NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

History will be made this weekend during the 2024 NHRA 4 Wide Nationals as the Las Vegas event is the official launch pad for Holley EFI Factory X, one of the newest and most exciting classes in drag racing. Introduced more than three years ago, the class went from concept to reality in 2023 with four exhibition events. Now, Holley EFI Factory X makes its national event debut at a championship category this weekend in Las Vegas. The inaugural event features eight entries representing the performance models from Dodge, Chevy, and Ford.

The exciting new Holley EFI class combines supercharged engines, manual transmissions, and lightweight factory appearing modern muscle cars. Factory X engines are similar to those used in the popular FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown, but the cars are significantly lighter, use manual transmissions, and have larger rear tires. It took nearly three years to get the new class up and running, but so far, Factory X has been worth the wait as performances are nearing the six-second zone with speeds in excess of 200-mph.

Five-time Super Stock world champ Greg Stanfield won three of the exhibition races last year in his Chevy Camaro, which pays homage to the legendary Rod Shop team. Stanfield won in Indy, Charlotte and Las Vegas while the win in St. Louis went to former Pro Stock world champ Allen Johnson, who drove Geoff Turk’s Blackbird X Dodge to victory against Chris Holbrook’s Ford.

The 4-Wide Nationals is the first of eight events on the calendar this season with additional stops in Charlotte, Chicago, Norwalk, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Dallas before finishing with a return to Las Vegas in October.

The entry list for the inaugural event includes Stanfield, who is now joined by his son, Aaron, and their teammate Stephen Bell. Turk’s car is now driven by versatile NHRA Pro Alex Laughlin while the rest of the field includes Jim Cowan, Lenny Lottig, Jesse Alexandra, and Rick Hord.

Here’s a closer look at the eight drivers who make up the historic first Holley EFI Factory X event:

Driver: Alex Laughlin
Hometown: Granbury, Texas
Car: 2021 Dodge Challenger
Engine: Dodge 354
Entry: Blackbird X
Fast facts: Blackbird X is owned by Geoff Turk and last year, it became the first Factory X car to exceed 200 mph with Allen Johnson behind the wheel. Laughlin, a past U.S. Nationals winner, has previously raced in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and a variety of sportsman classes.

Driver: Rick Hord     
Hometown: Kissimmee, Fla.
Engine: Chevrolet 363
Car: 2024 Chevy Camaro
Entry: Maximum Effort VII
Fast facts: Previously raced in Comp, Pro Mod, and Factory Stock with wins at the 1988 Columbus and 2018 Charlotte events. Son, Ricky races in FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown.

Driver: Jesse Alexandra
Hometown: West Bend, Wis.
Car: 2024 Chevy Camaro
Engine: Chevrolet 350
Fast facts: Two-time U.S. Nationals champion in the FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown (2021, 2023).

Driver: Greg Stanfield
Hometown: Bossier City, La.
Car: Chevy Camaro
Engine: Chevrolet 350
Entry: Rod Shop/Janac Bros.
Fast facts: 5-time Super Stock world champion and accomplished engine builder. Has previously won races in Stock, Super Stock, Comp, Pro Stock Truck, and Pro Stock. Factory X entry is backed by The Rod Shop, and pays tribute to their long history in NHRA racing.

Driver: Aaron Stanfield
Hometown: Bossier City, La.
Car: 2024 Chevy Camaro
Engine: Chevrolet 350
Entry: Janac Bros. Racing
Fast facts: Three-time FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown champion and 23-time national event winner in Super Stock, Top Dragster, Factory Stock, and Pro Stock. Car is owned by the Janac Bros. and honors the legendary Reher-Morrison team.

Driver: Jim Cowan
Hometown: Surprise, Ariz.
Car: 2023 Chevy Camaro
Engine: Chevrolet 350
Entry: Cowan Racing
Fast facts: Winner of the 2022 Sonoma event in Comp Eliminator.

Driver: Stephen Bell
Hometown: Shreveport, La.
Car: ’23 Ford Mustang
Engine: Ford 327
Entry: 1320 LLC Mustang
Fast facts: Has four victories in the Flexjet Factory Stock class; Ford Mustang pays tribute to 10-time Pro Stock champion Bob Glidden with a throwback paint scheme honoring Glidden’s 1983 championship season.

Driver: Lenny Lottig
Hometown: Myersdale, Pa.
Car: 2023 Chevy Camaro
Engine: Chevrolet 350
Entry: ITI Trailers and Truck Bodies
Fast facts: Has four Factory Stock victories including three during the 2023 season. Car is a tribute to legendary Pro Stock racer Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins.

The Chevrolet engine is based on the popular LS platform. Despite their relatively small size, supercharged Factory X engines produce more horsepower and torque than a Pro Stock engine.

Geoff Turk's Blackbird X Dodge Challenger is powered by Dodge's Gen 3 Hemi engine,  a design has defined the Mopar brand since the 1950s.

A Ford Coyote engine, featuring overhead cams, powers Stephen Bell's Ford Mustang Factory X entry.