Erica Enders and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/SCAG Power Equipment secured a victory on Saturday at the SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout at Brandenton Motorsports Park. Their triumph at the inaugural event not only grants them bragging rights but also a $125,000 payday.
In the final round, Enders covered the quarter-mile in a formidable 6.531 seconds at 210.05 mph, surpassing rival Dave Connolly’s 6.577 at 208.11.
“We are so fortunate to have partners like JHG and SCAG. They fully embraced this event and supported the race, not only the race cars but the entire PRO Superstar Shootout. There’s a sense of pride having partners that share our beliefs. It means a lot to be in that final round, to secure the win. I would be lying if I told you my heart rate wasn’t a little higher than normal,” said Enders, the No. 1 qualifier of the day, earning the $10,000 bonus from Lucas Oil. “As much as I try to keep it under control, as a female, there’s an emotional aspect that creeps into it. I called my dad before the final round to get me in the right headspace. I had to disregard the emotion because I just want to knock their teeth out. But I just have to go out there and do what we do best. I know I have the best guys in the business standing behind me, and it’s a group that I can trust. I cannot emphasize enough how much that means to me. Hearing them tell me how proud they are over the radio as I’m in the shutdown area, with who was in the other lane, and the pressure, I put it up against a world championship.”
To reach the final round, Enders faced several Elite Motorsports teammates, starting with No. 13 qualifier David Cuadra and the Cuadra/Corral Boots/Columbia Impex machine. Enders secured a 6.562-second pass at 209.59 mph to defeat D. Cuadra’s 6.592 at 209.56. In the second round, she raced against the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Janac Brothers Racing hot rod of Aaron Stanfield.
Stanfield, who qualified No. 6 and defeated Camrie Caruso in the first round, experienced engine issues, resulting in a 10.932-second pass at 65.16 mph. Enders completed a clean pass at 6.570 and 210.24. With only one teammate left in the field, Enders drew the same chip as veteran racer and fellow multi-time Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. The SCAG Power Equipment/Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer Pro Stocker driven by J Coughlin Jr. fell short with a 6.579 at 209.65 to Enders’ 6.552 at 210.08.
“It was my first official week back in the car for the full season, and we did pretty well. I was driving really well in testing and the first couple of rounds today. We just had a mishap against Erica, which was unfortunate on my side of the track. But we were able to prevail as a team, and that’s what’s exciting,” J. Coughlin Jr. said. “When I look at this SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout, it’s been really neat to see the PRO organization put such an event together. Richard Freeman has been a big part of it, helping pull together the likes of Drag Illustrated, SCAG, JHG, and many other sponsors. For an inaugural event, I think they did very, very well. I was proud to be part of it. I wanted to put my name on that first trophy but, good Lord willing, we’ll have to put it on the second annual PRO Superstar Shootout trophy.”
J. Coughlin Jr. had already navigated through teammates Jerry Tucker in the Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer/SCAG car and Cristian Cuadra in the Corral Boots/Cuadra/Columbia Impex car to reach the semifinals.
The entire Elite Motorsports team will be back in competition at the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season-opening NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway on March 8-10.
Way to go Elite!
great job Erica and Richard — you guys are first class