Photo – Sal Sigala Jr.
“I’m just Erica, doing what I love and following my dream.”
That simple statement from Pro Stock sensation Erica Enders-Stevens encapsulates her life and goals in the 200+ mph world of professional NHRA drag racing. Although Enders-Stevens is still young, she is a veteran driver, having driven race cars for over 20 years, since the age of eight. In 1992, Enders-Stevens joined the first wave of kids to race in the new Jr. Dragster class. The NHRA formed the category to help foster tomorrow’s drag racing stars, while giving families a fun activity to do together on the weekends. Erica won the second event of her career, in an all female final. That car is now in the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, CA. Enders-Stevens’ need for speed continued after her Jr. Dragster years.
After success in the Sportsman ranks, Erica realized her life-long dream in late 2004 by becoming a professional race car driver for Cagnazzi Racing. By mid 2006, the newest star in drag racing had campaigned her way to set new records for a female Pro Stock driver.
After leaving Cagnazzi Racing in mid 2006 to drive for a number of other teams, Erica returned in 2011. Picking up right where she left off, she continued making history in 2011, finishing the season sixth, the highest finish for a female in Pro Stock. That year, Erica also set a new national speed record in Gainsville, FL, which she held for over a year.
Then on July 1st, 2012, Erica reached another milestone, becoming he first female Pro Stock winner in NHRA history. Enders-Stevens continued her 2012 success with a total of four event wins and a fourth-place overall finish.
And at the start of the 2013 season, she came back strong with her fifth win in just the second race of the season.
Erica was born and raised in Houston, and though she lives in New Orleans with her husband Richie Stevens, she is always eager to race in her hometown. Houston is where she raced this past weekend.
“I’m excited to drive the Pro Mod car again,” Enders-Stevens said. “It should be a really fun weekend to be back home in Houston. We’re sporting a pink paint scheme, and I’ll be the only girl in Pro Mod driving a pink car.” “I’m always pumped to race at home. I love Texas and I love racing in front of the hometown crowd. I’m excited that we’ve got two competitive race cars this weekend. We’ll see how it turns out.”
Erica Enders-Stevens is our next guest on Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NASCAR-NHRA Talk on Monday, October 21, 2013 at 9:30pm ET. Call 347-996-5176 during the LIVE broadcast to interact with Erica Enders-Stevens and our Fan4Racing panel.
