By: Elite Motorsports
MADISON, Ill. (Sept. 29, 2024) – Aaron Stanfield and his Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / Janac Brothers Racing team raced to their ninth final round appearance of the season Sunday at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Stanfield has now made final round appearances at the last four consecutive events, visiting the winners circle twice. He’ll leave the St. Louis area sitting second in points by only 31 with three events left in the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship.
In the finals, Stanfield and the JHG / Melling boys took on season rival Dallas Glenn. Stanfield would have a solid 6.586-second pass at 206.01 mph down World Wide Technology Raceway but it wouldn’t be enough for Glenn’s 6.577 at 207.82.
“It’s been a good three-in-a-row, really it’s been a good second-half of the season for us. Of course, today, not the result we wanted, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes, that’s racing. Dallas and I are both really hungry to win right now. Today he made the better run but it’s far from over,” Stanfield said. “There’s still three races left, and I just might as well win all three of them.”
Stanfield started Raceday at the Midwest Nationals from the No. 4 qualifying position, setting him up with a first-round matchup against teammate David Cuadra. Stanfield would run a 6.574 at 207.66 to defeat David’s 6.606 at 207.05. In the quarterfinals, Stanfield would take on Matt Hartford. The JHG / Melling machine would keep up its performance with a 6.605 at 207.15 that solidly beat Hartford’s 6.648 at 206.86.
The rest of race day would be a repeat of last weekend’s NHRA Carolina Nationals. Stanfield would meet teammate, six-time and reigning world champion Erica Enders in the semifinals. Enders’ JHG / Melling / SCAG Power Equipment machine would have to shut off early coasting to a 16.149 at 50.20. Stanfield’s JHG / Melling car continued its consistency with a 6.602 at 206.92 setting up a rematch of the Carolina Nationals final round with Glenn.
“I’ve said it since the start of the Countdown, it’s going to be a dog fight and if anything, I think we’ve proven that,” Stanfield said. “We get a week off, which means I get a chance to get my head back on straight and get refocused and we’re going to come back out swinging.”
The Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship continues with the Stampeded of Speed week leading up to the Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex October 11-13.
