NHRA Pro Stock Leader Aaron Stanfield Not Expecting Free Passes from Teammates at Pomona

When it comes to breakout seasons in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, it's tough to beat the season turned in by Aaron Stanfield in the Pro Stock class.

Stanfield has emerged from the shadow of Elite Motorsports teammate and six-time champion Erica Enders to carry the team's best hope of a championship into this weekend's In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at Pomona.

Pro Stock has the makings of a really seat-of-the-pants weekend with the 29-year-old Stanfield holding a slim 32-point lead over Dallas Glenn and a 56-point advantage over five-time champion Greg Anderson. Enders, at 128 points off the lead, would need a win at Pomona and a plethora of unlikely scenarios to leapfrog all three drivers ahead of her.

Stanfield and Glenn are going for their first championship. Stanfield took the lead in the points championship for just the second time this season following his win at Las Vegas on Nov. 3 in the lead up to Pomona.

Stanfield has not taken the easy path to the points lead, either. He's won his last four elimination round matchups against Enders and last five against Anderson. Glenn has a three-match winning streak over Stanfield.

And while Stanfield is glad to have the experience of his team and teammates Enders and Jeg Coughlin Jr. on his side, any help from a teammate ends at the starting line. Coughlin is fifth in the standings, but mathematically out of the championship picture.

"We're definitely going to go at each other," said Stanfield, who finished fourth in the championship last year after turning in a career-best third place finish in 2022. "That's what we're here for. If you think somebody like Jeg Coughlin or Eric Enders is going to lay down for me, you're mistaken. We've got to race, and that's how I would like it.

"I'd like to earn my position. There's no easy rounds out there. You can get beat or win from any qualifying position, and I don't think anybody can be taken lightly."

Enders has won four of the past five titles in Pro Stock and would likely be the first to congratulate Stanfield, were he to seal the deal at Pomona.

"Absolutely," Stanfield said. "We have full support of each other. She's always been a big fan of mine likewise to her. I want to see her do well. She's been very instrumental to my success and I'm very thankful for the relationship we have—with her and Jeg and a lot of experience we have on our team.

"From that aspect, it's definitely very helpful, but when we put the helmets on and close the door, we're looking to turn the win light on against each other, and imagine it to be the same story for this weekend."

NHRA Pro Stock

Championship Contenders

Aaron Stanfield 2,587 points

Dallas Glenn -32

Greg Anderson -56

Erica Enders -128

Points Format for Pomona

Even the NHRA would have to admit the points formula in the series is not exactly a fan-friendly one. It's not something you can explain to a fan during a quick stop at the water cooler.

What we can share is that a perfect weekend—winning the event, qualifying first in class, turning in the low ET in each of four qualifying rounds and simply making a run—is 191 points.

Here's what it looks like:

Elimination Rounds Points

• Event winner: 150

• Event runner-up: 120

• Third-round loser: 90

• Second-round loser: 60

• First round loser: 30

Qualifying Position Points

• No. 1 qualifier: 10

• No. 2 qualifier: 9

• No. 3 qualifier: 8

• No. 4 qualifier: 7

• Nos. 5 and 6 qualifiers: 6

• Nos. 7 and 8 qualifiers: 5

• Nos. 9 through 12 qualifiers: 4

• Nos. 13 through 16 qualifiers: 3

Low ET In Each Qualifying Round Points

(Four qualifying rounds at Pomona, 16 points available)

• Lowest ET in each round: 4

• Second-quickest in each round: 3

• Third-quickest in each round: 2

• Fourth-quickest in each round: 1

Contestant Entry Points

• All entrants who make at least one qualifying run: 15