As the 2024 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series nears its end, Aaron Stanfield waits for the Pro Stock title race to begin at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, held at Pomona’s renowned Auto Club Raceway.
This final event will bring a competitive season to an end – one that has seen Stanfield rise to the challenge, with the championship still tantalizingly within reach. Heading into the weekend, Stanfield leads the Pro Stock points standings, a result of a consistent performance throughout the series, but the championship remains fiercely contested.
Stanfield’s road to the finals has reflected an impressive 2024 season, the best of his career. With ten final round appearances and six victories, he has continually demonstrated his performance on the strip. Stanfield secured wins in two key events during the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, including a victory at the Las Vegas NHRA Nationals that boosted him to a 32-point lead over his closest rival, Dallas Glenn. This margin, while providing a cushion, remains slender enough to suggest that the championship may be decided in the final moments of the series.
Reflecting on the intense competition this season, Stanfield said the following, via Drag Illustrated. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in a position where the championship will come down to the wire like this will.”
Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage
Stanfield acknowledged Glenn as a strong competitor.
“This is a little bit of a different ball game but I’m looking forward to it and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. We’ve had some great rivalries this season especially with Dallas Glenn.
“He’s a great competitor and it always feels like we really accomplished something when we beat him. It very well could come down to the two of us in the final round on Sunday. It’s going to be fun to watch it all play out, a cool story to tell and definitely something special for the fans to see,” Stanfield noted.
Stanfield’s efforts are supported by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage, Melling Performance, and Janac Brothers Racing—a team whose hard work has been vital to his 2024 campaign. Throughout the season, Stanfield has maintained a position within the top five, beginning with a strong showing at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals in April.
As he prepares for the finals, Stanfield’s approach remains unchanged.
“Our approach is going to be the same as it has been. Starting in qualifying, go out there and make the best runs we can, pick up those little points and really set ourselves up for race day,” he explained. Such precision is critical.
“This is what dreams are made of or crushed by. It’s going to be exciting to see it all play out. Hopefully this JHG / Melling / Janac Brothers team is on the winning side come Sunday.”
Qualifying sessions unfold on Friday and Saturday, and eliminations start on Sunday. With television coverage on FOX Sports 1, the stage is set for a thrilling end to the NHRA season.
