Elite Motorsports Advances Two Drivers to Thunder Valley Semifinals

Elite Motorsports came away from the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway with two semifinal finishes, highlighting a weekend of consistent performance and team resilience. Aaron Stanfield, representing the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / Janac Brother’s Racing entry, secured the No. 4 qualifying position after clocking a 6.666-second run at 204.08 mph.

His race day started strong, with a victory over Mason McGaha. Stanfield’s car ran a 6.676 at 204.70 mph, while McGaha posted a 6.749 at 204.88 mph.

Building on Saturday’s win in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, Stanfield advanced to round two and met Cody Coughlin. Coughlin’s car had issues early, and he coasted to a finish, leaving Stanfield to take the win with a 6.709 at 204.17 mph.

That performance brought Stanfield to his 18th career semifinal round, going up against Dallas Glenn. Tire shake limited Stanfield to a 7.362-second run at 153.51 mph, with Glenn taking the round at 6.671 and 206.23 mph.

Despite the result, Stanfield credited the team’s hard work and steady progress, emphasizing the squad’s determination to return to the winner’s circle soon.

David Cuadra also delivered a standout showing for Elite Motorsports in Bristol, driving the Cuadra Tequila / Cuadra Belts-sponsored entry. Cuadra began his Sunday with a first-round matchup against his twin brother, Cristian Cuadra.

Both drivers showed impressive reaction times, but David’s 6.671 at 204.91 mph earned him the win over Cristian, whose .001 reaction time wasn’t enough after losing traction. In round two, David faced Deric Kramer.

A sharp .008-second reaction time and a pass of 6.725 at 203.95 mph gave Cuadra the edge over Kramer’s slower reaction and 6.713 at 204.88.

In the semifinals, David Cuadra’s major test came against six-time world champion Greg Anderson, who ultimately won both the round and the event. Cuadra managed a solid 6.699 pass at 204.82 mph, but Anderson’s 6.644 at 206.01 mph secured his trip to the final.

Cuadra expressed satisfaction with his weekend, noting the performance gains after a lengthy break and praising both his reaction times and the car’s pace. He shared his enthusiasm for chasing a Pro Stock win and stated that the weekend’s results boost his confidence moving forward.

Race day at Bristol was part of a string of strong showings for the Elite Motorsports team, continuing the momentum built in previous events. The group’s commitment is evident, as they have worked hard to test and improve across their Pro Stock entries.

With semifinal appearances in consecutive events and a recent streak of wins at the Thunder Valley Nationals, the team remains a consistent contender in the NHRA Pro Stock ranks.

The Thunder Valley Nationals provided competitive runs across the field and included strong performances from other teams as well. Stanfield and Cuadra’s efforts placed them among the day’s quickest drivers and highlighted the importance of qualifying consistency and reaction time accuracy.

Their results also underscored the depth of the Elite Motorsports lineup and the energy they bring to each national event.

The NHRA Pro Stock Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will continue at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals from June 26 to June 29 at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. Elite Motorsports drivers will look to build on their latest performances as the season intensifies and the pursuit of championship points continues.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.