSR: Did you look up to any Pro Stock drivers before coming into this sport?
EE: “It is surreal in a way because I grew up watching the sport. I looked up to people like Warren ‘The Professor’ Johnson. When I first got the chance to go up against him, I was star-struck. Now, it is different because they are friends of mine. Sometimes, I have to remind myself of how lucky and blessed I am. I just like to have fun with it.”
TCSR: Who do you like to race the most?
EE: “I don’t know. It could be anybody’s day, any week we are out here. In our sport, we have to do everything the right way to win. To many of us, it doesn’t matter who is in the other lane. As long as I can do what I need to do to the best of my ability, we have a good chance on Sundays.”
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TCSR: Many of the guys outweigh you by 100 pounds. How does your crew make the difference in weight?
EE: “I’m the lightest in our group, because I’m a girl, so in a way, it is an advantage because there is a minimum weight we have to meet. Instead of having 220 or more pounds in the driver’s seat, we have me, who is at least 100 pounds lighter in the driver’s seat, so we can put added weight where the car needs it. It is our benefit, of course, but that’s all we could do.”
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