Greg Stanfield, a five-time NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national champion and the 2010 winner in Pro Stock at the NHRA’s most prestigious drag race, the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, added another highlight to his incredible racing resume Monday, earning the first-ever NHRA Factory X presented by Holley class victory.

Stanfield, driving a Chevrolet Camaro emblazoned in the classic “Rod Shop” colors made famous by racing partner and close friend Gil Kirk, defeated the Ford Mustang of Chris Holbrook in the final round of the much-anticipated class’ debut race, 7.25 at 191 mph to an off-pace 8.04 at just 173 mph.

Stanfield, who entered the U.S. Nationals with a number of runs already under his belt on the brand-new, one-off combination, qualified number one at 7.236 at 190.83 mph, and used a series of 7.2-second runs throughout the remainder of qualifying and the two rounds of eliminations to score the historic victory.

“This is big for us, all of the effort that went into creating this new class. A big thanks to the NHRA for creating it. Gil Kirk is out here with us, a man that has been in the sport forever and we’re glad to have him and the Rod Shop back. We’re happy, we’re proud, and we hope this class gets big,” Stanfield said.

Following nearly two years of buildup, Factory X made its triumphant debut on the sport’s grandest stage Friday evening at the “Big Go” at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, with four cars — the Chevrolet’s of Stanfield and veteran Comp racer and chassis builder Jim Cowan, Geoff Turk’s Dodge Challenger driven by Pro Stock champion Allen Johnson, and Holbrook’s Ford.

By the conclusion of three qualifying sessions, Stanfield led the pack with his aforementioned 7.23, and was trailed by Holbrook at 7.442 and 188.38 mph, Johnson third with a 7.689 at 179.28 mph, and Cowan, who came into the event without so much as a single shakedown run, fourth with a respectable 8.196 at 168.11 mph. In the opening pair of round one, Johnson slapped a hoelshot on Holbrook but struck the tires early and had to pedal, trailing across the stripe, the Ford clocking a 7.34 at 186 to a charging 7.99 at 188 mph. In the other pairing, the consistent Stanfield cruised to a 7.24 at 191 mph to dispatch a slowing Cowan.

Factory X will return to competition at Charlotte, and will conclude its abbreviated championship fight with races at St. Louis and Las Vegas.