GREG STANFIELD WINS NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS OVER SON AARON STANFIELD

By: Elite Motorsports (Photos Courtesy Elite Motorsports)

SONOMA, Calif. (July 27, 2025) – Greg Stanfield and his Janac Brothers Racing / The Rod Shop team rallied to Elite Motorsport’s first victory of the season Sunday at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway.

In his first final round appearance since returning to Pro Stock competition, Greg lined his Janac Brothers / The Rod Shop Pro Stock machine up against his son Aaron Stanfield’s Johnsons Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / Janac Brothers hot rod. Aaron would leave the starting line first with a .016-second reaction time to Greg’s .030. Greg would chase Aaron down in a tight side-by-side drag race. Ultimately, Greg’s 6.552-second pass at 211.49 mph bettered Aaron’s 6.568 at 209.39.

“I’m in shock right now. I can’t believe that just happened. I’m just trying to soak it in. Obviously, this is something we’ve both dreamed about, to be able to race Aaron in the finals, it’s incredible and then to win. I’m blessed and honored to be able to have this opportunity to race with him, I can’t describe it,” said Stanfield “To have Aaron in the finals with me makes it even better. A lot of credit goes to him, he tunes my engine, the Elite guys and all the people who support us, Janac Brothers, The Rod Shop, they supported me from the beginning and to have them back on the side of my car, just means a lot.”

It was Greg Stanfield’s sixth Pro Stock victory in 28 final round appearances and his first win since r 2011 at the season-ending World Finals. It was also Elite Motorsports first victory since the fall NHRA Nevada Nationals in Las Vegas 2024.

“It was huge for Elite to come out on top here. Elite has been working double overtime to try to get our cars faster and we’re showing that in qualifying, we just needed to have it show on race day,” Stanfield said. “I’m ecstatic right now. I don’t know how I’m sitting here with this trophy, but they picked me to win this.”

Stanfield started race day from the No. 3 qualifying spot, his best eliminations start this season, racing against teammate and Pro Stock rookie Stephen Bell in his 1320 LLC machine. Stanfield laid down a 6.502-second run at 211.36 mph to Bell’s 6.552 at 209.85 setting Stanfield up for a quarterfinal race against Matt Latino. Latino, racing on behalf of his father Eric, and Stanfield would have to pedal their way to the finish line. Stanfield was able to get their first in 9.400 seconds and 119.56 mph while Latino coasted to a 13.041 at 75.79.

It would be a monster matchup in the semifinals as Stanfield faced off with reigning six-time world champion and Elite Motorsports rival Greg Anderson. Both Pro Stock veterans would experience tire shake but Stanfield was able to pedal it to a 7.236-second pass at 203.46 mph while Anderson had shut the car off for a 14.248 at 57.35.

Aaron Stanfield worked his way to the finals starting from the No. 4 qualifying position and a first-round race against Cory Reed. Stanfield would pick up the round win on a holeshot with a .017-second reaction time and 6.511 second pass at 211.66 mph while Reed had a .085 reaction time and 6.482 pass at 210.54. In the quarterfinals, Stanfield had the race won on the starting line when Cody Coughlin went -.013 red on the Christmas Tree.

In the semis, Stanfield had the other half of a monster match up racing against Elite Motorsports rival and four-time 2025 winner Dallas Glenn. Stanfield left the starting line first and had a clean pass at 6.579 seconds and 209.85 mph. Glenn shook the tires coasting to a 13.896 at 61.08. It was Stanfield’s first final of the season 26th of his career and second consecutive at Sonoma Raceway.

“They asked me if I cut my dad any slack in the finals, heck no, he wouldn’t do that for me. And I wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Stanfield. “It’s an incredibly special moment, I grew up watching my dad race Pro Stock, he’s always been my hero, I had to learn it from somewhere, he’s taught me everything, so I credit my accomplishments to him. It’s pretty dang cool.”

Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series competition continues in three weeks at Brainerd International Raceway for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota August 15-17.