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Qualifying report

Enders-Stevens all smiles after 'beating' husband in Indy's Q3

Bragging rights go to her -- for now at least.

Erica Enders-Stevens

Erica Enders-Stevens

Michael C. Johnson

Ritchie Stevens
Erica Enders
Erica Enders
Ritchie Stevens

Engines Inc. Pro Stock driver Erica Enders-Stevens (in photo) was all smiles Saturday night after moving up the ladder to the provisional No. 5 qualifying spot for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway. 

And in doing so, she won an Elite Motorsports intramural battle with husband Richie Stevens. The two faced each other in the third qualifying session with pride and bragging rights on the line. 

Enders-Stevens got off the line first with a brilliant .007-second reaction time and was never headed, running 6.607 seconds at 208.55 mph. Stevens' light was .018 and his 6.632-second pass at 208.33 mph came up short. 

"I should've made a bet but I didn't," Enders-Stevens said. "And then we outran him three-hundredths so we won. That was cool. It was fun; it was like we won a round down at the top end. My guys were really happy. 

"That run was our best of the weekend, so we were all very excited. It ended up being the third-best for the session, so it's not too shabby. We've got to pick away at it. We'll get there. Monday is when it matters." 

Stevens is racing as his wife's teammate for the first time this season, driving a new Elite Motorsports Chevy. 

"It was cool to race Richie," Enders-Stevens said. "We've talked enough crap to each other over the years, and it was nice to line up against him again -- and beat him again. 

"I'm so proud of him. No one has worked harder than he has, and he deserves to be back out here. I hope we can race against each other again soon." 

Enders-Stevens, meanwhile, is looking to Sunday's final two qualifying sessions to move up the Pro Stock ladder. 

"We've gotten better and figured out some stuff," Enders-Stevens said. "I hope we'll continue to get better and be faster tomorrow."

Geiger Media Global

 

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