Six-Time Pro Stock Champ Erica Enders Aims for Big Win at Maple Grove

Six-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders targets a reset as the NHRA Countdown opens at the 40th Reading Nationals this weekend at Maple Grove Raceway.

Eliminations begin Sunday at 2 p.m. ET, broadcast live on FS1, amplifying the stakes of the season’s decisive phase.

Enders arrives eighth in points after winning the U.S. Nationals, her 50th NHRA victory, ending a 30-race drought that dated to the 2024 season opener.

The run-up has been uneven. Enders opened 2025 with six first-round exits and a DNQ, before stabilizing with a Brainerd semifinal and the breakthrough win at Indianapolis.

Elite Motorsports now prioritizes execution. Pro Stock rewards repeatable launches, accurate lane reads, and tight turnaround discipline, fundamentals that underpin sustained form.

The benchmark remains KB Titan Racing. Greg Anderson, last year’s champion, and Dallas Glenn, this season’s regular-season champion, share nine wins and control the competitive reference point.

Enders intends to confront that pace directly at Reading, a venue she favors and credits for recent facility improvements under the Koretsky family.

That approach marries mindset with machinery, a hallmark of Pro Stock’s most successful race cars and teams.

Top Fuel remains tightly clustered. Antron Brown aims to peak as the Countdown starts, with points leader Tony Stewart and threats Shawn Langdon, Justin Ashley, Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force, and Clay Millican.

Funny Car form is clearer. Austin Prock holds seven wins and the regular-season title, while Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan, and Ron Capps headline the pursuing pack.

Trackside, Nitro Alley expands fan access with meet and greets, interviews, and live music, reflecting broader auto-racing industry trends in event engagement.

Pre-race ceremonies set the stage for Wally contention, followed by the SealMaster Track Walk, and a post-race winner’s circle celebration open to fans.

Pit access remains a signature. Supporters can watch over-the-shoulder turnaround work, collect autographs, and explore manufacturers’ displays and family activities.

Qualifying for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series runs Friday and Saturday, with final eliminations Sunday morning and comprehensive FS1 coverage throughout.

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Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.