ENNIS, Texas (October 12, 2023) – The Elite Motorsports team is ready to take to the track this weekend for the Texas NHRA FallNationals, affectionately coined the “Stampede of Speed,” at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas, just outside of Dallas. Elite Motorsports operates the largest professional team in drag racing with eight powerful Pro Stock machines in its arsenal.
Elite Motorsports pilot and five-time world champion Erica Enders is currently leading the points in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s version of the playoffs. Enders has powered to the top of the ladder in the past three consecutive events, demonstrating that consistency is key in the Countdown. Enders won the Texas NHRA FallNationals in 2022 and her team is looking for a repeat.
Aaron Stanfield made some impressive Countdown moves at the most recent event in St. Louis where he reached his first final round of the season. He is currently fifth in the championship standings. Right behind him in sixth place is Troy Coughlin Jr. Both talented Elite Motorsports drivers are working hard to improve their standings and this weekend’s event will be key to Countdown success.
While 2017 Pro Stock world champion Bo Butner won in Super Stock at the Texas Motorplex in 1999, he’s looking for his first Pro Stock win at the iconic facility. With multiple wins across several NHRA drag racing categories, Butner’s experience and familiarity with the track will serve him well this weekend. The Pro Stock category is packed with heavy hitters and rookie Jerry Tucker has managed to hold his own all season long with the help of his Elite Motorsports team. Tucker is originally from Oklahoma and would love nothing more than to get his first win at a track so close to home.
The Cuadra Boys are looking forward to being relatively close to home as well. The Mexico-based family team has been making more consistent passes in both Pro Stock and Top Sportsman. Patriarch Fernando Cuadra Sr. will be competing in Pro Stock alongside his sons Fernando Jr. and Cristian. David Cuadra will be seeking his second national event win in Top Sportsman.
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 13, and the final two qualifying rounds on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 15.
Erica Enders
“This is always a fun event, and the Texas Motorplex is basically my home track now. The Meyer family does a great job with the Stampeded of Speed. Dallas is different for so many reasons. We may not have won a race in the Countdown yet but we’ve collected a bunch of qualifying points and have made it to the semis at each event. Consistency pays off here but we are ready to kick it up a notch and let the momentum run through these last three races. After getting the points lead back, our only goal is to keep and extend it.”
Aaron Stanfield
“This is one of those races that everyone wants to win. We are in the heat of the championship battle, fighting for every point we can get. I would love to win this one for everyone on the team who’s worked so hard all season. Reaching the final round in St. Louis was a big confidence boost for everyone. We are ready to get it done in Dallas!”
Troy Coughlin Jr.
“The men on Team Yellow are all in and working their hearts out. It’s time to focus and execute one lap at a time.”
Bo Butner
“After St. Louis, we’re really looking forward to getting to Dallas with our JHG Chevy. This is a fun race, and with the JEGS Allstars taking place this weekend, too, there will be a lot of awesome racing for the fans to watch. Randi Lyn (wife and Stock Eliminator competitor) and I both had a good race in St. Louis – we’re looking for Dallas to be great.”
Fernando Cuadra Sr.
“Our program is getting stronger and we are learning a lot. I’m so proud of our team and my sons for all they’ve accomplished this year. We are ready to turn on some win lights this weekend!”
Fernando Cuadra Jr.
“We need to make some big moves this weekend. I’m confident in what this team can do, and I need to focus on doing my job behind the wheel. If we can keep things moving in the right direction, I think it will be a turning point for our team.”
Cristian Cuadra
“We are completely focused on going rounds this weekend to get back into the Top Ten. I know that we can do it as long as we remain vigilant out there. This is going to be a fun weekend full of really good competition. I’m looking forward to it!”
Jerry Tucker
“I can’t believe there are only three events left in the season! This entire experience has been incredible. I’ve learned so much and have had the honor of working with the best in the business. We want to finish this season strong and I hope to turn on a few win lights this weekend at the Stampede of Speed!”
Pre-Race Notes
Texas NHRA FallNationals Stampede Of Speed
Texas Motorplex
Ennis, Texas (October 12-15)
The Elite Motorsports team, the largest team in professional drag racing, has expanded for 2023 and will field a total of eight entries for this weekend’s Texas NHRA FallNationals Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas, just outside of Dallas.
At this event, the Elite Pro Stock team will feature eight Pro Stock drivers including reigning and five-time world champion Erica Enders, Aaron Stanfield, Troy Coughlin Jr., Bo Butner, Fernando Cuadra Sr. and his sons, Fernando Jr. and Cristian, as well as newcomer Jerry Tucker.
In the 19 Pro Stock events contested last season, Team Elite won 15 times and appeared in 26 out of 38 possible rounds. In addition to Enders’ 10 wins, Stanfield collected three victories while Coughlin earned his first two professional victories.
In 2022, Enders had the most dominant season of her career with ten wins in 13 final round appearances and an astounding 55-9 record in elimination rounds. This season, Enders’ impressive roster of supporters includes Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage, Melling Performance, SCAG Power Equipment, Peoplease and Gallagher Global.
During her professional career, Enders has accumulated 45 wins in 76 final rounds and has a round-win record of 461-253 for a .646 win percentage. Enders also has a win in Super Gas (2004 Houston) bringing her career total to 46 national event victories.
The Dallas event will mark Enders’ 350th career race in the Pro Stock category. She made her first start at the 2005 Winternationals in Pomona and qualified for her first event one race later in Phoenix. Enders recorded her first round win at the 2005 Reading event by beating Rickie Smith. Enders won her first race in Chicago in 2012, beating Greg Anderson in the final.
Enders won two events this season in Bristol and Topeka. She defeated Deric Kramer in the Bristol final and topped Greg Anderson in Topeka. She currently has a 22-13 record in elimination rounds this season.
At the most recent event in St. Louis, Enders qualified No. 1 and reached the semifinals to retake the championship lead. Heading into the final three events of the Countdown to the Championship, she holds a 25-point lead over Greg Anderson and is 38 points ahead of third-ranked Matt Hartford.
All eight Elite drivers are eligible to win the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro Stock title. In addition to Enders, Stanfield is in fifth place and Coughlin is sixth, while Butner is tenth.
Enders has won at least one Pro Stock event at 17 different NHRA venues including the Texas Motorplex. Enders is the defending event champion, having defeated Greg Anderson in last year’s final. She also defeated Jonathan Gray to win the 2015 event.
Enders currently holds both the elapsed time and speed records for the NHRA Pro Stock class with bests of 6.450-seconds and 215.55 mph. The elapsed time record was set at the 2022 Gatornationals.
If Enders wins one more event this season, she will surpass three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Angelle Sampey as the sport’s winningest professional female driver. Sampey currently has 46 wins while Enders has 45 professional wins and one sportsman win, tying her with Sampey.
Following an impressive fourth-place finish in 2022, Troy Coughlin Jr. is enjoying similar success in his fourth full season behind the wheel of the familiar yellow and black JEGS.com Camaro. Coughlin enjoyed a breakout season last year with back-to-back victories in Seattle and Topeka. He also went to final rounds in Phoenix, Reading and Las Vegas.
Coughlin heads to Dallas as the No. 6 ranked driver in the championship points standings after posting wins at the season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and the Dodge Power Brokers Mile-High Nationals in Denver to go with a runner-up at the Four-Wide event in Las Vegas. Coughlin, a semifinalist in Reading, has an 18-13 record in elimination rounds this season. He is just 107 points out of first place.
Earlier this season at the NHRA Arizona Nationals near Phoenix, Coughlin became the first winner of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. He defeated Greg Anderson in the final with an elapsed time of 6.57, compared to Anderson’s 6.60, to capture the inaugural event victory.
In addition to his four career Pro Stock victories, the multi-faceted Coughlin has additional wins in Top Alcohol Dragster, Super Comp and Super Gas.
Coughlin’s father, Troy Sr., is a 15-time national event winner in Pro Stock, Pro Mod and Super Gas. Including his uncles, John, Mike, and Jeg Jr., the Coughlin family has combined to win 133 national event titles.
Coughlin’s career bests in Pro Stock are 6.515-seconds and 212.29 mph, set earlier this year at the season opener in Gainesville.
Aaron Stanfield has also returned to the Elite team for another season behind the wheel of the Janac Bros / Melling Engine Parts / JC3 Energy Service Camaro. Stanfield, the son of five-time Super Stock world champ Greg Stanfield, is coming off a season where he was the third-ranked driver in Pro Stock.
Last season, Stanfield collected victories in Phoenix, Bristol, and this fall event in Charlotte to go with four runner-up finishes in Pomona, Epping, Norwalk and Denver. Stanfield finished the season with a 38-16 record in elimination rounds.
Stanfield went to the final round at the most recent race in St. Louis and he has four semifinal and seven quarterfinal finishes to his credit this year. He’s currently the No. 5 ranked driver in the class, 73 points out of the lead. Stanfield has also qualified a season-best of No. 2 at the race in Bristol.
Stanfield was recently named the overall season Pro Stock winner of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge, a specialty event that featured a rematch between the semifinalists from the previous event.
Stanfield won back-to-back titles in the FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown class in 2020 and 2021, and he is the current championship leader in that class, following his most recent win at Maple Grove Raceway. The Texas FallNationals will be the penultimate race for Factory Stock and it’s possible that Stanfield may clinch his third title this weekend.
All told Stanfield has 23 career wins in Pro Stock, Factory Stock, Super Stock, and Top Dragster.
Stanfield’s career bests in Pro Stock are 6.457-seconds and 213.47 mph, both set in Gainesville 2022.
Bo Butner is a two-time NHRA world champion in Pro Stock (2017) and Comp Eliminator (2006). He joined the Elite team last season as the driver of the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Jim Butner Auto Group / Summit Racing Equipment Camaro.
Last season, Butner drove to a ninth-place finish in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series standings.
Earlier this season in Phoenix, Butner drove to a runner-up finish in Pro Stock, reaching the final for the first time since the 2019 Richmond event. Butner defeated Erica Enders, Fernando Cuadra Jr. and Kyle Koretsky to reach his 26th career Pro Stock final.
Following a semifinal finish in St. Louis, Butner moved into the Top Ten in Pro Stock, just two points behind Camrie Caruso in ninth place.
Butner recently won his 30th national event title when he claimed the Super Gas victory at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals. Butner also won the Super Gas title at Indy in 2022.
Butner has 30 career national event victories including 11 in Pro Stock. He also has wins in Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Gas, and Super Street. Additionally, Butner has enjoyed success as a big-money bracket racer with a victory at the K&N Spring Fling Million in Las Vegas in 2021.
Butner has won at least one national event title at 14 different venues including the Texas Motorplex. He won the 1999 Super Stock title by beating five-time world champ Jimmy DeFrank in the final.
Butner’s career bests in Pro Stock are 6.475-seconds and 214.28 mph, set in Dallas (2015) and Gainesville (2017), respectively.
The Cuadra family includes Fernando Sr., and his sons Fernando Jr. and Cristian. The Cuadra family is backed by Corral Handcrafted Boots.
Fernando Sr. and Cristian will continue to race Ford Mustangs under the Elite banner while Fernando Jr. recently made the switch to a Chevy Camaro. Fernando Jr. is driving an Elite entry previously raced by five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr.
Fernando Sr. is a two-time national event runner-up with final-round appearances at the 2019 races in Reading and Pomona.
Fernando Jr. raced to the final round of the prestigious U.S. Nationals last month. Cuadra Jr. is the sport’s No. 12 ranked Pro Stock driver.
Cristian Cuadra was also the runner-up to Enders at the 2022 four-wide event in Las Vegas and he was a semifinalist earlier this year at the Bristol race. He comes into this weekend as the No. 11 ranked driver in Pro Stock.
Earlier this season in Phoenix, Cristian Cuadra became the first Mexican-born NHRA racer to qualify No. 1 in a pro category when he drove his Elite-powered Corral Handcrafted Boots Mustang to a 6.552 pass. C. Cuadra is one of just 11 non-U.S.-born drivers to qualify No. 1 in a professional NHRA class and the only one to accomplish the feat in Pro Stock.
The third Cuadra brother, David, recently claimed the first win for the family when he won the Right Trailers Top Sportsman title at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals in Charlotte. He will once again be competing in the Top Sportsman class this weekend.
The Cuadra family has career-best elapsed times of 6.515 (Fernando Jr.), 6.524 (Fernando Sr.), 6.527 (Cristian) and 6.578 (David). Their career-best speeds are 212.13 (Fernando Sr.), 211.43 (Cristian), 210.73 (Fernando Jr.) and 209.39 (David).
New to the Elite Pro Stock team this year is Jerry Tucker, who enjoyed a memorable debut in Gainesville. Tucker qualified his Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer / Elite Motorsports Camaro in the No. 15 spot with a 6.573 and won the first round after teammate Enders encountered a mechanical issue. Tucker has a semifinal finish from Chicago and is No. 13 in the standings. Recently, at the event in Reading, Tucker made the quickest pass of his career when he went 6.535 at 210.14.
Tucker, of Lindsay, Okla., has spent the last 30 years racing everything from Sprint cars to Midgets and has also enjoyed success in drag racing. Tucker previously raced in the Top Sportsman class. Tucker is one of the leading contenders for the NHRA Rookie of the Year award.
Collectively, the nine current team Elite drivers have combined to win 111 NHRA national event titles across all classes including 67 in the Pro Stock class.