Story By: SARA SLAUGHTER / ELITE MOTORSPORTS – KENT, WA – Rookie of the Year candidate Sienna Wildgust will make her debut with Elite Motorsports in a Cuadra branded Pro Stock car at this weekend’s NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways.
“I am feeling very excited and blessed for my first race with Elite,” Wildgust said. “I am excited to work with everyone and thankful for Erica’s help in the whole process. We haven’t gone testing yet so we are excited to see what the car will do that first session.”
Wildgust, a third generation drag racer, will be competing in her seventh race of the 2024 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season. Through her first six races, she qualified for race day at the Winternationals and both Four-Wide events in Las Vegas and Charlotte. Wildgust, who is from Ontario, Canada, will be making her first pass down Pacific Raceways Friday afternoon.
“I have never raced at Seattle before. I am excited to see another racetrack and see another state that I have never been to,” Wildgust said. “There’s going to be a lot that is new this weekend. Luckily, I’ve had the chance to be in the Elite pits the last couple races. I’ve loved watching their team dynamic, they all work so well together and really support each other”
Wildgust will have the Cuadra brand on the side of her car while the Cuadra Boys are away on business for the next two races. The brothers saw an opportunity to keep their brand represented at NHRA while also supporting their new teammate as she continues her Pro Stock career.
“I’m so grateful to the Cuadra family that they’d let me represent their brand out on the NHRA circuit while they take care of business overseas,” Wildgust said. “Everything has really just come together to make this transition seamless.”
While Wildgust looks to make her mark with Elite Motorsports, she’ll be joined by five teammates at Pacific Raceways:
Pacific Raceways is the site of Troy Coughlin Jr.’s first Pro Stock victory. Troy Jr., driving the JEGS.com / White Castle car this weekend, rallied to victory from the No. 4 qualifying position taking down Fernando Cuadra, Camrie Caruso, Greg Anderson and Erica Enders in 2022.
“Team Yellow has been extremely excited to head west for two weeks now. Pacific Raceways will always hold a special place for us because it’s where we got our first professional win together,” Troy Jr. said. “We have specific goals and we’re ready to go after them one at a time. There is a lot of excitement brewing up for the Friday show as well. Advice to the fans: Don’t miss it!”
Troy Jr. is looking for his second win of the season, he landed in the winner’s circle in Epping, New Hampshire at the New England Nationals.
Aaron Stanfield in the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / Janac Brothers Racing entry will be looking for his third consecutive victory. Stanfield drove to victory in Richmond, Virginia and then just a week later tallied his 10th Pro Stock win in Norwalk, Ohio. His pair of victories extended to four the number of consecutive races Elite Motorsports has taken home the Pro Stock Wally.
Six-time world champion Erica Enders and the JHG / Melling / SCAG team are chasing their second win of the season, a victory that will also be her 50th career national event win, 49th in Pro Stock. Enders reached the winners circle at the season-opening Gatornationals, her first victory at the historic event.
Jeg Coughlin Jr., “The Natural” as he’s nicknamed, will be looking for his second Northwest Nationals win this weekend, he picked up his first back in 2002. Jeg Jr., representing SCAG Power Equipment and Outlaw Mile Hi Beer, has already earned two wins in 2024, a Four-Wide victory in Las Vegas and the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.
Jerry Tucker continues his quest for his first Pro Stock victory sporting the Outlaw Mile Hi Beer / SCAG brands. Tucker picked up his first No. 1 qualifying position earlier this year in Las Vegas before making his first final round appearance, coming up short to teammate Jeg. Jr.
The NHRA Northwest Nationals at pacific Raceways kicks off with four rounds of qualifying Friday at 3:30 and 8:15 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 and 3:45 p.m. The top 16 will compete in eliminations Sunday beginning at 10:30 a.m. with Pro Stock first round at 11:30 a.m. Television coverage of the event will start on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with qualifying shows Friday at 10:30 p.m. ET and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET. The eliminations will air on FOX Broadcasting Network (FOX) Sunday at 4:00 p.m. ET.