During an episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast on Friday at the NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pennsylvania, Pro Stock champion Erica Enders rejected speculation that her U.S. Nationals victory in Indianapolis came with help from manipulated rounds. The exchange with analyst Tony Pedregon underscored the ongoing sensitivity of team orders in drag racing.
Enders opened the interview by praising her team’s resilience following a difficult season.
“We’ve won the world championship six different times. I have the best guys in the universe under the banner at Elite Motorsports,” she said. “We’ve had some serious health issues this year with Mark Ingersoll and Jake Hairston. We finally had the band all back together and I just feel like everything’s gelling at the right time. What will happen? I have no idea, but you can bet your butt, we’ll fight our butts off for it.”
Moments later, Pedregon pressed her on whether opening-round wins against teammates Greg and Aaron Stanfield raised questions. He noted that Greg appeared to be ahead before slowing, and that Aaron’s car failed to leave the starting line.
“My job as an analyst is I have to point out what we see in front of us,” Pedregon said. “Some of it’s conjecture, that’s what an analyst does.”
Enders firmly rejected the notion. “Did you hear it in the burnout and backing up, when it was running on half the cylinders? I could show a picture of his piston,” she said. “To have a teammate dive first or second round is not cool at all.”
The six-time champion said any accusations of team orders are offensive.
“We don’t have team orders at Elite Motorsports,” Enders said. “Greg Stanfield and Aaron Stanfield pay over a million dollars each for the cars that they drive, so if you think that they’re going to write checks like that and then take dives, I take it highly offensive.”
The subject carried extra weight because of past controversies in NHRA. At the 2009 U.S. Nationals, Pedregon clashed publicly with John Force after a round that appeared to aid Robert Hight’s Countdown berth — a confrontation so intense that Force and Pedregon nearly came to blows. In 1997 at the NHRA World Finals, Pedregon — then driving for John Force Racing — was on the other end of accusations when Force’s car stumbled against him in a race that influenced the final standings.
Enders countered that facts should come before conjecture.
“Let’s base our opinions on education. Come over to our pit and see what’s going on. Come take a cylinder head off of our race car,” she said. Team owner Richard Freeman, she added, confirmed Aaron’s broken engine over her radio during the round, telling her, “Aaron’s engine is broken. Don’t mess up.”
The debate shifted to NHRA’s technical department, which both Pedregon and broadcast teammate Brian Lohnes said could reduce doubt by immediately inspecting questionable runs. Enders agreed but urged accuracy. “Do a better job,” she said.
Her Indianapolis win, which ended a 30-race drought, also carried symbolism. Enders defeated KB Titan Racing’s Dallas Glenn and Matt Hartford to secure her fourth U.S. Nationals trophy in a decade.
Lohnes noted a similar set of circumstances in 2019, when she lost the Indy final after a transmission failure despite being in control of the race.
Enders admitted that luck played a role, but added it works both ways.
“Sometimes things go your way for you to win a race,” she said, “but I promise you I’ve been on the opposite end where you do everything in your power and you deserve to win that round, and you don’t. Did we have some breaks last week? Absolutely.”
As the discussion closed, Pedregon credited Enders for addressing the issue directly. “With you as a driver, with the team that has found the performance, the U.S. Nationals was an indication it’s not going to be a free pass like they had earlier in the season,” he said.
Enders embraced the challenge. “It’s more fun when it’s tight,” she said. “Anytime. That’s what we do.”
