In a weekend that saw the thoughts of Team Mopar and the drag racing community focused on the health of J & J Racing’s Roy Johnson (see News section), Erica Enders paced Mopar’s Hemi-powered Pro Stock contingent, scoring a semifinals appearance at the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals in Phoenix.
Enders qualified a strong third in her RaceGirl Dodge Stratus R/T, and then defeated the Mopar-powered Pro Stock car of teammate Rodger Brogdon. She then bested Mike Edwards in a quarterfinals match, before losing in the semis to event winner Kurt Johnson. The outing was Ender’s first semifinal appearance since the Houston event last year.
Like Enders, Richie Stevens Jr. made much Hemi power during qualifying, putting his Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T in the second spot. In eliminations, Stevens sent a Mopar-powered car to the trailer in the first round, handing a loss to V. Gaines and his Kendall Oil Dodge Stratus R/T team. Unfortunately, just as Enders, Stevens couldn’t get past Kurt Johnson, and he lost to the Phoenix winner in the quarterfinals.
For the first time in 42 events, Allen Johnson failed to qualify his Team Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T for the Pro Stock field. Racing quickly took a backseat, however, after Allen’s father and crew chief, Roy Johnson, suffered a heart attack following qualifying on Saturday. With his father recovering nicely in a local hospital, Allen returned to the track on Sunday to help with Stevens’ Dodge Stratus R/T, which is tuned by Allen and Roy.
| 
|