25 Reasons to Be Excited About Drag Racing: No. 6 – Pro Stock is Getting Younger
It wasn’t long ago that many fans thought NHRA Pro Stock was on its deathbed, and before that, the class was considered by some to be the playground of older guys dead-set on running carburetors and clutches when many other classes were adopting EFI and automatic transmissions.
[Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #190, the State of Drag Issue, in September/ October of 2024.]
Today, Pro Stock is thriving with full 16-car fields and then some at most races. Drivers are still rowing gears, but the carburetor has been replaced by EFI. And while living legends like Greg Anderson, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Erica Enders remain championship-contending participants, they’re also joined by a youthful group of newcomers.
Fernando Cuadra Sr., who raced Pro Stock in the early 2000s, stepped away to focus on his business, then returned to competition in 2018, brought his young sons along with him. Fernando Jr. (28) and Cristian (25) have each competed in more than 70 NHRA national events, while David (25) became the first Mexican driver to win an NHRA national event in Top Sportsman before moving up to Pro Stock. The Cuadra team races under the Elite Motorsports banner.
Like the Cuadra twins, third-generation racer Mason McGaha, 22, has competed in 70-plus events as a teammate to his father, Chris McGaha, on the Harlow Sammons team.
Another generational racer, 26-year-old Camrie Caruso, started her third season in Pro Stock this year but was quickly sidelined by a crash at the Arizona Nationals in Phoenix, where she earned her first win in the class one year prior.
At just 17 years old, Sienna Wildgust made history at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals this past March when she made her Pro Stock debut driving for KB Titan Racing. She’s struggled with DNQs or first-round exits, and she sat out four midseason races to switch over to Elite Motorsports. The daughter of Pro Mod veteran Scott Wildgust, Sienna is an NHRA Rookie of the Year contender this season.
Class leaders like Dallas Glenn (33), Aaron Stanfield (29), and Troy Coughlin Jr. (33) also contribute to a lower average age in the class.
Former Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Cory Reed made the switch to Pro Stock this season, racing to his first final round in just his second start at the Sonoma Nationals. Pro Mod veteran Eric Latino also recently joined the class, as did Texas businessman Brandon Foster and Oklahoma-based former Top Sportsman racer Jerry Tucker. Brandon Miller, a 21-year-old who won the NHRA Top Sportsman world title last year, has dabbled in Pro Stock, and Elite Motorsports crew member Kelley Murphy lived a childhood dream when he made his debut in the class at the Gatornationals earlier this year.
Racing in the NHRA’s “factory hot rod” class remains a dream opportunity for many racers, and thanks to the infrastructure developed by teams like Elite and KB Titan over the last several years, it’s more accessible than maybe ever before.
Over in Pro Stock Motorcycle, a similar new wave of young talent is developing. After running a handful of races in 2022, Gaige Herrera, 30, ran the full season in 2023 riding for the iconic Vance & Hines team. He won the world championship, then continued winning this season, setting an NHRA all-time record for the most consecutive wins at 11.
The rider who broke his streak is 27-year-old Chase Van Sant, who made his debut in 2023. And while a veteran in numerous other motorcycle classes, 38-year-old Richard Gadson is a Rookie of the Year contender racing as Herrera’s teammate. Jianna Evaristo, who made her debut in 2019, is also one of the young standouts in the class at 27.
A handful of young riders also started the licensing process over the summer, suggesting there’s going to be a steady stream of rookies destined for Pro Stock Motorcycle.
This story was originally published on November 8, 2024.
The post 25 Reasons to Be Excited About Drag Racing: No. 6 – Pro Stock is Getting Younger first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
