The ground shook as the announcement hit today that six-time NHRA champion Greg Stanfield is returning to Pro Stock in 2025 to race alongside his son, 2024 championship front-runner Aaron Stanfield.
Just days after he locked down the Holley EFI Factory X title in his Stanfield Racing Engines-powered Chevrolet Camaro, Elite Motorsports announced that Louisiana-based engine builder and longtime drag racer Greg will turn his driving attention to the 500-cubic-inch, fuel injected factory hot rods in a multi-year agreement with Janac Brothers, The Rod Shop, PJQ, and Roasters under their team banner.
“Everyone is really excited about this. Aaron was a huge advocate for me getting back into Pro Stock racing,” said Greg. “Joe and David Janac are so supportive, [along with] the support of Rick and Gil Kirk of the Rod Shop, Pat Quinn, and Craig Gaultiere. Knowing how much everyone has rallied around this decision makes me all the more excited.”
Greg, who has so far claimed five championships in Super Stock and one in Factory X, is part of a distinguished group of racers as his 21 NHRA national event wins are stretched across six categories: Comp, Stock, Super Stock, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Truck, and Factory X. Only a handful of drivers have won in six or more categories, including talented drivers such as Stanfield’s Elite Motorsports teammates Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Bo Butner (Mountain Motor Pro Stock), who have each won in seven different classes. Justin Lamb, Brad Plourd, Peter Biondo, Scotty Richardson, and Dan Fletcher have all won in six, and Aaron has won in five.
Greg’s three wins in Pro Stock car cover monumental ground; his first came in Dallas in 2008, and he then scored the 2010 title at the biggest, most prestigious event in NHRA history, the U.S. Nationals. Greg’s most recent Pro Stock win came at the NHRA Finals in 2011, and since that time he has continued to sharpen his skills as a driver. He won Super Stock in 2018 in St. Louis and then again in 2021 in Bristol, and he reached multiple final rounds in Super Stock and Stock before claiming his first Holley EFI Factory X win in 2023.
The father-and-son theme is strong in Pro Stock. The Stanfields will compete as teammates in the same manner that Chris and young Mason McGaha have raced together since 2020, while Fernando Cuadra Sr. also recently raced alongside sons Fernando Jr. and twins Cristian and David before retiring from both driving a Pro Stock car and running the family business. The most famous father-and-son Pro Stock duo was six-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Warren Johnson and son Kurt, a 40-time winner on the national event tour.
“I’m excited, and to have the opportunity to race professionally with my son, that’s something I can’t pass up,” said Greg, noting that his re-entry into Pro Stock is decidedly different than how he has raced in previous years as the equipment and engines will be supplied and maintained by Elite Motorsports.
“When I raced before, everyone had their own engine program,” he continued. “This takes the pressure off trying to build engines, tune them, race them. This way I get all the fun and less of the worrying.”
Over the winter and well into the future, father and son will continue their diligent work in the legendary Stanfield Racing Engines shop as they build and maintain engines for drivers in the Factory X, Factory Stock, and Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. From behind the wheel, they will join the naturally aspirated factory hot rod crowd and launch into the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing series at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals, March 6-9.
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