Erica Enders earned her fifth NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro Stock world championship Sunday at the 22nd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The standout driver clinched the championship by winning the semifinal round of competition but that did not deter the fan-favorite driver. She went on to win the entire event, marking her tenth win of the season and surpassing her previous career best of nine event wins in one season.

Enders began the year with a renewed fire and drive to win. She proclaimed throughout the season that she was playing for keeps and would not rest until the championship was hers. That laser focus served her well as she racked up win after win in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Camaro, including first-time victories at three tracks that had previously eluded her.

“As a kid with big dreams, this makes me want to pinch myself,” said Enders. “We have worked really hard to get here and we’ve sacrificed a lot. It’s nice to see all of those sacrifices paid off. It’s really unbelievable. I’m a blessed girl.”

Only four other Pro Stock drivers have earned five or more world championship titles in the 71-year history of the sport. Enders shares this distinction with Jeg Coughlin, Greg Anderson, Warren Johnson and Bob Glidden. Enders took over the points lead early in the season after her third win of the year in Houston. She held onto that lead for the rest of the season.

The win in Las Vegas was the 15th win for the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock team. Enders faced her teammate Troy Coughlin Jr. in the final today to secure her ninth victory at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Leaving the prestigious track, Elite Motorsports holds the first (Enders), second (Coughlin), and third (Aaron Stanfield) positions in the points standings.

Enders started race day from the No. 1 qualifier position for the sixth time this season thanks to a blistering run of 6.579-seconds at 208.75 mph.