Erica Enders took homer her second Wally of the year in a dominating fashion Sunday in Seattle. Erica drove the GK Motorsports Chevy Cobra past three of the best en route to her win. She took out Greg Anderson in the quarterfinals, Allen Johnson in the semifinals, and the reigning Pro Stock world champion Jason Line in the final round to bring home another victory for Cagnazzi Motorsports.
“I’m so proud of my guys because they won this race today,” Enders said. “They gave me a great car for me to drive, and we drove it right to the winner’s circle. I’m honored to be their driver, and hopefully we can get a few more wins before the season is over. If we can position ourselves well before the Countdown begins, this is a good time to be starting to gain momentum. Beating those guys [Greg Anderson, Allen Johnson, and Jason Line] is something else because they’ve always been on the top of my list, guys that I’ve looked up to my entire life. Allen and Pam are very good friends of mine. I knew that [Allen] wanted to sweep [the Western Swing], but I told him I was going to take that dagum broom out of his hand, and he wasn’t leaving here with it. I’m just very proud to do it for Gaston Kirby and the team.”
With the win, Enders clinched her spot in the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s playoffs that start in Charlotte, Sept. 14-16.
For the first time in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series history, two female drivers claimed Wally trophies at the same event. Courtney Force powered her Traxxas Ford Mustang Funny Car to the winner’s circle for the first time in her career, and Erica Enders earned her second career Pro Stock victory in her GK Racing Chevy Cobalt at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Pacific Raceways.
“To have both me and Erica in the winner’s circle is awesome,” Force said. “We’re not just out here to race the boys, we’re here to beat the boys and today just proves that.”