Just a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the Elite Motorsports’ headquarters in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, the Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex just outside of Dallas acts as a home race for the eight-car stable. It seems only fitting that Texas native and Texas Sports Hall of Fame nominee, six-time reigning world champion Erica Enderswould be looking to win the event for the third consecutive year.
Ahead of FallNationals competition, the Texas Motorplex offers a unique experience for race fans. The Stampede of Speed is a week-long festival style event with concerts, fan experiences and plenty of drag racing culminating with the Texas NHRA FallNationals that starts with Friday night racing and a chance at a cash prize for being quickest of the day and ends with the event champions wearing custom cowboy hats.
“The Stampede of Speed is always such a fun week. What the Meyer family does for this event and our sport is second to none. I’ve been racing at this track since I was eight years old, and it holds a special place in my heart,” Enders said. “We’ve won here a handful of times including the last two years and we are looking to defend our home turf again this year. The championship is within reach, but we have to get to work. A win here in Dallas, would catapult us to exactly where we want to be, rolling into another favorite of ours, Vegas. I have all of the faith in the world in this team and what an honor it would be, to win for Mark Ingersoll this weekend.”
Enders and the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / SCAG Power Equipment team are currently sitting third in the Pro Stock standings, just 59 points back from teammate Aaron Stanfield and 90 from rival Dallas Glenn who has the lead. Enders is not only looking for her third consecutive and fourth overall win at the Texas Motorplex, but her 50th career national event win, 49th in Pro Stock.
With just three races left in the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season, Elite Motorsports enters the Texas NHRA FallNationlas at the Texas Motorplex, race four of six in the Countdown to the Championship, with a total six racers in the top 10.
As of late, Stanfield and his JHG / Melling / Janac Brothers Racing team have been leading Elite Motorsports. Stanfield has made nine final round appearances in 2024 and is looking for his fifth consecutive this weekend. He’s turned five of those finals into victories, most recently at Maple Grove Raceway, the site of the first of six races in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. Stanfield who is a Louisiana native, will be looking for his first win at the Motorplex and a chance to take over the Pro Stock points lead.
“Having the week off I got to re-focus, got a chance to get my head back on straight and we’re planning to come out swinging,” Stanfield said. “It’s kind of a hometown race for me being from Louisiana and I’ll have the Factory X car racing too. So let’s see if we can park both of them in the winners circle.”
Jeg Coughlin Jr., “The Natural” as he’s been nicknamed, is sitting fifth in the points. Jeg Jr. made his return to Pro Stock at the beginning of the year after a three year retirement. He’s been busy in his first year back with four final round appearance with three victories and a No. 1 qualifying position for good measure. He’s had one win at the Motorplex that came in 2002.
Cristian Cuadra leads the trio of Cuadra Boys Racing sitting sixth in points behind Jeg Jr. Despite not competing in the Countdown in the Championship, Cristian will be joined by brothers Fernando Jr. and David in representing the Corral Boots, Cuadra and Columbia Impex brands at the FallNationals. Cristian finished runner-up to Enders to open the season at the Gatornationals and has since raced his way to two semifinals and seven quarterfinal exits. Fernando Jr. has visited the semifinals and quarterfinals this season while David has six quarterfinal appearances.
In his sophomore season racing Pro Stock, Jerry Tucker has solidified himself as a formidable opponent. With a runner-up finish in the Spring at the Vegas Four-Wide event, three semifinal appearances and his first two career No. 1 qualifying positions, Tucker and his Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer / SCAG team enter the weekend seventh in points.
After welcoming his second child earlier this week, a baby boy carrying on the family name of Phillip Troy Coughlin III, Troy Coughlin Jr. and the JEGS.com / White Castle team will take on a bit of a new look at the FallNationals. JEGS will be pink in observance of October as Breast Cancer Awareness month. Troy Jr. will hope to show off the pink in the winners circle for the second time this season. His victory at the New England Nationals as well as a semifinal finish and seven quarterfinal exits has Troy Jr. sitting eighth in points as he looks for his first win at the Motorplex.
Competition for the Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, race four of six in the Countdown to the Championship, begins with four rounds of qualifying scheduled for Friday at 4:15 and 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at noon and 3:00 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at noon with Pro Stock first round at 1:00 p.m.. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with a qualifying show Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET and an eliminations show at 4:00 p.m. ET.
This story was originally published on October 11, 2024.
The post Elite Motorsports Looking For Third Consecutive Home Race Win at Texas NHRA FallNationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated.