Fans vote Enders into K&N Horsepower Challenge field for DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals

Two-time NHRA Pro Stock World Champion Erica Enders, driver of the Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro, is the K&N Horsepower Challenge Fan Vote winner and will fill the No. 8 starting spot in the Pro Stock bonus event.

"Our fans have proved, once again, to be the best in all of motorsports," Enders said. "I feel so blessed and I am so thankful for their incredible support. We will do everything we can to show our appreciation by running the wheels of this Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro to try and win this year's K&N Horsepower Challenge."

The 33rd annual K&N Horsepower Challenge will be contested during the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals on Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The event will be televised by FOX Sports 1.

Enders has back-to-back wins in the lucrative Pro Stock event with victories in 2014 and 2015, the same years she won her Pro Stock world championships. This will be her seventh start in the popular all-star event, and she'll open things up against defending Pro Stock world champion and last year's runner-up of the event Jason Line.

"We had a great run between 2013-15 in this event," Enders said. "We were runner-up in 2013 and then won back-to-back races the following two years. We also won the national event the same weekend as the two years we won the K&N Challenge so obviously, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a lucky place for our team."

The K&N Horsepower Challenge is a race within a race, highlighting the top drivers in NHRA Pro Stock competition, for which the winner receives $50,000. The runner-up will earn $10,000, the two semifinalists will each receive $3,000, and the four first-round finishers will each take home $2,500.

If a driver doubles up by winning the specialty event and the national event, that driver will win a $25,000 bonus. Drivers began accumulating points from qualifying starting at the 2016 DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals and the No. 1 qualifier at each NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event earned a $3,000 bonus.

In addition to Enders vs. Line, other first-round pairings are: defending winner Greg Anderson vs. two-time winner Allen Johnson; Bo Butner vs. Drew Skillman; and Shane Gray vs. Vincent Nobile. K&N Horsepower Challenge rounds are scheduled for 1:30, 4 and 5 p.m. Pacific Time on Saturday.

Tickets for the DENSO Spark Plug NHRA Nationals, Friday through Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, are available by logging on to www.lvms.com or by calling (800) 644-4444.