The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Class Racer magazine has an interesting article on the the future of the Factory Stock Showdown.
http://classracer.com/magazine/?p=6425

There are also many comments on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/Class-Racer...9441468406709/

Lets us know what you think.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Mite be fun to watch,but out of reach for a lot of us.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Just my 2 cents


Needs to be a 16 car field, not 8.
Put the non-qualified cars at the bottom of the ladder, not the top, IF they choose to run stock eliminator.
The costs are getting out of hand which will lead to the same problems as Pro Stock, which then kills this program before it even gets going good.
Maybe the biggest hurdle...get NHRA to listen to the racers instead of the manufacturers.


Good luck to all and hope this heads in the right direction, our sport needs something like this to work.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Too bad its not ran at every event ! How are costs getting out of hand ?

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Sounds like there are enough entries now to run 16 car fields.

I still say that at National events where the Factory Showdown cars are ran that there should not be any AHFS in effect for all the other Stock Eliminator cars as well.

That's just fair.
Just my opinion.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Brett, I agree that it needs to be a 16 car field at every event, not just Indy. Speaking of Indy, I will see you there bright and early on Wednesday Aug.30!

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

I agree it should be a 16 car field. We suggested if there were less than 16, make it an 8 car field. If there are 16 or more, than make it a 16 car field. It sounds simple but NHRA's response was they would consider it for next year.

As far as the non-qualifiers I am not so sure there is a good answer to please everyone. Kicking them out altogether isn't a good idea. I would suggest changing the index a few tenths. Personally I wouldn't care if I am at the top or bottom of the ladder. At that point it is just a bracket race anyhow.

I completely disagree with the costs getting out of hand. Don't get me wrong, this is not a poor mans class. But I am sure there are teams out there that are spending way more money than our teams. With the exception of ice for the intercooler, I can tell you first hand that it doesn't cost much more money to run the supercharged combinations compared to the NA's.

How can you ever police the amount of money being spent? To me it is a great sign that racers want to spend money on the class. That shows there is major interest. It is obviously not a class for everyone. But that doesn't mean we should stop it from advancing. Some people put such a negative twist on this. I don't have the funds to buy one of these cars either. I work hard to find ways to make it all happen. There is a long list of customers, family, friends, vendors, and sponsors that support us. It is not only about the money like some may believe. It is about the relationships and using what you have to work with. At least for me it is. I can only hope to afford hot rods like this one day. For now, I am going to enjoy every minute of the opportunities I am given.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

If the FS non qualifiers are placed at the top of the list, then they are in the show. If they go to the bottom, would they not have to qualify to get in?

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Keep hearing rumors that this will eventually be the new Pro Stock

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

This has to be one of the most interesting topics in Drag Racing today. I think we all agree that Factory Showdown is at an important juncture and could turn into something really good for drag racing. But there are plenty of ideas and opinions of how to make that happen. To be cynical, the most certain aspect is its' uncertain direction.

It looks like everyone agrees the fields should be bigger – 16 cars. No argument there. And more races – with a wider geographic coverage. The ideas of what to do with the non-qualifiers spark a wide difference of opinion. It seems like most agree that the FS/XX index needs to be fixed – I suggest lowering it by 3-4 tenths.

But to grow into its own standalone eliminator, FS needs to eventually cut its tie to Stock Eliminator and all of the intricacies of the rules in Stock Eliminator. I’ll use an easy example, towing cars to and from the lanes. Competitive FS cars approach the sophistication of COMP Cars and run best when they don’t have to drive through the pits to the staging lanes. There are a number of other hard and fast Stock rules that just won’t work all that well in a standalone category. Once that tie to Stock Eliminator is broken, that cuts off the escape route back to Stock Eliminator for the non-qualifiers. And a number of the current FS racers like the heads up racing and really don’t want to get thrown back into the “bracket race”.

Tire size is a point of contention. It’s my opinion that a 9” tire needs to stay. Making the car go down the track on a small tire is one of the key elements that make FS so exciting to watch. Like watching TF or FC, fans need to be glued to the starting line when FS rolls out because those small tires will create some exciting racing. And we know that small tire formula works well in 275 and 10.5 extreme classes.

I’d like to see some of the larger LODRS races add a FS eliminator – much like Division 1 has done in the past. This will help build the car count and fan interest in the category. Perhaps these event points would count towards the National Championship.

I think we will begin to see the direction for 2018 begin to come into focus as we get past Indy and the 2018 program get firmed up.

And finally – to David Barton – very well said above. You truly are a multitalented guy that can wrench, tune, drive and write.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Nicely said, David. I have a simple solution. All run, there is no one to go to Stock Eliminator. Fast Loser comes back; hence only the first run fast qualifier gets a bye on an odd number of entries.. Time Trials and Eliminations in front of the crowd. Get FS out of Stock. Simple

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Change the order that the FS cars qualify. For those cars to go A to B they have to be "glued" to the track. The best time for a fresh glued track is just before Top Fuel. This will help in a few ways, it should help with the problem of blowing the tires off on the 1/2 change, fans will be in the stands to see the show, this will make the big three happy, and this will give the race teams some turnaround time to evaluate and adjust.

Some racers and fans would like to see the FS/X cars in the program.

I like how the announcers talk about the bump spot and that number is always changing on the scoreboard, just like the pros.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Everything I'm saying here is being said with a liking and a respect for everyone on all sides, and I happen to hold personal opinions that favor a lot of what the article says.

if the article is stating there are problems, I think the problems should be clearly identified and measured before there are any suggested fixes. Otherwise there will be lots of fixes for things that are not broken.

So here goes............


"What is the future of the Factory Stock Showdown. Well, without real support from NHRA, who knows. Its hard to understand why a class that has GM, Ford and Chrysler committed to building and supporting these cars gets very little promotion from NHRA."

Factories are involved because the FS cars are products that the factories produce and sell at a benefit for their respective Companies. Some make money, some say they do not...Either way there is a benefit to the OEM's. Otherwise they would definitely not do it.

At a minimum, OEM participation in FS is good for product image and credibility, and it gives buying customers something to reference when they decide to buy a CJ, DP, or COPO. Keep in mind, over 75% of these are bought by fans & enthusiasts who are not likely to participate in regular sanctioned drag racing.

"In fact, if it was not for Sam Tech (School of Automotive Machinists & Technology) they class may not exit today."

Having a title sponsor to fund the class is not a bad idea, plus it creates piggy-back media opportunities for the class and for the sponsor.

Otherwise funding would have to come from the existing pot, and none of us know what the actual impacts would be if money was redirected towards FS from somewhere else. We also do not know (with certainty) whether the series sponsor(s) have any say-so in it or if they would agree with it.

It's great that SAM Tech signed on and they are truly some of the nicest-greatest people out there. Still, at the end of the day nobody can really say with certainty that nobody else would have signed on to be the title sponsor for the FS class.

"NHRA does promote its 4 professionally classes as it should to bring the best possible show for the fans."

I'm sure we can all agree on this point

"They seem to have missed an opportunity to increased their fan base with this new class. Knowing that most fans come to see the fuel cars, these fans are also very in tune with what the big three produce when it comes to factory performance cars."

"And although there is a excitement in the NHRA sportsman ranks about the Factory Stock Showdown cars, there seems to be very little excitement from NHRA."

What is the measure to gauge current fan interest in FS, and what is the extent of fan interest? As an example (and not basing everything on a sample set of only one event), what did fan interest look like during the FS events in 2017? Did it grow, shrink, or stay the same compared to 2016?

If the thing that would make all the difference in the world is NHRA promotion, there would absolutely have to be some indications of fan interest by now since the class has been ran at several events during more than one racing season. Does anyone have any data or meaningful observations, even if they are subjective?

["Most of the NHRA top brass has probably never walked the sportsman pits to look at the race operations of these teams and the investment they have.

Does this statement say that NHRA should reward racers because some of them chose to make significant investments? Another way to ask the same question - if payout and contingencies offered $5.00, should those incentives be raised if someone shows up with a $1M setup to compete?

"Many sportsman races are always talking to the tech officials and asking why?

If they are asking tech officials, doesn't it seem that they are asking the wrong people? Even so, what are the tech official's responses?

Why doesn’t NHRA want to promote this class, and why don’t they promote the sportsman class as a whole. Its one of the best car shows you can go to. What other motorsport has so much diversity and accessibility. With today’s business climate, why would you not treat the sportsman as an asset instead of a liability.

Same questions as above regarding fan interest......What do observations and other measures show for fan interest (causual and die-hards) in NHRA sportsman categories during the recent seasons up to today?

If there is a tremendous opportunity lurking, there would absolutely positively have to be some serious indications that can be quantified & spoken to.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

It seems that most agree that the FS/XX index needs to be adjusted. At events where the Factory Stock Showdown is not contested, the FS/XX cars run in FS/AA with a 9.40 index, or FS/A with a 9.70 index. Why not just split the difference between the 2 indexes (9.40 and 9.70) and make the FS/XX index 9.55. That would be a reduction of .35 which, in general, is about what most have suggested.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Any thoughts on placing FS/XX non-qualifiers in Comp eliminator?? This category has trouble filling a full field, no break out class, and cars are towed to the staging area. Most of the Comp cars are on the smallest tire they can tolerate.
Would just need a reasonable index (which would be an item of contention).
Thanks, Ron.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Realistically the future for Factory stock is not all that good. If NHRA does not promote the class then the factories will get bored with the whole program and stop producing the cars and parts for them. The cars will become museum pieces juat as the older COPO and Cobra jet cars from the 60's and 70's NHRA does not seem very interested in the health of any of the sportsman classes. The numbers are down in all of the sportsman classes in the past 10 years or so. NHRA does not seem to have any particular direction that they are heading. With them running bracket cars and 10.5 cars at some nationals this year it seems they are searching for something. They already have a good show with the sportsman classes they just don't have any idea how to promote it to the fans out there. The TV coverage is poor at best and does not give a spectator any idea of what it is actually like at the race in person. Its sad to see NHRA in a decline where the fields are not full in the pro classes.

I think factory stock is very cool and if I could afford one I would be in the mix. All of the purpose built cars from the factories are really awesome.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Don't think a non qualified FS/XX any body is going to Comp. Even if the index was 9.55, you need to go at least better than .500 under to have a chance. 90% or more often he did run well enough and doesn't want his head handed back to him.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

The real question is does nhra care enough to promote the class. Everyone knows the answer. Unless Force or Schumacher get involved in Factory Stock cars nhra doesn't care. We need racers in Glendora...

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^bingo bingo bingo^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

I would think that it is more a matter of priorities. If they didn't care, why does the class even exist?

Maybe as a group we could do ourselves a favor by being less negative about everything?

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Number 1 qualifier at Gainesville Factory Showdown went 8.101 which is -1.799 under the 9.90 index. According to AHFS:

1.750- 1.799 14.25% -.70 (immediate change)

Index should be 9.20 now, right? Don't get me wrong I love the class but just want fair treatment for the old iron when it comes to non-qualified showdown cars. I think NHRA is doing better promoting these cars than most are giving them credit for. They get all their eliminations on TV which is a great start. They are guaranteed entry at all FS events. You can't expect the sanctioning body to throw out current Pro Stock and make this the new Pro Stock in one short year. Also, if/when it does become the new Pro Stock, what happens when Summit boys, Elite Performance, Gray Family etc. come on board with unlimited budgets?

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Why change the index? They get no penalties anyway
You enter a Big Boy class With Big Boy car .
Car$ and co$t way out there already
Can't make the field GO HOME
Why the mulligan I mean reward you get to be #1 and first chance at bye run
I mean you get a Wally for 3 round race FSXX. And the ca$h!
That's Special enough
16 car fields make sense
Big Boy cars Big Boy rules. Big Boy risk.
By the way I just love racing against Mini pro Stock cars. NOT!

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Perrone you should be the color commentator for FS1.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

Colorful it would be.

Re: The future of Factory Stock Showdown
 

James Perrone Loves Pure Stockers :D