Force and Enders Inspire Women In NHRA

Brittany Force blazes a trail for women and her family’s legacy in NHRA competition. (Photo: Allen Saucier)

It is so common for women to thrive in the NHRA, that it almost doesn’t seem newsworthy anymore.

But, in an era where many arenas of motorsports continue to put extensive effort into recruiting and retaining successful female drivers, what happened in Gainesville, Florida during Women’s History Month is a story that stands out, even in a sport where successful women have been the norm since the 1970’s.

Entering the Gainesville weekend, Brittany Force had the fastest elapsed time (ET) in the history of the Top Fuel category. By the end of the weekend, Erica Enders had broken the ET record in the Pro Stock category, and Karen Stoffer had set the new standard in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category.

On the only NHRA race weekend of Women’s History Month, the women of the sport reminded fans and their competition that they are a force in the sport.

“NHRA has never lacked in the female talent department,” said Enders, who also holds the national record for the top speed in a Pro Stock, as well as speed and ET records in several sub-professional categories. “A lot of us got our start as kids racing Junior Dragsters and have worked our way up.

“Most of the women who race professionally work their tails off to be successful and be taken seriously. You don’t see many of us play the female/sex symbol card and I think that speaks volumes.”

That was a theme among the record holders. They see themselves as racers, not “female racers.” Enders has not only set records and won races, but she is already a four-time champion.

Like Enders in Pro Stock, Force currently holds both the ET and speed records in the Top Fuel category, and Force also has a championship under her belt.

She said that while women performing at the top of the sport is nothing new, she is proud to be among some of the biggest names in the sport.

“I am so proud to be mentioned alongside some of these amazing, strong women in the sport,” Force said. “We have been winning races and championships for a long time, and I think you are going to see even more in the next ten years. These girls who are coming up now will be setting the sport on fire.”

Stoffer doesn’t run a full-time schedule in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category, but she announces her presence every time she takes to the track. In Gainesville, she put an exclamation point on breaking the national ET record by winning the first race of the season in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

“I really hadn’t thought about it too much, so yes I was surprised,” Stoffer said. “The WAR (White Alligator Racing) Crew Chief Tim Kulungian had an eye on conditions and knew, based on what he was seeing, that the probability of a record in Gainesville was very high. I was pretty happy that it came from our newly colored Ray Skillman Auto Group, Pro Stock Motorcycle.”

Enders record setting run actually came in a losing effort, as she lost via a holeshot (when the opponent has a slower time but is able to win the race because they take off from the starting line more quickly), which made the moment somewhat bittersweet.

Having moved past the disappointment of the round loss, however, she said she appreciates her team’s effort to help her get the record.

“It is always amazing to set a world record,” she said. “This one was a little bit different because the (previous) ET record was set back before we switched from carburetors to EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) and the rev limiter.”

To set the record, Enders got down the 1320-foot race surface in a mere 6.450 seconds. She also holds the record for the top speed in the category at 215.55 MPH.

Force’s ET record saw her get down the track in just 3.623 seconds, while her speed record for the category is a whopping 338.17 MPH. Stoffer, who actually set, then re-set the record in Gainesville, with a 6.66 second pass, ended the weekend holding down the three quickest runs in the history of Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Following a Trail of Their Own

Erica Enders has made her story known as a formidable pro stock champion in NHRA. (Photo: Allen Saucier)

Enders leads the charge for women in the NHRA in terms of championships, taking the crown in 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2020, but the trail was blazed by pioneers like Shirley Muldowney who won three top fuel championships (1977, 1980, 1982) and three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, Angelle Sampey, who won Pro Stock Motorcycle championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Sampey, Enders and Force each finished second in points in 2021.

With a record of success that rivals or exceeds the men of the sport, Enders said she was unsurprised to see women holding down so many records in the professional categories. She looks forward to a time when gender isn’t even a consideration when a record is broken.

“As a kid, I had big dreams and worked really hard to make them a reality,” Enders said. “Over the years I have become the most decorated female World Champion in NHRA history. Having said that, I grew up in a house where gender played no role. Being the best “female” drag racer was never my goal. I wanted to be the best. Period.

“(Our team has) a long way to go, but I believe that what we have accomplished is nothing short of amazing. We will be in the history books forever and it will be a long time before another girl gets on our records.”

Force is also etched in history as one of female champions in the sport, locking down the top fuel championship in 2017.

“I’ve had little girls come up to me and say they watched me and want to be a driver because of me,” Force said. “I never expected to be that person, or be in that position, but if I can inspire just one kid, it means a lot. Of course I am here because I want to win, but if I can inspire others, that is pretty huge.”

Stoffer’s win in Gainesville was the 11^th in her career in a Pro Stock Motorcycle class which is particularly loaded with female talent. Three women finished in the top seven in Pro Stock Motorcycle points last season, with Sampey second, Stoffer fifth, and Angie Smith seventh.

This year, Stoffer and Smith sit first and second in points early in the season.

“I’m very impressed by the skills and talent of the drivers and their teams, but not surprised in any way,” Stoffer said. “The NHRA has had this organic growth of diversity in many aspects of drag racing.”

While the road behind them has been laid by several women throughout NHRA history, starting with Shirley Shahan, the first woman to compete in an NHRA national event back in 1965, the road ahead is wide open for young women coming into the sport.There are many women in competing in the pro categories already, but the support categories are exploding with talent among female drivers as well.

The past two seasons the Top Alcohol Dragster Division has seen women finish first and second in points, with Rachel Meyer winning over Jackie Fricke in 2021 and Megan Meyer winning over Fricke in 2020. Megan Meyer also won the 2019 championship.

This season, Julie Nataas leads the Top Alcohol dragster points early in the season, and Jasmine Salinas won the race at Gainesville over Nataas. Salinas had to beat two other female competitors to reach the championship match up with Nataas.

“It’s not just female drivers being successful in the NHRA,” Force said. “There are great women in social media, manufacturing, working on the cars, owning cars and driving the cars – at every level of the sport. It is commonplace in the NHRA.”

Fast Cars, But a Long Road

Brittany Force has her family’s genes for success and popularity with racing fans. (Photo: Allen Saucier)

None of these competitors simply stepped into a race car and started winning championships. Enders started as a child, competing alongside her sister, Courtney, in Junior Dragsters and working her way up through the ranks.

Force started in the Super Comp as a teenager. They each had to learn their way down the track, but also around a car.

“I feel like a huge part of my success is learning at the sportsman levels and working my way up,” Force said. “My nieces and nephews are getting an early start now as well, competing in junior dragsters, and I think early access to drag racing is part of the reason it is so accessible to so many people.”

Stoffer added that because you can drag race anything from your grocery getter up through a top fuel dragster, drag racing is relatable to most people.

“Most everyone drives,” she said. “And a majority of their lives, they drive to and from stop lights, as they travel. Kids are in the car and they understand the concept. I think that contributes to the attraction to drag racing and the diversity that NHRA organically attracts.”

Curiosity and interest go hand in hand. But finding success is another. Enders cautioned that young drivers who hope to succeed have to not only have a desire for success, but a willingness to work for it, because it is about more than just driving.

“I’ve been out here a long time. I have seen them come and go,” Enders said. “I’d say if you want to be respected, you have to earn it. Put your head down, be quiet and be HUMBLE and work hard. Your accolades will speak for themselves.

“I’d also say you have to make sure it is a true desire of your heart, because it is not easy. People are hateful and mean. I have worked for a number of teams and if you don’t have a group of guys that are all swimming in the same direction, it will never work.

“That is what makes our program at Elite so special. Your dreams only work if you do.”

One thing is for certain, the future of the NHRA for women and all drivers are in good hands. It got there because of the groundwork laid by the strong, diverse group of competitors that have come before.

And with drivers like Force, Enders and Stoffer continuing to make history for women – during Women’s History Month, no less – the door is open to any driver who wants to make their mark on the sport.