ELITE MOTORSPORTS LOOKS TO CLOSE OUT ‘WESTERN SWING’ ON A POSITIVE NOTE AT SONOMA NATIONALS
Aaron Stanfield
By: Elite Motorsports (Photo Courtesy Elite Motorsports)
SONOMA, Calif. (July 24, 2025) – The Elite Motorsports camp enters this weekend’s Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway with high expectations as they chase the team’s first victory of the 2025 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season.
Aaron Stanfield and the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / Janac Brothers Racing team return to Sonoma Raceway as the defending event champions. Stanfield, currently sixth in points has made three semifinal appearances this season at the Arizona Nationals, New England Nationals and Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee. He also had a quarterfinal exit at the event in Norwalk, Ohio. The JHG / Melling team is coming off a first-round exit to teammate Troy Coughlin Jr. after qualifying No. 7 at the Northwest Nationals just outside of Seattle. Stanfield is looking for his third win at the facility, in addition to 2024, he also celebrated in the winners circle in 2021.
Greg Stanfield, Aaron’s father, and the Janac Brothers / The Rod Shop team are coming off a semifinal appearance at the NHRA Northwest Nationals. It was Greg’s first semifinal since returning to Pro Stock competition. His last semifinal was in 2013. The drag racing veteran has had two consecutive races qualifying in the top five. Currently 10th in points Stanfield will compete in his first Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge where he’ll have a rematch against his semifinal opponent and a chance at championship bonus points and a cash prize.
Joining Greg Stanfield in the #2Fast2Tasty challenge this weekend will be five-time Pro Stock world champion and NHRA Northwest Nationals runner-up Jeg Coughlin Jr. and his SCAG Power Equipment / Outlaw Light Beer machine. Jeg Jr. has one #2Fast2Tasty victory already this season. After reaching his first final round of the season at the Northwest Nationals, Jeg Jr. is now seventh in points. He’ll be hoping to tally add a fourth victory his 2003, 2010 and 2013 Sonoma Raceway wins.
Troy Coughlin Jr. is returning to the site of his 2024 Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory sitting 12th in points with his JEGS.com team. Troy Jr. started 2025 with a victory at the specialty PRO Superstar Shootout in Bradenton, Florida. He’s chasing his first win of the 2025 season and his first race day victory at Sonoma Raceway.
Erica Enders and the JHG / Melling / SCAG team are looking for their second win at scenic Sonoma Raceway, she first won in 2022. A win this season would mark national event win No. 50, 49th in Pro Stock. Last year, Enders qualified No. 5 but had a quarterfinal exit to eventual race winner and teammate Aaron Stanfield.
Stephen Bell handled his 1320 LLC hot rod to his career best elapsed time of 6.530 seconds at the Northwest Nationals in Seattle. He finished the weekend with a first-round exit to teammate Greg Stanfield. The Pro Stock rookie is looking for his first win in the Pro Stock category.
Competition at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals begins with four rounds of qualifying Friday at 4:30 and 6:45 p.m. and Saturday at 1:05 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Eliminations are slated to begin Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with Pro Stock first round at 11:35 a.m. Television coverage of the event begins with two qualifying shows Friday at 10 p.m. ET and Sunday at 2 p.m. ET before eliminations air at 4 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1).
