Erica Enders 6.488 second run on Friday night held up for the top spot in Pro Stock entering Sunday’s New England Nationals. (Photo: Allen Saucier | The Podium Finish)
EPPING, N.H. – Erica Enders stole the show on Friday of Pro Stock qualifying, but as the weather heated up, so did Dallas Glenn, winning the Mission Foods 2 Fast, 2 Tasty Challenge.
Enders 6.488 second pass on Friday night held up to earn the number one qualifying spot entering Sunday eliminations, while Glenn who will enter Sunday in the number three spot in Pro Stock, picked up bonus points in each qualifying session on Saturday, and won the 2 Fast, 2 Tasty challenge over Aaron Stanfield.
“It was very important to do well (on Friday night),” Enders said. “We used Q1 to get our bearings, and Q2 to go after it. And they did just that. Putting a 48 up was exciting. I think we came within a few thousandths of the track record, which is also exciting. So I’ve got a fast hot rod again. Just have to go do my job tomorrow.”
While Enders and Elite Motorsports teammate Troy Coughlin Jr., who enters Sunday in the number two qualified spot, had strong showings in the excellent conditions on Friday, but on Saturday it was their rivals at KB Titan Racing making waves in the heat as Glenn and Greg Anderson set the tone.
“Not the numbers we would’ve loved to put up today,” she said. “But it’s going to be tricky tomorrow, so we’ve got to put our heads down and go to work. Today will give us a race day tune up for tomorrow.”
On the heels of Chicago disappointment, Enders looks for rebound
Enders was leery of getting too excited about a strong qualifying run, since she scored the top spot entering the last Pro Stock race at Route 66 Raceway, only to get knocked out in the first round on a hole shot by number 16 qualifier John DeFlorian.
She said that having a good weekend at Epping, a track where she has won twice, will be important in getting herself and her team back on track.
“(Bouncing back is) very important for your own mental state,” she said. “I have 56 guys on the road full time and I don’t want to let them down, just like they don’t want to let me down. After last week they reminded me how many times I’ve saved them, so they were definitely in my corner when they could’ve beat me up.”
Her team has continued to stay in her corner this weekend, giving her a car that she feels is capable of carrying her to her third New England Nationals Wally.
“Leaving Chicago last week, I was excited to have Epping and Bristol back to back,” she said. “We’ve won here a couple times and Bristol three or four times. Going back to tracks where you’ve had success kind of just lets you start out on that positive note.”
Dallas Glenn stages during the Mission Foods 2 Fast, 2 Tasty Challenge on Saturday at New England Dragway. (Photo: Allen Saucier | The Podium Finish)
Glenn nets 2 Fast, 2 Tasty Challenge win
There was no room for respite for Dallas Glenn and his team on Saturday, as his victory in Chicago punched his ticket into the Mission Foods 2 Fast, 2 Tasty Challenge. His first round opponent: teammate Greg Anderson, one of the best drivers in the history of the Pro Stock class.
Although Anderson drove to the fastest elapsed time of the session, gaining three bonus points, Glenn left the starting line quick enough to win the race on a hole shot, running a 6.540 second pass to Anderson’s quicker, but losing, 6.537. After dispatching of Anderson, he defeated Stanfield in a rematch of the Chicago final round, running a 6.545 to Stanfield’s 6.551.
“I’m pretty happy with my Saturday,” Glenn said “I think we got bonus points on both runs, so the car’s working really good. We had two really good races. I got Greg on a hole shot by just a little bit, and then with Aaron, we put on a great race.”
Glenn said running well in the heat of Saturday was a good sign for his team, as Sunday’s conditions will be similar to Saturday.
“I’m feeling really good for the weekend. I think we’ve got a great race car, and we’ll be in similar conditions for tomorrow. So I feel really good we have a car that can compete with anybody out there. If we can continue this to tomorrow, I feel like they’re going to have their hands full.”
Tougher track conditions present opportunity for Glenn
While some teams tend to struggle or fade when the weather heats up and tracks get difficult for crew chiefs to figure out, and for cars to handle, Glenn said his team thrives in those scenarios.
“If the conditions tomorrow were going to be cool like Friday, I might not have quite as much confidence,” he said. “I feel like we’ve got a really good car when the track’s not putting out that great. But Rob Downing and Dave Connolly seem to really have a handle on the track when it gets tricky out there.”
With the Mission Foods 2 Fast, 2 Tasty Challenge win already under his belt, Glenn said he feels like it is a good precursor to Sunday success.
“Last year when they said it was going to be championship points, my goal for the season was to be in at least every semi,” he said of the Challenge. “This year my goal is to be in every 2 Fast, 2 Tasty, and so far I’m at 100 percent, so I need to keep that momentum going. The extra championship points (help). Championships have come down to less.”
Race day matchups are set in Pro Stock
When racing kicks off on Sunday Enders will square off with No. 16 qualifier Fernando Cuadra Jr.. The rest of the first round matchups will see No. 8 Eric Latino vs. No. 9 Deric Kramer; No. 4 Matt Hartford vs. No. 13 Chris McGaha; No. 5 Jerry Tucker vs. No. 12 Mason McGaha; No. 2 Troy Coughlin Jr. vs. No. 15 Brandon Miller; No. 7 Greg Anderson vs. No. 10 Aaron Stanfield; No. 3 Glenn vs. Brandon Foster; and No. 6 Kenny Delco vs. No. 11 Jeg Coughlin Jr..
