Photo – ericaendersracing.com/
Erica Enders-Stevens is our next guest on Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NASCAR & Race Talk on Monday, June 9, 2014 at 9:30 pm ET. Call 347-996-5176 during the LIVE broadcast to interact with Erica Enders-Stevens and the Fan4Racing panel.
One day after resetting the national speed record to a blazing-fast 215.55 mph, Pro Stock championship points leader Erica Enders-Stevens added the more valuable elapsed time record to her résumé with a stunning pass of 6.464 seconds Sunday morning at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
While the team covets both marks, the e.t. record helps in the Mello Yello standings because it is worth an extra 20 points, helping the young racer from Houston easily stay on top of the factory hot rod class despite a quarterfinal exit from the 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals.
“The cruel part of drag racing is you set both ends of the national record, so you know you have the baddest hot rod on the planet, but you still have to win rounds to win races and the driver didn’t get it done today,” Enders-Stevens said. “I feel terrible for my guys for losing the race but I couldn’t be more proud of them for getting this car into the record books. No matter what, no one can take this weekend and the records we set away from us. Those marks will be beaten one day, but for now we are on top.”
Enders-Stevens used her record pass to dispatch first-round opponent Val Smeland, who met traction issues and aborted his run, drifting to an 8.972 at 107.66 mph. That set up a quarterfinal date with her former crew chief, Dave Connolly, who gained enough of an advantage at the starting line, .033 to .064, to hold off Enders-Stevens’ quicker 6.509 at 214.66 mph with a slower but winning 6.539 at 213.91 mph.
“I knew we had Dave covered as far as e.t. goes, but he got me on the Tree today and that was it,” Enders-Stevens said. “My guys were great and they immediately told me we win as a team and lose as a team and reminded me I’ve won a few on holeshots myself, but I still feel lousy.
“I’ll get over it. The main thing is we increased our points lead and the Elite Motorsports Camaro is the undisputed king of the hill for now and that feels great. I feel so honored to be driving this car and working with this team. I’m a happy girl inside.”
After racing three consecutive weekends, Enders-Stevens and her privately funded race team took time to regroup this past weekend before the 14th annual Ford Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals, which takes place June 13-15 in Bristol, Tenn.