Erica Enders with the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / SCAG Power Equipment team and Aaron Stanfield with his JHG / Melling / Janac Brother’s team rallied to the semifinals of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
Six-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders started her race day from the No. 6 qualifying spot thanks to a 6.590-second pass at 207.40 mph and faced teammate and Sonoma Nationals winner Greg Stanfield in the first round. Enders’ red JHG / Melling machine stayed consistent with a. 6.560-second pass at 208.55 mph defeating Stanfield and his Janac Brothers / The Rod Shop car’s 6.589 at 208.10.
In the quarterfinals, Enders matched with Matt Hartford. Enders would have the race won at the starting line after Hartford went -.008 seconds red on the Christmas tree. The JHG / Melling hot rod made a 6.572-second pass at 208.71 mph setting her up for a semifinal matchup against rival Dallas Glenn.
Enders had her best light of the weekend at .009-seconds and she’d handle her JHG / Melling machine to a 6.583-second pass at 208.75 mph, but it wouldn’t be enough for Glenn’s 6.579 at 208.14 with a .011 reaction time.
“I’m really proud of our turn around this weekend. People only get to see the surface and have no clue the amount of time and effort that goes on behind the scenes. We have been working so hard, to try to close the gap and we are getting there. This season has been challenging and disheartening to say the least but what tears others apart, makes our group stronger,” said Enders after breaking a streak of three consecutive first round losses. “I’m proud of the grit and tenacity they have displayed through not only performance woes but feeling the absence of some of our key men. This weekend, all my boys were here, and it was such a great feeling to have the band back together. We have a long way to go but it felt really nice to turn some win lights on today. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it until this is all over: when it comes time and the pressure is on, my money is on us! Let’s go!”
Aaron Stanfield and his black JHG / Melling machine began their eliminations from the No. 13 spot after a 6.621-second pass at 206.89 mph. His position set him up for a first-round race against teammate Cristian Cuadra in his Corral Tequila / Corral Belts / Cuadra machine.
Stanfield had the better run at 6.566-seconds and 206.45 mph to Cristian’s 6.567 at 206.83 mph putting him in the second round to race against Cory Reed. The quarterfinals would be a clean side-by-side drag race with the JHG / Melling car earning the win. Stanfield had a 6.579 pass at 208.07 mph, enough to send Reed and his 6.582 at 208.33 mph to the trailer.
In the semifinals, Stanfield had the starting line advantage against reigning world champion and eventual race winner Greg Anderson but his 6.583-second pass at 207.85 mph couldn’t keep up with Anderson’s 6.555 at 207.66.
Next up for Elite Motorsports on the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series schedule is the regular season finale, the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29-Sept. 1 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
This story was originally published on August 17, 2025.
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