Erica Enders is preparing Sienna Wildgust for victory in the NHRA.
“She’s going to have access to what I know and what I’ve been through,” Enders (seen at right, above, with Wildgust) told RACER ahead of Wildgust’s announcement to join Elite Motorsports on Saturday. “She will get all of our data, as well as Mark Ingersoll’s playbook. So she’s starting with the best tools, and I believe that’s all anyone could ever ask for.”
Wildgust, who turned 18 earlier this month, will be guided by Enders, championship crew chief Ingersoll, team owner Richard Freeman, and the rest of the Elite Motorsports squad. Wildgust is moving from KB Titan Racing, a championship-winning organization, to another. A migration driven by resources and family connection.
Wildgust’s father, Scott, has been a customer and friend of Freeman’s for quite some time and its well-known Elite Motorsports operates its large organization with a fun, close-knit, family atmosphere. Wildgust also looks up to Enders, the six-time Pro Stock champion and winningest woman in motorsports.
“She’s young and impressionable, and she hasn’t been tainted by the sport yet,” Enders said. “It’s kind of like a clean slate. She doesn’t have many bad habits yet, from what I’ve seen, because I watch a lot up there. She does a very nice job. She does better burnouts than half of the class that have been doing it for a really long time. So, she has a great baseline, and we at Elite can be a great asset to her.”
Wildgust (above) made her NHRA Pro Stock debut at the Gatornationals in March but is not competing full-time. A third-generation driver who, like Enders, started in the Junior Drag Racing League, Wildgust makes three active female drivers in the class.
“I’ve had many interactions with Erica and usually, it’s at the top end when I get out of my car,” Wildgust told RACER. “She’s always at my door, giving me a hug and saying she’s proud of me. That’s one of the biggest things — she was always there. We were on two different teams, so that was huge for her to come up to me and make me feel proud about what I’m doing. I know some of them, but I’m excited to join the family and get to know everybody better.”
Regardless of gender, Enders embraces competition. But there is no denying that being a female in a male-dominated profession makes it easier for Enders and Wildgust to relate and for Enders, it provides a chance to hopefully make someone else’s path easier than what her own was.
“I’m confident this can be a really good partnership, and I can be a mentor and friend to her,” Enders said. “People made my journey hard on purpose, and it took me over a decade to find my people. But when I found them, we lit the world on fire from the start. That shows how important it is to surround yourself with the right group because it allows you to do your job much easier. I feel like our group is the best, and that’s why I’ve been here for 11 years and will finish my career here.
