Aaron Stanfield loves to race.

Stanfield most recently was competing in the Gatornationals in the School of Automotive Machinists and Technology NHRA Factory Stock Showdown during the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals March 15-18 in Gainesville, Fla.

Stanfield was making his debut in the class and advanced to the final round before losing to his teammate Steven Bell.

“It was a lot of fun and it definitely rubbed on me,” said Stanfield, 23. “It was just awesome.”

In the finals, Stanfield did a lengthy burnout that brought a roar from the crowd, which he explained.

“That was a celebration,” Stanfield said. “My dad (Greg) and my uncle (Mike) had already accomplished what we wanted to accomplish and that was having two cars we all worked really hard on reach the finals. I also think the fans liked my burnout.”

Bell clocked an 8.176-second elapsed time at 167.17 mph to defeat Aaron who spun the tires at the starting line. The car Aaron was driving was the one his father, Greg, raced last year in Super Stock and Bell owns both cars. 

“If everything goes according to plan, I will race the (NHRA Factory Stock Showdown) in Charlotte (N.C.) and see how it goes,” Aaron said. 

The NHRA Four-Wide Nationals are April 27-29 in Charlotte, N.C. Aaron said he also plans on competing in his Top Dragster in Charlotte as well.

Stanfield, at the age of 19, made his NHRA Pro Stock debut at the 2014 U.S. Nationals and he’s competed in that class on a very limited basis since his debut.

Stanfield has kept his driving skills sharp by competing in Top Dragster and Super Stock classes. He won the Division 4 Top Dragster championship in 2016 and then he took home the Super Stock Division 4 title.

“I’ve been able to get a lot of experience behind the wheel and I’ve definitely got better over the last couple of years,” Stanfield said. “The plan is to keep making strides and keep getting better. My ultimate goal when I first started racing was to win a world championship in the same car my dad did when he was racing Super Stock. I’m working on achieving that goal and it takes time and I’m working on being able to do the best I can do, so I can put myself in position to do that.”

Aaron is driving the same exact Super Stock car – a 1987 Camaro – that his father drove to win three of his four Super Stock world championships. Greg bought back the car in 2010 and had it restored so Aaron could race it. Greg won NHRA Super Stock championships in 1990, 1992-94.

“The best way I can say it fits like a glove,” said Aaron about what it is like to pilot the same car his dad did.

As for the future, Aaron acknowledged he would enjoy competing in Pro Stock again.

“I know I’ve said this before, I drive what they tell me to and I would drive anything but a Top Fuel Harley,” Aaron said. “Of course, Pro Stock is my roots and what I grew up watching and was a big part of my life and that would be a big goal for me. I’m just focusing on keep going in the right direction as far as me developing as a driver and if the opportunity comes I will be ready.” 

Greg Stanfield began competing in the Pro Stock class in 2002, winning three national events and finishing a career-best second in the point standings in 2010.

“I’m not driving this year,” Greg said. “I’m just helping Aaron and Steven (Bell) and other people. It’s pretty neat to help some of these guys achieve some of their dreams they have had. It’s pretty cool.”

The Stanfields live in Shreveport-Bossier City, metropolitan area.

Aaron graduated from Louisiana State University-Shreveport this past December with a bachelor’s degree in business management.

“My dad and I the past couple of years have been working on our Stanfield Racing Engines name and I’ve been learning from him,” Aaron said. “We build the motors for the (Factory Stock Showdown cars) and I do the fuel-injection tuning with the guidance of my dad and I have been working on learning what’s all in his brain as far as engines go, which is going to take a while. I would like to see our Stanfield Racing Engines turn into something big.”

Craig Gualtiere, one the clients of the Stanfields, recently won Division 4 Super Stock event in Baytown, Texas.

“We really build everything,” Aaron said. “We build V6 engines and supercharged engines, regular Super Stock and Stock and Comp Eliminator (engines), it’s quite a range. It’s my dad, myself and my uncle (Mike) in the shop and we are staying busy.”