back to give him. But it’ s a great feeling because we both work extremely hard at all aspects of racing, and I think we complement each other really well. When we line up against each other, we are father and son – but it doesn’ t change the fact that we’ re both really competitive people. |
|||||||
|
Let’ s start with Greg. It’ s been 11 years since you’ ve raced Pro Stock. How are you feeling heading into this season? Greg( with a chuckle): Crazy. No, I’ m really excited for the opportunity, and at the end of the day, I get to race with Aaron. Let’ s get it on.
Racing together in Pro Stock, was this a dream for the two of you? Aaron: I think we both could agree that this is beyond our wildest dreams. When I started racing, he took a step back and said it was my time to shine. Now, we’ re fortunate enough to have the opportunity to do this together.
Greg: Yeah, when my dad passed away in 2012, Aaron was just getting onto the scene, and I was good with not driving and just working behind the scenes. But Richard [ Freeman, Elite Motorsports team owner ] had a seat open up, and it was perfect timing for me to come over there. If that didn’ t happen, I probably wouldn’ t be doing this.
|
“ It’ s a great feeling because we both work extremely hard at all aspects of racing, and I think we complement each other really well.”
It’ s an interesting dynamic, father and son as teammates and competitors. Is there a rivalry
|
there that we can expect to see more of? Aaron: I want to see my dad and all my teammates do well, but there is just something about beating your old man. He’ s taught me everything I’ ve known to this point, and I give a tremendous amount of credit to him. That being said, when I was 12 years old sitting there hitting the practice tree with him, I’ d talk a little smack. We’ re both extremely competitive with everything from ping-pong to the practice tree. Some parents might let their kid win at stuff, but that was never a thing at our house – and I wouldn’ t trade |
that. I love it, and I thrive off of it.
Greg: Well, he pushed for this, so when we race and I beat him, I get to say,‘ This is your fault.’ Both of us are just going to try to do our job and drive the wheels off of it, and the outcome is what it is. If he’ s in my way, I’ m going to go at him – and if I’ m in his way, he’ s going to come at me. Aaron comes across as a nice, quiet, humble guy, but trust me. When he puts that helmet on, he’ s mean. I know his capabilities as a driver, and I’ m going to have to pour it all out there and see if I can come up on the right side. We push each other, but I think he pushes me more than I push him.
You’ ve actually raced one another in final rounds a few times. Aaron, you beat your dad in the Super Stock final at Chicago in 2017 and then in 2024 it was your dad with the win over you at the same track in FX – what is that type of round like for you? Aaron: At the end of the day, it’ s just a cool feeling for both of us to see the Stanfield name standing. He’ s whupped up on me in FX, and then he beat me at the PRO race in Bradenton, so I’ ve got a little pay-
|
Greg, how has the overall competition in Pro Stock changed since you were last part of it? Greg: It’ s cool to see all the younger people racing the class and their excitement and passion for Pro Stock. I used to be the young guy, but now that’ s flip-flopped. I’ ll give this to the Elite team, they have a lot of passion, and Richard has put a really good team together. It’ s not just a job. They all want to win. I think the competition is way better now than it was when I raced, as far as the big picture. From the driving to the cars, it’ s become such a refined class.
When I was racing, it was who could tune the engine the best and run the fastest. A lot more effort was put into the engines than the driving – but now, they’ re all driving. It’ s incredible, and I’ m in awe of how much everybody’ s game has elevated. Take Greg Anderson, he’ s raised his level. When I raced him before, I felt like I had an advantage driving because I came from the Sportsman categories. But today, he’ s worked hard on that part of it, and it shows.
How have you changed since you were last racing Pro Stock? Greg: This go around is different for me. I had to worry about everything before: the rig getting there, getting the engines built, just all of it. We were always a small team, but I had a long list of great people supporting me, and I am very thankful for that. Now it’ s like a super team; you walk in and see how it works and it’ s like,“ Whoa, what’ s all this?” The fun part is that I get to just drive. Before, driving was only one part of it. Now, there is no pressure. I want to win for the people helping us, and I’ m all in, but we’ re also going to have some fun and enjoy it.
Aaron, you and your dad spend a lot of time together. It that ever a bit of a challenge?
|