Pro Stock racer Aaron Stanfield had a significant day at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals finals on Sunday. Although he fell short in the Factory X division, he clinched victory in the Pro Stock category by defeating Dallas Glenn.
Stanfield became the first racer in 2024 to achieve consecutive Pro Stock wins and only the third to win twice this year.
“It was a very hectic race day, and I’m still trying to process everything because it all happens so quickly when you’re competing in two categories,” Stanfield said. “But I had an excellent Pro Stock car today. It was incredibly fast, and although I didn’t drive as well as I did last weekend, I drove well enough to win. Hats off to my team.”
Stanfield’s win was a rematch of the final round in Richmond, showing the fierce competition between him and Glenn.
“We both come from similar backgrounds, and he’s a tough competitor. It feels great to win, but we’re both hardworking people who have worked hard to get here. It’s always cool to race against him because he’s outstanding, so I know I have to be at my best to beat him,” Stanfield shared.
Losing the final round in FX was a setback for Stanfield, but his experience in drag racing has taught him to quickly move past disappointments.
“Usually, it’s not a distraction, but losing that final round bothered me a bit because I felt we should have won,” Stanfield admitted. “You have to have a short memory in this sport, shake it off, and focus on the next race. This was the third time this year I had both cars in the final round, and I was hoping to win both. It didn’t happen today, but we still have a few more chances.”
Stanfield’s path to the final included victories over Chris McGaha, Deric Kramer, and Cristian Cuadra. Glenn, on his fifth final appearance of the season and the 22nd of his career, defeated Jeg Coughlin Jr., Fernando Cuadra Jr., and Mason McGaha, extending his points lead to 89 over Greg Anderson, who was eliminated in the first round. Reigning world champ Erica Enders also lost in the opening round.
Stanfield’s win moved him up to fourth in the Pro Stock points standings.
With two weekends off from racing, Stanfield’s team has a clear strategy for maintaining their momentum.
“We’ll go home, ensure our equipment is in top shape, and keep our heads straight,” Stanfield said. “We need to continue doing what we’ve been doing. I felt like I could have driven a little better today, but it was enough to win, and that’s what matters.”
