NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

For more than seven decades, NHRA has billed itself as a family sport and that's not just some nifty marketing slogan. In addition to the many second and third-generation winners, there have been a host of father-son and father-daughter final rounds, we’ve got the receipts to prove it. 

At the recent Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, Greg Stanfield defeated his son, Aaron, in the Pro Stock final. As memorable as that finals was, it was not the least bit groundbreaking. In fact, the Stanfields had raced in final rounds two other times, and there currently have been 39 final rounds that have included a father and son or a father and daughter.

The first father-son final round came in 1992 at Pacific Raceway in Seattle where Kyle Seipel, then an up-and-coming young E.T. bracket star, defeated his father, Ted, in the Super Gas final. 

The floodgates opened the following season when Kurt Johnson joined his father, Warren, in the Pro Stock class. The Johnson’s met five times in final rounds during the 93 season with WJ taking a 3-2 advantage over his son. 

The Johnson’s are by far, the most successful father-son duo as they raced in 12 final rounds and the Professor of Pro Stock rarely showed any mercy towards his only son. With the money on the line, WJ racked up a 9-3 record against Kurt. 

The sport’s first father-son nitro final came a year later when Connie and Scott Kalitta battled to decide the Gainesville title. Knowing Connie, the final was going to be a straight-up affair with no quarter asked for and none given. That was certainly the case as Connie set low elapsed time of the event in the final with a 4.794 while Scott, who had earlier run over 305-mph, trailed at 4.954. Connie was also first off the starting line by a slim margin. 

Division 6 Stock veteran Jim Waldo has had the incredible fortune to race both of his sons in final rounds. In 2001, Jim finished as a runner-up to son Eric in the final of the U.S. Nationals. Three years later, Jim defeated Gary to claim a victory at the Fall Las Vegas event. 

Father daughter finals? There have been nine of them involving John Force and his daughters, Ashley and Courtney. The first came at the 2008 Atlanta event where Ashley won the all-Force final. John and Ashley met two more times in finals during the 2010 season, each earning a win. John claimed a victory in Charlotte while Ashley scored at “The Big Go” taking an Indy victory. 

Three years later, John raced his youngest daughter, Courtney, earning a runner-up in Epping followed by a win later in the year in Las Vegas. John and Courtney have raced six times in finals, with three wins each.

Hector Arana Sr. and Jr. met in a pair of final rounds in Pro Stock Motorcycle with Jr. grabbing wins in Chicago in 2014 and 2015 in St. Louis. Although he lost both finals, Arana Sr. was a typical proud father, calling the event "One of the happiest days of my entire life."

Along the way, there has been more sportsman action with Cordis Johnson defeating son, Michael to win the St. Louis Comp title in 2008 while Brad Burton stopped father, Scott to claim a Stock win in Las Vegas. A few moths later, Al Kenny (above) got the best of his son, Jason, to earn a Super Gas Wally in Reading. 

Koy and Steve Collier battled for family honors in the Super Gas final in Chicago in 2018 with son, Koy leaving with bragging rights while the Skillman family (above) enjoyed what likely is their best day at the races in 2019 when Drew took out his father, Bill to win the Factory Stock Showdown in Norwalk. Drew Skillman also holds the distinction of being the only driver in the history of NHRA to double-up for his first two wins, as he claimed both the Super Stock and Stock titles at the 2010 Atlanta race.

The Torrence family got into the act in 2010 when Steve topped Billy in the Topeka Top Fuel final. Billy returned the favor later in the year in St. Louis. Steve won both Torrence finals in 2020 in Gainesville and Dallas on his way to the Top Fuel world title.

Finally, the Stanfields have raced in final rounds three times, and oddly enough, they’ve done so in three different classes. Aaron won the Super Stock title in Chicago in 2017 while Greg scored in Holley EFI Factory X last year in Chicago. The tie-breaker went to Greg at the recent Sonoma event in a memorable side-by-side Pro Stock final.

Of the 39 father-son and father-daughter finals, 20 have gone to the parent, making the battle almost even. Oddly, the alcohol classes have never had a family final despite a rich heritage of second and third-generation racers. The same goes for Super Comp, Right Trailers Top Sportsman and Top Dragster.

The following is a history of father-son and father-daughter final rounds in NHRA national event competition.