ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS RESULTS: AARON STANFIELD TAKES ELITE MOTORSPORTS TO THE WINNERS CIRCLE

Pro Stock Winner: Aaron Stanfield (Photo Courtesy Elite Motorsports)

By: Elite Motorsports

JOLIET, Ill. (May 17, 2026) – Aaron Stanfield and the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / Janac Brothers Racing team rallied to victory Sunday at the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.

After a streak of stellar reaction times through the first three rounds of racing (.008, .011, .004), Stanfield took the victory in the final round on the starting line when six-time world champion Greg Anderson went -.096 seconds red on the tree. It was Stanfield’s 15th win of his career, first since the U.S. Nationals in 2024 and was the first win in Pro Stock for Elite Motorsports since Erica Enders won the U.S. Nationals in 2025.

“Our team’s definitely been waiting on this moment for a pretty good while. It’s the best feeling you can get out here when you see that win light come on in the final round. We had a great weekend and a great day today, and kind of had some luck roll my way in that final round,” Stanfield sais. “We felt like we had something in South Georgia, but the racetrack was a little tricky, so we really didn’t get to see it there. I think we saw it this weekend with a combination of KB being a little off. I think these Elite Motorsports guys have been working really, really, really hard. I think we’re going in the right direction.

“I felt very focused today. When you see another driver driving really well, you’re going to try to get up on the wheel and try to cut a light. I do think it can affect you, but I just woke up like any other normal day and decided to drive well today,” said Stanfield in reference to his reaction times and the implications on his opponents. “It was one of hose days, everything lined up and you’ve got a clear mind and focus. I also saw an opportunity today. This is the closest we’ve been to KB, and I knew I really needed to take advantage of it, so that definitely had an effect.”

Stanfield started the day from the No. 7 qualifying position before taking down Matt Hartford in the first round. In the quarterfinals and semifinals he took down two Elite teammates: first was six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the yellow and black of JEGS and then his father, also a six-time world champion, Greg Stanfield in the Janac Brothers machine.

This was Stanfield’s fourth final round at Route 66 Raceway, he won in Super Stock over his father in 2017, was runner-up in 2018 in Top dragster and reached the finals in Pro Stock and Factory X in 2024, he lost to his dad in Factory X final.

The weekend was a sweep for Elite Motorsports in Pro Stock. Stanfield’s victory came after Erica Enders secured the No. 1 qualifying position and won the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday.

Elite Motorsports heads to Maryland Internationals Raceway next for the NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS May 29-31. It’s stop seven of 20 on the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series 2026 schedule and the second new track on the tour.