Driver Erica Enders becomes the first female ever to win in the Pro Stock Car division at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet. | Michael DiNovo~For Sun-Times Media

Driver Erica Enders becomes the first female ever to win in the Pro Stock Car division at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet. | Michael DiNovo~For Sun-Times Media

Funny Car driver Jeff Arend celebrates his victory. | Michael DiNovo~For Sun-Times Media

Top Fuel driver Antron Brown wins at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals. | Michael DiNovo~For Sun-Times Media

Funny Car driver Courtney Force advances to the semifinal round. | Michael DiNovo~For Sun-Times Media

Funny car driver Alexis DeJoria reacts after defeating number one seed John Force (not pictured) to advance into the semi final rounds for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Illinois, Sunday, Jul. 01, 2012. | Michael DiNovo~For the Sun-Times Media

No.1-seeded Tony Schumacher loses to T.J. Zizzo (not pictured) in the elimination round. | Michael DiNovo~For Sun-Times Media

Funny Car driver Todd Lesenko gets his front tires airborne during a qualifying run for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet. | Michael DiNovo~For the Sun-Times Media

Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher (back) races Hillary Will (front) during qualifying runs for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet. | Michael DiNovo~For the Sun-Times Media

Funny Car driver Bob Tasca III (left) blows an engine as Matt Hagan (right) cruises by during qualifying runs for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet. | Michael DiNovo~For the Sun-Times Media

Funny Car driver Ron Capps performs a burnout before a qualifying run for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet. | Michael DiNovo~For the Sun-Times Media

Top Fuel driver Brandon Bernstein competes during qualifying runs for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet. | Michael DiNovo~For the Sun-Times Media

Funny Car driver Robert Hight competes during qualifying runs for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet. | Michael DiNovo~For the Sun-Times Media

Antwon Brown sits in his Top Fuel car during qualifying runs for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet. | Michael DiNovo~For the Sun-Times Media

John Force sits in his car during qualifying runs for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet. | Michael DiNovo~For the Sun-Times Media

Funny Car driver Bob Bode gets sideways during a qualifying run for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet. | Michael DiNovo~For Sun-Times Media

Courtney Force sits in her car during qualifying runs for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet. | Michael DiNovo~For the Sun-Times Media

Todd Lesenko (front) and Courtney Force (back) race side by side during qualifying runs for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet. | Michael DiNovo~For the Sun-Times Media