AUDIO FEATURE: ENDERS CHASING HISTORY

Erica Enders is convinced her day will come. Her Pro Stock driving associates are too.

After three runner-up finishes this year, Enders still hopes to make history as the first woman to win in the ultra-competitive Pro Stock division.

Current series champion Greg Anderson has publicly stated multiple times that he doesn’t want to be the driver on record to lose to her. His statements are not meant in the fashion of he doesn’t want to lose a final round. He doesn’t want to be the first male Pro Stock driver to lose to a female.

Nothing personal, Anderson has assured the media, he just doesn’t want to be the footnote in history. Anderson believes she is going to win this season.

Such talk doesn’t bother the energetic and determined Enders.

“It doesn’t bother me because I know Greg is an extremely competitive person,” Enders said. “After hearing how complimentary he is to me in the interviews is inspiring.”

Anderson's desire not to lose only inspires her to hope he's in the other lane when the historic win comes.

This weekend in Charlotte, Enders, along with eight other fellow Pro Stock racers will be gunning for Anderson who holds the No. 1 seed headed into the Countdown to 1 playoff portion of the season.

"Charlotte starts crunch time," Enders said. "We go into this race 60 points out of first place, and that's only three rounds, so not much separates us from being in the No. 1 spot. We’re going to test our butts off before we get there and figure this car out. Then we're going to come out swinging in Charlotte."

The Pro Stock points standings were reset after the final regular-season race, putting Enders 60 points behind leader Greg Anderson in fifth place. She's in the midst of her best season as a professional, qualifying No. 1 twice and reaching the finals at Bristol, Chicago and Joliet.

Enders will be making her first appearance in the NHRA playoffs so getting off to a good start in Charlotte is "huge," Enders said.

"We need to start off on the right foot and get the momentum rolling," Enders said. "We've got a top-four car. If we race smart and get down the race track, and I keep driving the way I'm driving, we'll be consistent on Sunday, and that's key. That's what will get us through these last six races.

"It'll be a battle to the very end. That's the way it always is. May the best woman come out on top."

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