Erica Enders-Stevens is well aware of the history on the line at this weekend’s 50th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. But her more immediate concern is trying to hold off two-time Pro Stock world champion Jason Line.
After winning the most recent event in Las Vegas, Enders-Stevens’ fifth win in her banner 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, she now holds a 17-point lead over Line heading into the final event of the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.
On top of that Enders-Stevens could become the first female to claim a Pro Stock world championship in NHRA history, which would be a massive achievement for the driver who was also the first female to win an event in Pro Stock. But Enders-Stevens knows her focus must zero in on keeping one step ahead of Line in her Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro, never an easy task considering his impressive resume.
“It’s an interesting separation because you can’t get too ahead of yourself and dwell on what’s at stake, but at the same time, I mean, I’ve never been in this position in Pro Stock, and neither have any of the guys on my team,” Enders-Stevens said. “It’s definitely an interesting and awesome position to be in. But I try to just stay calm about it and focus on just one round, one at a time, and just going after it and doing our best and having fun most importantly.”
Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Rickie Jones (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the season-ending race that will once again be televised nationally on ESPN2.The event also marks the 50th anniversary of the Auto Club NHRA Finals at the historic facility and the race to the championship between Enders-Stevens and Line will be one of the marquee attractions.
Dave Connolly trails Enders-Stevens by 84 points and is still in championship contention as is Shane Gray at 111 points back, but Line and Enders-Stevens appear to be headed on a collision course for the race to the world championship. Line took command in the loaded Pro Stock class over the summer, winning three straight races in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro to take over the points lead. Line, who has four wins and eight final round appearances in 2014, held that top spot all the way to Las Vegas, where he met Enders-Stevens in a pivotal head-to-head matchup in the semifinals.
But Enders-Stevens claimed the semi victory and then finished things off with an event win, taking the top spot into Pomona. Line, though, remains thrilled considering what is at stake heading into the Auto Club NHRA Finals.
“This is a great opportunity to have a really cool finish to the end of the year, and everyone on our Summit Racing team is happy to be part of it,” Line said. “It isn’t really difficult to keep emotions in check and stay focused because everybody has a different way of dealing with pressure, and for me, it’s fun. The pressure makes me stay focused.”
The pressure is certainly there for Enders-Stevens as well, in part because of the historical aspect. She admits it is hard not to think about what it would mean to become the first female world champion in Pro Stock, but Enders-Stevens is also using that as a driving force in her title quest.
“At the end of the day I guess it would be very awesome to be able to make history,” Enders-Stevens said. “It would just show any other female that maybe even had a little bit of doubt that they weren’t capable or whatever that I’m a perfect example of a normal kid, through hard work and certainly surrounding myself with the right people and having such a solid support group, that anything is possible. I hope that’s the message that comes across to them.”
Line and Enders-Stevens will both have to concern themselves with the rest of the talented Pro Stock field, one that includes Countdown participants Allen Johnson, Jeg Coughlin, Vincent Nobile, V Gaines, Chris McGaha and rookie Jonathan Gray.
But Line, who has 35 career victories including three at Pomona, has a single-minded approach heading into the finale, one that includes finishing the season in style.
“It’s pretty simple, really,” Line said. “You have to go out there to win. There isn’t much more to it than that. Anything is possible, and I feel really good about this weekend. All we can do is go there and do the best we can. Of course sometimes you need a little racing luck as well, but we certainly have the ability to win the race, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
Enders-Stevens maintains she will be ready for whatever situation is thrown at her in Pomona this weekend because of her confidence in a team led by crew chiefs Rick and Rickie Jones.
“This is the first time in my professional career that I have had such a solid group of guys that stands behind me and has my back,” Enders-Stevens said. “That makes my job as a driver a lot easier. It’s a team deal and it’s just a really unique atmosphere, and I’m really proud and honored to be their driver. But they have shown exactly what they are made of this year, and when it comes down to crunch time, everybody pulls their weight, and it’s an awesome environment to work in.”
As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, NHRA will feature many of the sport’s greatest legends and those drivers will share some of their favorite memories from 50 years of the Auto Club NHRA Finals. “The King of Speed” Kenny Bernstein, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, “TV” Tommy Ivo, Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen, Ed “The Ace” McCulloch, Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney and Don “The Snake” Prudhomme will be featured during the event and participate in a series of special NHRA Legends Chats and a special autograph session on Saturday afternoon in the popular Hot Rod Junction.
The NHRA Legends Chats will run from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday and the special legends autograph session will take place between Saturday’s pro qualifying sessions. Fans can attend the Legends Chats and autograph session by obtaining a special commemorative 50th Anniversary NHRA Legends Card, which will be available on a first come, first served basis at the Hot Rod Junction.
NHRA fans also will play an important role in the 50th anniversary celebration as they will help decide the most iconic moments in the history of the Auto Club NHRA Finals. Fans can vote for their favorite moment from the event via interactive pages set up on NHRA.com and via NHRA’s Facebook page.
Special celebrations throughout the weekend are scheduled to highlight this significant milestone event. In addition to the NHRA Legends Chats and special autograph session featuring the legends, there will be several NHRA-exclusive Cacklefests showcasing the vintage dragsters of the sport’s early days, a special car corral in the Hot Rod Junction featuring a wide variety of vintage dragsters and classic race cars and The SealMaster Track Walk, where fans can walk on the famed Auto Club Raceway at Pomona track prior to Sunday’s final eliminations. The SealMaster Track Walk also will feature several of the sports legends.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and enjoy some cherished face time and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.
Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.
The event also will feature thrilling competition and world championship finishes in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, Nov. 14, with sessions at 11:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Nov. 15, at 11:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16.
