hopefully in a fuel car. That’ s where we’ re headed. But we enjoy this. We support Wes [ Buck ] and we come down here to this deal and we love it.”
Freeman knew what he was doing when he chose to put Stanfield in a car for the Winter Series. The son of five-time NHRA Lucas Oil Series world champion Greg Stanfield, he’ s competed in Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Top Dragster, Factory Stock, Pro Stock, and most recently, Factory X. When Freeman announced plans to launch a new Elite Motorsports Top Fuel team last year, he noted that getting Stanfield in the car to get his Top Fuel license was on the todo list. It’ s obvious Freeman believes in Stanfield’ s abilities, which only adds to his prowess behind the wheel.
“ Richard’ s level of confidence in me is – I guess the word would be empowering – as a driver,” Stanfield says.“ It gives me the confidence to hop in anything, and in a short period of time, be fighting for a chance to win. I hadn’ t even sat in a Pro Mod car before the Winter Series and didn’ t really know anything about the process of driving one. He had full confidence in me – enough trust to buy a race car and stick me in there. That says he’ s got my back and I’ m super, super thankful for it.
“ Everything I’ ve done in my career to this point, whether it be sportsman racing or at my early stages of bracket racing, I’ ve put a lot of
ONCE THE FINAL WIN LIGHT CAME ON, STANFIELD GOT TO CELEBRATE IN THE WINNER’ S CIRCLE WITH HIS NEW FRIENDS IN THE PRO MOD WORLD AND LONGTIME SUPPORTERS LIKE HIS WIFE, JOLEIGH.
emphasis on being able to drive different cars and multiple cars at the same race,” Stanfield continues.“ There’ s always learning curves, but I fully expect within a short period of time, anything I get in, to be able to compete to win and not just go make laps. Richard told me whenever we were well qualified, he says,‘ You do your job tomorrow, you can win this race.’ He had full confidence in it. You just can’ t make it up.”
Beyond Freeman, Stanfield also credits Tidwell and his team for putting him in a capable car. He also mentioned the supporters that’ ve contributed directly to Stanfield’ s upward career trajectory, as well as everyone that supports the massive Elite Motorsports organization.
“ Joe Janac is the guy that really accelerated my driving career,” Stanfield begins.“ He gave me the opportunity to race Pro Stock and race at a high level. Without him, some of these opportunities like the Pro Mod car might not have happened. I’ m super thankful for everything he’ s done for me and my career. He’ s a big part of every single aspect of my racing.
“ Pat Quinn, Melling Performance, JHG, CTech Manufacturing, and all of Elite Motorsports’ great partners, they’ re all a part of our program and we strive to put their names at the forefront of our sport and I’ m thankful for every single one of them,” Stanfield adds.
Stanfield has another 19 NHRA national events ahead of him as he contends for a Pro Stock world championship before he can really think about returning to the Winter Series and defending his title. But it’ s most definitely on his mind, and the gears are turning behind the scenes to make it happen.
“ We’ ve got some things to figure out, but I know Richard’ s already working on it,” Stanfield says.“ On my end, I would love to do it again. I had a blast racing those cars, and as long as it’ s got four wheels, it doesn’ t matter, I’ m in. You don’ t have to twist my arm DI.”
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92 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 200