sion, so the nerves were there at first,” Enders says.“ But once I made that first run, I felt back to normal. It was fun to take a break from Pro Stock.”
While both drivers are used to racing under the NHRA spotlight, the DI Winter Series offered something different— no extra added pressure and just racing for the love of it.
“ It was like old school roots of drag racing,” adds Brown.“ The atmosphere was like none other.”
“ I love new challenges. and even more than that, I love proving people wrong,” Enders states.“ Freeman and Tidwell are cut from the same cloth, so I’ m hopeful this is just the beginning of this venture. I was very appreciative of the opportunity to be their wheelman!”
And for both Brown and Enders, that was more than enough reason to suit up.
But it wasn’ t just NHRA drivers getting in on the action. Brown’ s crew chief, Brian Corradi, unveiled a Pro Mod of his own and ran the full Winter Series. He tapped two-time NHRA U. S. Nationals Top Dragster winner Zach Sackman to drive his ProCharged“ Gotham City Returns” Camaro. The team didn’ t qualify at the Snowbirds or WSOPM, but Sackman stopped Snowbirds winner Kye Kelley in the second round at the U. S. Street Nationals before falling to eventual winner and series champion Ken Quartuccio in round three. He also reached the final round of the Chicago-Style Second-Chance Shootout at WSOPM.
“ The goal is always to win,” Corradi says of his Pro Mod side project.“ We don’ t come to a race unless we think we can win. We’ re close.”
— KAYLA ZADEL DI
> SACKMAN, BRIAN CORRADI, AND MARK OSWALD
> ZACH SACKMAN
> ERICA ENDERS
May / June 2025 DragIllustrated. com | Drag Illustrated | 141