The strong start by NHRA Pro Stock standout Aaron Stanfield picked up more speed Saturday.

The Bossier City, La., native qualified No. 1 at the Four Wide Nationals with a 6.642 second time at 206.42 mph.

“I talked to (crew chief) Mark Ingersoll (because) I always kind of like to know what’s our goal here, how fast do you think we can run?” Stanfield said about his pass Friday in Q1. “He said if we run a 63, we will really crush them out there. We were obviously really close. Man, we just have a really good, smooth, consistent Hot Rod right now and we are taking advantage of it.”

Stanfield, who drives the Janac Brothers Camaro and runs out of the Elite Motorsports camp, arrived at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway first in the points standings.

Stanfield was the runner-up at the season-opening Winternationals, won in Phoenix and then advanced to the second round in Gainesville, Fla. He also qualified second, second, first and now first again – in Vegas in much warmer conditions than the first three races.

This is Stanfield’s third Pro Stock No. 1 qualifying position of his career.

“It is definitely a huge adjustment from what we saw in Gainesville with those mind shaft conditions,” Stanfield said. “So, we have heat on the track and totally different air conditions. Just being to adapt and adjust that quick says they (his crew) do their homework and they have done a really great job.”

Stanfield, who has five Pro Stock wins in his career, is upbeat about Sunday.

“I like the Four Wide format,” said Stanfield, who finished a career-best fifth in the 2021 Pro Stock points standings. “I felt like I did decent here last year, and I hope I can continue to do good this year. I think we were runner-up here last year and I was driving decent. I enjoy it (the Four Wide format). There’s a lot more going on. This is my third Four Wide race.

“I don’t really do a lot differently (in preparation for the Four Wide). I have been hitting the practice tree here a lot lately trying to get my lights a little bit better. I can’t say I do anything that much different other than make sure I know what lane I’m in.”