DEFENDING PRO STOCK WORLD CHAMP ERICA ENDERS LOOKS TO RISE TO THE OCCASION YET AGAIN AT TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS AT TEXAS MOTORPLEX

ENNIS, TX – The biggest moments seem to bring out the best in Erica Enders and the two-time defending Pro Stock world champ is gearing up for what she hopes is another big finish. Enders won at the most recent race in St. Louis, pulling to within 17 points of longtime rival Greg Anderson, which means there’s plenty on the line for the Texas native heading to this weekend’s Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex.

Both Enders and Anderson are racing for their fifth NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series world title and it’s expected to be a battle for the ages to finish off the 2021 season. Anderson has enjoyed a stellar season and has been the points leader for the first 14 races this year, but Enders has always been special in the Countdown to the Championship and appears locked in once again. She’s advanced to three finals in the past four events in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, won two of them and is eager to add a Dallas victory to her championship journey.

“This means the world to me and I’m thankful for all of this, and I’m going to continue to have fun doing it,” Enders said. “It’s a true challenge to drive one of these cars and I love it, and I love those pressure-packed situations. We knew it could come down to the two of us. I think it’s great for the class we have so much fresh blood out here and it speaks volumes for how much passion we all have for the class, but it’s going to be a dogfight. I’m up for the challenge and I know Greg is up for the challenge as well.”

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were winners of the 2020 event. This year’s race will be televised on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), including live final eliminations coverage starting at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Oct. 10. It is the fourth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship in Pro Stock, and it appears it will again come down to the wire in a class loaded with talent and parity this season.

Enders has put together four victories this season, but nothing has come easy in a category that has seen an impressive influx of young talent to go with veterans like Anderson, Enders and Hartford. Rookie Dallas Glenn has won twice, Kyle Koretsky won recently in Charlotte and is 97 points behind Anderson, and Enders’ teammate, Aaron Stanfield, also has a trio of victories this year. But with Enders’ victory in St. Louis, her and Anderson are separated less than a round in what should be a thrilling duel to the finish. Enders and her team are used to those moments and she aims to revel in it yet again.

“It’s going to take a lot of work to compete for this fifth championship, but I think I have the best guys in the world to try to be able to do that,” said Enders, who has 33 career victories. “This is a dream come true for me and we’re going to do our best to continue to have a great season. We’ve put ourselves within striking distance of Greg and we just have to go to work.”

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, defending world champ Matt Smith is looking to get on track in the Countdown to the Championship after a fantastic regular season. He won four times in the first eight races, but hasn’t made a trip to the final round in the first two playoff races in the class. It’s dropped him to third, but he’s just 30 points behind current points leader Steve Johnson and Smith feels confident riding his Denso Auto Parts/Stockseth/Matt Smith Racing EBR heading into Texas Motorplex.

It’s a venue where he’s put up big numbers, but Smith will be challenged by the likes of Johnson, Angelle Sampey, who won in Charlotte and is 17 points back of Johnson, Eddie Krawiec, Joey Gladstone and Scotty Pollacheck. Smith, though, believes he can get back on track and he’s always prided himself on finishing strong, something that can happen by winning in Dallas for the first time in his standout career.

“If you look at the way we’ve run our program, we’ve always been good in the Countdown,” said Smith, who has 30 career wins. “We’ve never shined brightly in the regular season, but in the Countdown we’ve always pushed forward and come out stronger. I still think we’re the quickest and fastest bike and our goal is to go to Dallas and prove that. We’ve always been fast (in Dallas), but I’ve never won one there. It’s probably one of the few places I’ve never won, so I would love to do it this year.”

In Top Fuel, points leader Steve Torrence is going for his fourth consecutive world title and is also a win away from his 50th Top Fuel win. The Texan won last year at Dallas, but will face strong competition from the likes of his father, Billy, who won the race in 2018, Leah Pruett, Antron Brown, Justin Ashley and Mike Salinas.

Funny Car’s Matt Hagan grabbed the points lead in St. Louis as he seeks his second straight world title in the loaded class. Looking to stop his momentum is a number of star drivers, including Ron Capps, 16-time world champ John Force, Robert Hight, J.R. Todd, Cruz Pedregon and Bob Tasca III.

The event also includes the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where the future stars of the sport earn their racing stripes, as well as the popular Top Fuel Harley category. The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service will also compete during the weekend. After nitro qualifying on Friday, fans can enjoy the entertaining “Walking Tall” P.T. Cruiser Wheelstander driven by “NitroMike” as well as the “Lone Star Lightning” and “Game X Change Jet Dragster” Jet Car Exhibition. Jet cars are thrust-driven vehicles propelled by jet engines with exciting pre-run flame shows.

As always, fans are granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet at Texas Motorplex. This unique opportunity gives fans a chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds.

The special Stampede of Speed will also have a thrilling fan fest on Thursday. The free fan fest will take place in downtown Waxahachie, full of autograph opportunities, interactive games, live music, family fun and a fireworks show.

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 8 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 9 at 12:00 and 4:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 10.

Television coverage on Fox Sports 1 starts with qualifying action from 10:30-11:30 p.m. ET on Friday following MLB ALDS coverage, and 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, leading directly into eliminations action on FS1 from 4:30-7:30.

To purchase tickets, visit www.texasmotorplex.com or call 800-668-6775. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.