Jndia Erbacher’s passion for drag racing has always been unmistakable, planted early, when she first went to the track at just three weeks old. That same drive carried her through a limited 2024 campaign, where she made just three race appearances yet still captured the FIA Top Fuel championship, proving that quality and consistency can outweigh quantity.
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #195, the Women of Power Issue, in July/August of 2025.
“We still managed to win the European championship,” Erbacher says. “We’re really happy with the car. It’s very consistent and we’ve worked hard to get it there.”
That “we” includes her tight-knit family and a small group of trusted crew members and friends who balance their careers and responsibilities with weekends at the track.
Based in Basel, Switzerland, Erbacher is used to wearing multiple hats. She’s still pursuing her master’s degree while working full time and juggling the demands of running a Top Fuel team in Europe’s FIA Championship series. The win wasn’t just a personal milestone but a reflection of the years of effort and sacrifice poured into the program by everyone involved.
“We’re a family team,” she says. “Every one of us has a full-time job back home. We’re doing this just in our free time. That’s why winning the championship meant so much to us.”
Helping guide the team are tuning veterans Aaron Brooks and the Lagana brothers, a collaboration that has proven crucial in getting the car to run consistently and competitively. That consistency allowed Erbacher to capitalize on her limited schedule and still come out on top.
Her next major stop is the NitrOlympX at the Hockenheimring in Germany this August – a race she calls “the NHRA U.S. Nationals of Europe.”
“It’s our biggest race,” she explains. “It’s only two hours from home, and it’s the most important one for our sponsors, friends, and family. They do such a great job putting on a show, not just for racers, but for the fans. That makes it even more fun to race there.”
The event carries weight both personally and professionally. With limited races on the schedule this year, each outing counts that much more. While her team is focused on the current season, the path forward beyond that is less defined, at least for now.
“We’re still working with the Laganas, but there are no plans for racing in the U.S. at the moment,” Erbacher says. “With school, work, and everything else going on, it’s just too much to take on right now.”
Still, the thought of running in the States isn’t entirely off the table; it’s just a matter of timing.
Off-track, Erbacher continues to lead by example. One of the most rewarding parts of this season, she says, was bringing her best friend into the crew. With no mechanical background, she jumped in and started working on the clutch.
“She told me, ‘I don’t know how to do this, but if you teach me, I’ll try,’” Erbacher recalls. “And now she’s my clutch girl. She’s doing amazing.”
It’s that kind of encouragement and opportunity that Erbacher hopes more women will receive in the sport. Her advice for young girls looking to get involved in drag racing? Just show up.
“Start hanging out at the track,” she says. “Clean parts. Ask questions. Find a way to be around the cars and the teams. That’s how you get started.”
And when the inevitable setbacks come, she says, you keep going.
“Never let anyone tell you you’re not good enough. I know life can be hard, and sometimes it feels like it hits you right in the face. But I promise, if you keep trying, if you keep showing up, doors will open.”
Erbacher isn’t chasing a traditional career path in racing. She’s carving out her own version of success, one fueled by persistence, passion, and a genuine love for the sport. Plus, she’s doing it without compromising the things that matter most: her education, family, and personal life.
There may not be a full season on the horizon or a grand plan for a U.S. debut just yet, but that’s never been the point. Jndia Erbacher races on her own terms, and that, more than anything, is what makes her powerful.
