The entry lists for the 2018 SAM Tech NHRA
Factory Stock Showdown events have been bulg-
ing with powerful hot rods and skillful drivers,
and that means the competition has been wicked-
ly fierce. Early in the season, the cars propelled by
Stanfield Racing Engines established themselves
as a threat. With three COPO Chevrolet Camaro
entries in the first two final rounds and a snatch-
ing of both the first two trophies up for grabs, the
team is fired up to continue their charge.
At the helm of the program is Greg Stanfield,
an accomplished NHRA drag racer and engine
builder who is steadily building a reputation as
one of the best in the business amongst the grow-
ing field of Drag Pak Challengers, COPO Camaros,
and Cobra Jet Mustangs.
“I like the Factory Stock Showdown [program];
it’s something different,” Stanfield, of Bossier City,
Louisiana, says. “I’m all about learning, and I hate
getting stagnant. I like to keep my brain turning,
and this actually got me going again. Racing these
cars, it’s not just another day where you go up
there with the same deal. These are factory cars
that people can relate to with high power and a
little tire. It’s interesting to me to get it down the
racetrack, and it’s very much a challenge.”
While Stanfield himself isn’t piloting a Fac-
tory Stock Showdown entry, his son, three-time
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I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
“When you’re
driving, you’re
caught up in the
moment, but
nothing beats
standing on the
starting line. I
think they should
let people get
closer, because
there’s electricity
up there.”
NHRA national event winner Aaron, is. The
younger Stanfield squared off with teammate and
engine customer Stephen Bell in the Gainesville
final round, and it was there that Bell earned his
first NHRA national event trophy in an all-COPO
Camaro battle. Bell threw down a string of con-
sistent passes that culminated in an 8.176-second
journey down the quarter-mile at 167.17 mph to
Aaron’s tire-spinning effort.
“Stephen Bell is a key ingredient in this shoot-
out deal,” Stanfield points out. “He’s a car dealer-
ship owner and a very nice guy that I’ve known a
long time; his dad and mine used to race together
back in the day. Stephen really fell in love with
this class when it first came out. He could run
whatever class he wants, but he sure likes these
factory cars.”
The second Showdown yielded similarly pleas-
ing results for Stanfield-powered Arthur Kohn.
Appearing in his first final round at the Charlotte
event, Kohn defeated 2017 series champion Da-
vid Barton on a holeshot with a crisp .008-sec-
ond reaction time and an 8.087 at 168.56 to an
8.036, 167.84.
Stanfield thoroughly enjoys the success of his
customers and friends, and he has invested time
and energy into grooming his son to be a dedi-
cated and well-rounded racer. So far, so good for
Issue 133
STANFIELD RACING