Courtesy Elite Motorsports (Photo Courtesy Elite Motorsports)
LAS VEGAS (April 11, 2024) – In addition to handling driving duties for the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / Janac Brothers Racing machine for Elite Motorsports at this weekend’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Aaron Stanfield will also be fielding an entry in the Factory X class.
“Mentally, I start preparing for controlled chaos,” Stanfield said. “It is a busy weekend to race in two classes. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes but luckily I have really good people on both teams that allow me to be able to do it.”
While competing for his first Pro Stock win at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the unique four-wide format, Stanfield will also race in the Factory X class. Aaron’s father, Greg, helped to debut the class in 2023. Factory X will be contested at eight NHRA national events and will be competing for a world championship for the first time this season.
“I am feeling really good about the first Factory X race,” Stanfield said. “We have gone testing a few times and it went well. We always show up to a race to try and win. That’s our goal. Hopefully we meet that goal this weekend.”
Stanfield is no stranger to racing in multiple classes in a weekend, he’s raced both Pro Stock and Factory Stock Showdown for the last four years, picking up three championships. In fact, his first Pro Stock win was at the NHRA SpringNationals at Houston Raceway Park where he doubled up for a win in Factory Stock Showdown to clinch the 2020 world championship.
Just three events into the 2024 NHRA season, Stanfield sits sixth in the points standings after a quarterfinal finish at the season opening Gatornationals and most recently a semifinal appearance at the NHRA Arizona Nationals.
“So far this season we have had some struggles, but I say it all the time, ‘One good run fixes everything.’ I’ve got some of the best guys at the racetrack working on my hotrod and I have some great new sponsors,” Stanfield said. “It is a great opportunity to be representing JHG this year. We are very thankful for Melling, JC3 Energy, Janac Brother’s Racing, and all of the other great partners with Elite Motorsports. We plan on parking Black Betty in the winners circle soon.”
Adding to the complexity of the weekend, Stanfield will also be competing in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday during qualifying with the finals being run during the final session. It will be the first time the specialty race within a race has been contested at a four-wide event. Eight racers in each of the pro categories from the Arizona Nationals qualified for a chance to earn championship bonus points and a cash prize.
In 2023, Stanfield won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Pro Stock Championship with two wins out of three appearances in the event for a total of eight bonus points that were added after points reset for the Countdown to the Championship.Stanfield will be joined by four Elite Motorsports teammates in the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge:
Six-time reigning world champion Erica Enders in her JHG / Melling / SCAG Power Equipment car has already visited the winners circle in the Challenge, picking up the victory at the Arizona Nationals. She’s also looking for her second national event win and third final round appearance of the season. When Enders last visited The Strip, she left with the Wally for the fall contested NHRA Nevada Nationals, it was her 10th at the facility, more than any other professional driver.
Veteran Jeg Coughlin Jr. in his SCAG / Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer car is coming off a No. 1 qualifier and semifinal finish at the NHRA Arizona Nationals. It will be his first time competing in the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. He’ll also be looking for his sixth win at The Strip, third at the spring event but first in the four-wide format.
Troy Coughlin Jr. sporting the JEGS.com / White Castle car is competing in the Challenge for the first time this year. In 2023’s Challenege, Coughlin Jr. had two wins in three appearances for a total of seven bonus points. Last year at the Four-Wide in Vegas, Coughlin Jr. raced his way to the final quad, picking up a runner-up finish.
This will be Cristian Cuadra’s second time qualifying for a chance at the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, his first came after a runner-up finish at the Gatornationals qualified him to compete in the Winternationals Challenge. Unfortunately, weather washed out the Challenge and there was no winner or bonus points awarded. At the Vegas Four-Wide in 2023, Cuadra qualified 12th and raced in the final quad, picking up semifinal points for finishing third in the final four.
Jerry Tucker in the Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer / SCAG entry is in just his second season behind the Pro Stock wheel. It will be the first time he competes in the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.
Also competing in the Four-Wide Nationals this weekend form the Elite Motorsports camp will be David Cuadra and Fernando Cuadra Jr. in their Cuadra / Corral Boots / Columbia Impex cars. Cuarda Jr. had the top speed at last year’s four-wide event.
Competition at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway kicks off with four sessions of qualifying Friday and Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Eliminations will begin Sunday at noon with Pro Stock first round at 12:40 p.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with qualifying shows Friday at 11 p.m. ET and Sunday at 11 a.m. ET and an eliminations show Sunday at 7:00 p.m. ET.
