FloRacing got the chance to catch up with 2024 Pro Stock Superstar Shout Pro Stock champion Erica Enders during the SEMA Show. We asked the six-time Pro Stock champion and inaugural big money winner about returning to Bradenton Motorsports Park for the 2nd annual SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout February 6-8, 2025.

FloRacing: You won the very first Pro Stock event at the SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout. How cool was it to start your 2024 season with a big money win?

Erica Enders: Obviously, you always want to start our season on the right foot and that was a big win for our team. But, you know, I had a unique experience because I was able to work behind the scenes on putting this deal together because of (Elite Motorsports team owner) Richard Freeman's involvement with PRO. I got to see all the hard work and effort that went behind the scenes, from so many people. That made me take even more pride in winning the first event. PRO wanted to make it the coolest, most bad ass race in the history of ever. I feel like we succeeded at that and I won.

FloRacing: Was it eye-opening to see an event come together like that from the driver’s perspective?

Erica: Yes, and I worked really hard on the sportsman side of it to help that part of the show come together. I got to see everything from catering to renting a stage, finding a band to play, to the structure that was behind the starting line, to getting the beer and liquor license. You don't think about all the things that go into it. There were so many people involved and we all had to work together.  It's kind of like planning a wedding, but way, way crazier, and you forget how many details you have to figure out to make it successful.

FloRacing: How fun was that to just have a little bit of uncertainty, with things like the chip draw, on how the race day would roll out?

Erica: I think it was definitely cool. It added excitement to not have your typical, you know, 16 car ladder. We did well in testing, and when qualifying rolled around, we really struggled. We didn't go to the top until the last session. That was obviously exciting, but then going up there and you, you're like, ‘Okay, well, I'm the fastest car here. It really doesn't matter, because you could draw the number two guy, you could draw the number 16 guy.’ It definitely added some excitement, and it wasn't just for first round. It was every round you drew. So it was, it was very, very interesting. I thought it added that exciting factor.

FloRacing: Can you talk about winning the PRO Superstar Shootout and kind of setting the stage to roll in and win Gainesville. Do you think that played into a little bit of confidence going into Gainesville?

Erica: I think so. Our sport, like a lot of sports, is all about momentum. I took a lot of pride in winning that race, but the atmosphere was electric. I don't like the word epic, but that's what it was for me, and the way that the fans were involved. Coming back from the top end after we won the finals in Bradenton there were, like, just hundreds of people lined up giving me high fives as I went by. It gives me goosebumps to talk about. It's just kind of just different aspects of it. But I love starting the year off like that.” 

FloRacing: What are you looking forward to from the 2025 PRO Superstar Shootout?

Erica: Hopefully another fat deposit in my bank account. (laughs) Just kidding. I am looking forward to seeing the PRO board and PRO Promotions pull this off again. I love that side of it. I think to see it all come to fruition, and everybody's hard work and effort, because at the end of all the planning as you know, you’re ready to pull your freaking hair out. Like it's crazy, but to see it all, to see it all happen and go off with a bang the way that it did, I don't really believe it could have been much more successful. 

FloRacing: It is an interesting dynamic to see so many different people work together, the PRO board, all the teams from Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock for this massive event and then you go into the season and it's back to KB Titan versus Elite and the nitro teams are all back in their respective pits. What was that change like?

Erica: It was cool to see us work together. Usually, it is all about the Nitro teams, because it's always nitro versus the rest of the world, right? And to be able to work together, and that's kind of continued throughout the year where, like, the PRO organization, stands together to make sure things keep happening the way that we want them to. The nitro guys stood up for the Pro Stock teams in some areas this season and I don’t know if that would have happened two or three years ago. I think being able to work together in that situation has helped us across the board with our typical business situation throughout the year. You do go from working together and then you want to rip each other's throats out the very next week at Gainesville. It's nice that people can put that aside for the greater good of our sport for things like the PRO Superstar Shootout.

FloRacing: What would you tell a fan are your biggest tips for coming to the 2025 SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout this year?

Erica: I would say, number one, secure your tickets early, because going off how last year went, it probably will sell out. They will pack the place again. Number two would be to bring your friends and family especially if they've been to an NHRA drag race. You will have a great time at the PRO Superstar Shootout. I think it has a lot of fun things to offer.