Pro Stock Winner: Aaron Stanfield
By: Elite Motorsports
LAS VEGAS (Nov. 04, 2024) – Aaron Stanfield and the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / Janac Brothers Racing team took over the Pro Stock points lead in the process of winning sixth race of the season Monday at the postponed Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Stanfield defeated Elite Motorsports rival Greg Anderson on a holeshot in what was his 10th final round appearance of the season on Monday. Stanfield left the starting line in .023 seconds and laid down a his 6.606-second pass, his quickest of the weekend, at 206.13 mph that was enough to defeat Anderson’s 6.591, which was the quickest of the entire event, at 206.39 with a .043 reaction time.
“I have the greatest guys out here at the track, I have all the confidence in them. We had some different conditions today with it being a little cooler and really windy. These Pro Stock cars can be tricky when there’s not as many cars out on track,” Stanfield said. “I have to thank JHG, Jason and Nikki Johnson, the Melling Brothers who are here this week and we’re going to visit at SEMA tomorrow, Joe Janac, all the Elite boys. This was a big win for us.”
Stanfield started his race day on Sunday from the No. 3 qualifying spot thanks to a 6.609 second pass at 205.66 mph. His first-round opponent would Eric Latino who struggled to get off the starting line and coasted to a 14.717 pass at 87.66 while Stanfield travelled the quarter mile 6.638 at 204.76.
In the quarterfinals, Stanfield lined up against the first of two of his teammates, five-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. The two would leave the starting line almost identical but Stanfield reached the finish line first at 6.614 seconds and 204.85 mph while Jeg Jr. took the SCAG Power Equipment / Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer machine down The Strip in 6.641 at 204.29.
The win set Stanfield up with a semifinal matchup against another Elite fielded car, the Corral Boots / Columbia Impex / Cuadra machine driven by David Cuadra. The matchup would have to wait until Monday moring after unfavorable track conditions following a lengthy track clean upon Sunday evening had NHRA official postpone the conclusion of the event. David, who qualified No. 2 for the first time in his career, would give up the win on the starting line when he left .005 too soon. Stanfield had trouble with the JHG / Melling machine and coasted to a 32.755 at 88.41.
Also in the semifinals was David’s twin brother, Cristian Cuadra. It was the first time the brother’s shared a semifinal appearance. Cristian had a massive part in helping get Stanfield the points lead when he took out Dallas Glenn in the first round. Glenn entered the race weekend with the lead and now sits 32 behind Stanfield.
The 2024 Pro Stock championship will come down to the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip November 14-17 in Southern California.
