6-Time NHRA Pro Stock Champion Erica Enders Going Top Fuel Racing in 2025? Elite Motorsports Drops News on 2-Car Top Fuel 2025 Plans
Once a ‘season-ending’ event is in the books, part of the racing community can enter ‘the off-season.’ Crazy things are commonplace to happen, such as drivers changing teams, sponsors coming and going, crew chiefs fired and hired, and sometimes cars and/or powerplants changing.
NHRA Top Fuel driver and drag-and-drive enthusiast Clay Millican lights up the sky at the PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park in February this year. 1320 Video photo.
Sometimes it can require a score card to keep track of it all when the first event of the next season begins.
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Sometimes, big announcements get made in the middle of a season, and they can catch the racing world (and sometimes beyond) off guard that speculation begins immediately.
Wednesday’s announcement by Richard Freeman, owner of Elite Motorsports, would qualify for this shockwave by most people’s opinions, as Freeman announced plans to expand into the Top Fuel category.
KWS Images captured current NHRA champion Doug Kalitta at the PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park in February this year. Could this 11,000 horsepower thrill ride be in Erica Enders' future for 2025?
A team largely known for their Pro Stock prowess with eight teams currently under their umbrella, Freeman definitely had the racing world buzzing with this news.
On the popular WFO Radio Podcast with National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) announcer and automotive enthusiast Joe Castello, Freeman detailed a few things about the new venture.
"We are looking to possibly expand again into Top Fuel,” said Freeman. “I have two brand new trailers on order, and two new PDRC cars on order, and we will build the infrastructure while we work on the funding. I will make clear that we absolutely will not take that move until the proper funding is in place."
Erica Enders has captured six world championships and the majority of her national event wins with Elite Motorsports. Would she leave the seat of her Pro Stock ride for a chance at Top Fuel? KWS Images photo.
While a lot of details are yet to be determined, Freeman did mention he has plans for a driver for one Top Fuel car already. “My plan would be to have Erica (Enders) behind the wheel of a Top Fuel dragster and continue to drive Pro Stock," Freeman said.
Although nearly all of Erica’s NHRA national event wins are from the Pro Stock category, the 6-time world champion has competed in several other classes, including Mountain Motor Pro Stock, Pro Modified, and Competition Eliminator.
In this clip from the WFO Radio Podcast, Freeman tells Castello he believe Erica would hit the ground running in Top Fuel:
Of interesting note: The NHRA rules do not allow a driver to participate in two professional categories at the same event. Freeman mentioned that conversations have been had about “making this possibility available,” but it remains to be seen if Erica could compete in both classes at this time.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, KWS Images and 1320 Video, videos courtesy of WFO Radio Podcast.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com