NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Following the first race of the 2024 NHRA Countdown to the Championship, the Pro Stock division has a new points leader in Aaron Stanfield. As teams head south to zMAX Dragway for this weekend’s 16th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals, Stanfield will look to increase his lead as he continues to enjoy a career-best season.
 
Stanfield, driver of the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Janac Brothers Racing Pro Stock car, is the most recent winner on the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour after his win in Reading, continuing what was a red-hot summer.
 
He has collected five wins for Elite Motorsports so far during the NHRA season – with all five victories coming in the last seven races – and as the series returns to Charlotte, Stanfield is aiming for his second career win at zMAX Dragway. Stanfield previously won the fall race in 2022 and was also the runner-up at the four-wide race in Charlotte in April.
 
“Momentum is real, and things have been rolling our way,” said Stanfield, who has advanced to seven finals in 2024. “We’ve been getting the round-wins when we need them. When you start second in points, you know you definitely have a shot to win. I know the equipment I’m in and how hungry my guys are to win. We definitely have a shot to win, and we just need to keep our momentum rolling.”

 
Last season, Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all picked up wins at the fall race in Charlotte, and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations coverage starting at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.
 
The NHRA Carolina Nationals is the 16th event of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and second stop of the NHRA Countdown. As the playoffs marches on, competition in the loaded Pro Stock category continues to ramp up, especially in the top four.
 
Dallas Glenn of KB Titan Racing led the points for the majority of the season and is now second but is only nine points back of Stanfield. With three wins under his belt, he will also be aiming for his first NHRA Pro Stock championship.
 
Erica Enders is third following her runner-up finish in Reading to Stanfield, 35 points behind the leader, while five-time champion and NHRA 4-Wide Nationals winner Anderson is fourth, followed by the five-time champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. Anderson has ruled Charlotte as of late, winning the last two races at the track, but Stanfield is enjoying a special run heading to zMAX Dragway.
 
“I think I just need to go out there and try to do the same thing,” said Stanfield, who has 13 career Pro Stock wins. “It’s going to be a dogfight to the end. Dallas is a great driver, and he’s got a great car. Obviously, we have Erica and Greg is in there, too, and you can’t count out Jeg. There’s a bunch of us who are capable of winning it all.”

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two qualifying rounds at 4 and 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 20, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for noon ET on Sunday, Sept. 22. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, and then eliminations on FS1 at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.
 
To purchase tickets to the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway, please visit www.zmaxdragway.com or call 800-455-FANS (3267).