Enders Fails to Qualify in Las Vegas for First Time Since 2016
- Crystal Clay
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
by Crystal Clay, Chief Motorports Correspondent
LAS VEGAS (April 12, 2025) — Erica Enders failed to qualify Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, marking the first time since 2016 that the five-time Pro Stock champion will not compete on race day.
In Friday’s opening qualifying session at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, Enders recorded a 6.736-second pass at 205.88 mph, placing her 18th in the field. That run left her outside the top 16 after Q1—and she was unable to improve in subsequent rounds.
She was officially bumped from the ladder during the final session by her own Elite Motorsports teammate, Jeg Coughlin Jr., who slid into the final qualifying spot. The stunning outcome drew a wave of disbelief through the staging lanes, just as Paul Lee was preparing to begin his media availability as the Funny Car No. 1 qualifier. Drivers and media paused to watch the final quad unfold in silence.
Greg Anderson, who claimed the No. 1 qualifying position in Pro Stock, offered a candid assessment of Elite Motorsports’ performance this season.
“They’re making mistakes. They shouldn’t be running like that,” Anderson said. “Performance-wise, they’re not that far behind us. They just got a little behind and skipped some things they probably shouldn’t have. I mean, I was slow by two (hundredths) and still won, so that shows how easy it is to lose — or win — out here right now. Even without the other team running at their best, it’s still a job every time you line up on Sunday. But hey, I’m having fun.”
The cause of Enders’ missed qualifying effort has not yet been made clear, and she has not spoken to media.
Elite Motorsports has endured a difficult start to the 2025 season, and Enders’ early exit underscores how tight the margin has become in Pro Stock.