The magnitude of this weekend's historic 900th NHRA Pro Stock race is not lost on four-time NHRA champion Erica Enders. The veteran driver of the Elite Motorsports Camaro drove her way to the top of the provisional qualifying list with a 6.521-second elapsed time at 210.44 miles per hour. 

Winning this weekend's Pro Stock race will also come with a special edition Wally created by Cold Hard Art. 

"It would be huge because, for one, I've never won the Winternationals. We won the World Finals, and there's just a handful of races on the tour that we haven't been able to win a Wally at, and this is one of them. Being that it's the 900th event here, I think that it would be killer. Eighteen years ago this month, I rounded the corner for Q1 in Pro Stock for the first time ever, and I will never forget the feeling that I had.

"Yeah, it was a long time ago, but I get goosebumps talking about it, coming around the corner and looking in the grandstand at all the fans and TV cameras stuffed in your face. It's just one of those surreal moments where, 'Holy crap, my dreams are coming true." 

"To have made it last this long, I think, is a feat in itself. I've only been able to accomplish that because I've been surrounded by really great people. I'd like to park it in the Winner's Circle for the 900th, for sure."

Enders, because of her last season point finish, used her back of the pack status to get a good jump on her opening run.

“A lot of our cars, we have the same crew chiefs, right?” Enders said. “Everybody shares data, they all work in the crew chief lounge together. I saw TJ shake immediately. And then, I saw Aaron go a .52 with an eight, so, I was hoping we were going to be somewhere in the middle of those two, being able to get down successfully. 

“But, when I unclutched it and the way that the car moves through low gear, we were .971 and sixty-foot. And as a driver, that's been in the car, tens of thousands of runs, you know when you're on a hit and when I unclutched it and we made it through low gear, wheels up and I pulled second, I thought she might be pretty happy. 

“So, rolled through the rest of the gears. And I always check up on my competitor, once I put it in high gear. I looked over and I didn't see Greg. So, I was really hopeful we were going to blow the scoreboard over, and we were able to do that by a few thousandths of a second, but pretty cool, pretty cool run.”

After winning back to back titles in 2019 and 2020, Enders admitted losing the championship in 2021 lit a fire underneath her. 

"I feel like I definitely left some on the table last year," Enders said. "I don't ever say that I, as a driver, I left some on the table last year. Greg had the superior performing car all season long. I don't remember the number, but quite a few number one qualifiers, the significant amount and still barely won the championship. 

"I had two crucial rounds in the Countdown. Had they gone the other way, we would've hoisted the trophy and secured our fifth world championship. So, it's a long year and it takes a lot of help from a lot of people to make it all happen. I feel like we definitely have something there."

And Enders, who admits she's conditioned herself not to get emotional, said winning No. 900 might qualify for an exception.

"You might see a little tear if the flash hits me right,"  Enders admitted. "I try my best not to cry. I'd rather you punch me in the mouth than me have to cry in front of the camera, but I am female and it does mean a lot to me. As I get older and just look back at the things that we've been able to do and accomplish, I've packed a whole lot of life into my 38 years and I'm thankful for that. I'm just going to keep enjoying it as long as the ride lasts."