Can Enders-Stevens go 3-for-3 from the No 3 spot?

DENVER, Co – Elite Motorsports Pro Stock driver Erica Enders-Stevens hopes to go 3-for-3 from the No. 3 qualifying spot when final eliminations for the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals begin on Sunday at Bandimere Speedway.

Enders-Stevens qualified No. 3 in Las Vegas … and won the race. She qualified No. 3 in Bristol … and won the race. Both times she started off eliminations by beating Larry Morgan in the first round.

Enders-Stevens qualified No. 3 here on Thunder Mountain and will race Morgan in the first round.

“I sure hope history repeats itself,” Enders-Stevens said.

Enders-Stevens has more than history on her side. She is the runaway points leader in the ultra-competitive class, with four victories this season, including at NHRA’s most recent race in Norwalk, Ohio.

“It would be cool to get another win here,” Enders-Stevens said.

Enders-Stevens made four good passes in qualifying, with her top lap of 6.934 seconds at 198.29 mph putting her in the No. 3 spot. But she was also in the top three in the three other qualifying sessions.

“We haven’t killed it here yet though,” Enders-Stevens said. “My crew chiefs are perfectionists and they haven’t been extremely pleased, but you have to be pleased with what’s going on this weekend. I just try to remind them what a good job they are doing and that we will be just fine.

“We have a consistent race car. We didn’t come up here to test and I haven’t raced here in a couple years, so it’s just different racing at altitude. All things considered it’s been a really great weekend so far.”

Morgan’s best pass was 7.019 seconds at 196.16 mph.

“The consistency will pay off tomorrow, going A to B on a hot track and crazy air conditions,” Enders-Stevens said. “I’m optimistic. We need to have a good race day tomorrow.”

Final eliminations at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals begin at noon, Sunday. ESPN2 will broadcast all elimination action, including live coverage of the final two rounds.