In a wide-ranging interview on Joe Castello’s WFO Radio show, Elite Motorsports owner Richard Freeman confirmed his team’s plans to expand into Top Fuel competition with five-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Erica Enders as driver.
“We are going to build the infrastructure while we work on funding,” Freeman said. “I will make clear that we absolutely will not make that move until the proper funding is in place and the proper alignment with someone to make that program come to realization.”
Freeman revealed that Elite Motorsports has already ordered two new Top Fuel dragsters and trailers in preparation for the potential nitro program. He emphasized that Enders would continue to compete in Pro Stock alongside any Top Fuel duties.
“Erica would be behind the wheel of a Top Fuel car and drive Pro Stock,” Freeman stated. “I’ve had many conversations with NHRA about making that available. We still have some challenges there, but they have agreed to work with us to make that feasible.”
When asked how he thinks Enders would fare in Top Fuel, Freeman expressed full confidence in his star driver:
“I think she’d be unbelievable,” he said. “We’ll make sure she has the right people helping her. I mean, we’ve had so many people from John Medlen to Johnny Lindberg to Shawn Langdon to Antron Brown, Steve Torrence – all those guys said ‘Hey, whatever we can do to help shorten her learning curve, we’re in.’”
While plans are still in development, Freeman made it clear that Elite Motorsports is serious about joining the Top Fuel ranks when the right pieces fall into place. The addition of Enders and Elite to the class would bring one of drag racing’s most successful driver/team combinations to nitro competition.
This story was originally published on July 5, 2024.
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