Drag racing is part of their heritage, but the Cuadra brothers take nothing for granted. Fernando Cuadra Sr. laid the groundwork two decades ago for his sons, Fernando Jr. and twins Cristian and David, as he made a name of his own in NHRA Pro Stock. Now, Fernando Sr. has fully handed over the reins in both racing and business as he stepped out of the car to support his sons and retired from the family business, leaving his boys – now men – at the helm.
[Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #191, the 30 Under 30 Issue, in November / December of 2024.]
“It’s very challenging, because he left really big shoes to fill,” says Fernando Jr. “He’s a very good man, and a really good father, too. Whoever you ask, they’re going to say he’s nice and honors his word in everything he does. I’m trying to be that way.”
Racing is still very much a family affair, even without Dad in the seat. Fernando Sr. and wife Diana – matriarch to the Cuadra brood – are typically in attendance in support of their boys, who race under the Elite Motorsports banner.
“The whole point of us racing is to do this as a family,” says Cristian. “Growing up, we saw my dad – so we wanted to do it, of course. Now that we’re racing and he’s watching us, I don’t want to let him down; I want to make him proud. My mom, also, because she was there then and she’s here now. It’s really, really special for us.”
Brother David wholeheartedly agrees.
“Racing with our father here and also taking the company over, we’re doing a lot at this stage of our lives – and it feels amazing,” says David.
The venture into modern-day Pro Stock began with Fernando Sr. in 2018, although the elder Cuadra initially debuted in Pro Stock in 2003 but pulled back a year later to attend to vital business needs. In his return 14 years later, he made it clear that he intended to bring his sons into the fold, as well. After enjoying success as drag racers in Mexico, the brothers didn’t come into NHRA racing cold. Fernando Jr. licensed first, in 2019, and Cristian soon followed. David leaned toward the more mechanical route, acting as an integral part of the crew for his brothers while also racing a car in Top Sportsman.
All three of the boys got their start in Top Sportsman, actually, with Fernando Jr. entering the Winternationals in the dial-in sportsman category in 2019 before making his Pro Stock debut in Richmond. Cristian raced Top Sportsman in Chicago before making his Pro Stock debut in Denver, where David got his turn and slid into the family’s Top Sportsman entry.
David continued to carve a path of his own in Top Sportsman as his brothers found their way in Pro Stock, reaching his first final round at the 2020 national event in Houston and reaching the final there the very next year. One year later and with true Texas spirit, David reached the final in Top Sportsman in Dallas, and the next season, 2023, he became the first in the family to win a national event as he closed the deal at the Carolina Nationals just a couple of weeks after reaching the final round again at the NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex.
Fernando Jr. reached the first final of his Pro Stock career at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals in 2021. The brightest mark on Fernando Jr.’s scorecard to date is earning his way into the final at the most prestigious, historic event on tour, the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. In 2023, he outlasted the rest at the grueling though venerable event to make it to a final-round meeting with Matt Hartford. His opponent claimed victory that day, but Fernando Jr. was left buoyed by promise for the future.
“There is so much adrenaline and pressure in Pro Stock,” shares Fernando Jr. “It’s like when you have an exam, you study so much, and then when you’re doing the exam, you’re nervous. But after they give you your grade, immediately, there is relief. Sometimes, you’re so happy you even want to jump and cry. It’s a very rewarding experience, and we made a long-term commitment here as a family. We see ourselves in this for the long run, and we care about the results, but we try to take it easy if we don’t accomplish what we want. We’re trying to make a career of it, and I see us enjoying it and maybe, finally, fighting for a championship someday.”
In 2022, Cristian followed the lead of his brothers and reached the final at the Las Vegas Four-Wide event, finishing second to Elite Motorsports teammate Erica Enders, and he powered his way to another money round at the season-opening Gatornationals in 2024. Cristian, known as one of the top leavers in the class with his exceptional abilities at the starting line, is aimed at a top 10 finish, despite missing a handful of races with his brothers this season as they also dive deep into learning every aspect of the family business.
“This year has been really special for me because we skipped five races, and I still made it to the Countdown,” he says. “I was fighting to be No. 5 in the Countdown, and that makes me feel really proud.”
He also expressed great gratitude for being nominated and making the 30 Under 30 list, as did both Fernando Jr. and David.
“I’m really surprised, and really happy, also,” says David. “The last [few] years, I was nominating Jr. because I felt he really deserved it. Now, to find out that we’re all three on the list; it’s a dream. I know I’ve done really good things in my career already, but this makes me feel like a lot of people are watching us. That’s great.”
This story was originally published on February 7, 2025. 
