Thursday, October 6, 2005
To this point, spotlight has eluded Enders
By Bill Stephens
Special to ESPN.com
Erica Enders will be celebrating her 22nd birthday this Saturday. In many ways, she's already received a rather resounding birthday gift.
Last week, at the Ameriquest NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill., she became the first woman in NHRA history to advance to the final round in the Pro Stock category. In fact, she became the first woman to advance past the first round in Pro Stock.
Almost a week has passed since she made drag racing history, but unfortunately, the mainstream media (and the automotive media to an almost equal extent) have overlooked her achievement.
While the motorsports world continues to sing the praises of Danica Patrick (and rightly so), Enders has earned tremendous respect among her Pro Stock peers. In a category not known for producing overnight successes, Enders has obviously found her stride. She's moved rather rapidly through the ranks (from Jr. Dragster to the Super Gas sportsman class to Pro Stock) and has fought through a host of disappointments and near-disasters during her journey.
The subject of Disney's made-for-TV movie, "Right On Track," Enders entered the professional arena this season with a certain star quality. She also took the brunt of some skeptical drag racing pundits who believed she was either too young, too inexperienced or too emotionally unprepared to tackle the demands of big-time NHRA racing.
But team owner Vic Cagnazzi stood behind his young talent, even after a testing accident in Gainesville, Fla., prior to the 2005 season. Enders' runner-up finish in Joliet last week substantiated his confidence in her.
But the lack of widespread media coverage of her impressive ascension through the carnivorous ranks of professional drag racing will do little to slow down the enthusiastic approach and unbending will of this determined young woman. Not the type of racer who pursues the limelight, Enders will enter this week's national event in her home state of Texas with the singular goal of winning her first professional trophy. Her maturity was evident last week after just missing that first pro victory.
"First of all, we would really liked to have won, but we're going to get our win here soon," said Enders, who then spoke about being the first woman to advance past the first round in an NHRA Pro Stock race.
"That's a huge point of interest for the public and the media, but for me, I don't consider there to be any difference when I strap the helmet on."
Maybe the media hasn't picked up on Enders to the degree she is entitled just yet, but the odds are squarely in her favor for her to pick up her first championship event trophy before Danica Patrick does. Both are skilled, accomplished race car drivers; right now, one has been enjoying the majority of the "ink" while the other has already made history.
Erica Enders is just beginning.
Bill Stephens covers NHRA for ESPN.com.
