D/Dart in Stock

[dart4forte]

Does the NHRA rulebook for this year address the D/Dart in stock?

[treessavoy]

The on line classification guide still shows the 273/275 still legal for SS only. Don't know if it's published somewhere else.

Jim R

[dart4forte]

Originally Posted by treessavoy

The on line classification guide still shows the 273/275 still legal for SS only. Don't know if it's published somewhere else.

Jim R

So is it the number of production cars built that keeps it out of stock?

[Chuck Norton]

The Rule Book includes a paragraph that states, in essence, IF THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTS, specially constructed cars in a quantity of at least 50 units MAY be included in the Classification Guide. These cars are not required to be or to have been showroom available. This exception to the original rule of 500 units (that rule is still in the book, by the way) was added several years years ago before the latest generation of cars produced especially for drag racing began to appear. Under this loophole, manufacturers are encouraged to produce specialty cars like the 2008 Mustangs and the Chrysler Drag Package cars for Stock Eliminator. Obviously, most manufacturers see no return for the time spent homologating a 40+ year-old model but occasionally, there is someone correctly placed in their organization who appreciates drag racing and can pull it off. Sadly, these days, most of those individuals are either looking for work or nursing a mint julep and enjoying their Golden Parachute. I don't look for the Chrysler organization to put much effort in getting the "D Dart" cars approved for Stock Eliminator although, stranger things have happened.

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by Chuck Norton

The Rule Book includes a paragraph that states, in essence, IF THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTS, specially constructed cars in a quantity of at least 50 units MAY be included in the Classification Guide. These cars are not required to be or to have been showroom available. This exception to the original rule of 500 units (that rule is still in the book, by the way) was added several years years ago before the latest generation of cars produced especially for drag racing began to appear. Under this loophole, manufacturers are encouraged to produce specialty cars like the 2008 Mustangs and the Chrysler Drag Package cars for Stock Eliminator. Obviously, most manufacturers see no return for the time spent homologating a 40+ year-old model but occasionally, there is someone correctly placed in their organization who appreciates drag racing and can pull it off. Sadly, these days, most of those individuals are either looking for work or nursing a mint julep and enjoying their Golden Parachute. I don't look for the Chrysler organization to put much effort in getting the "D Dart" cars approved for Stock Eliminator although, stranger things have happened.

Could you not, as a racer, make a case to the NHRA that if they allow only fifty new Challengers into stock, why can't they allow the D/Dart into stock as it was built in those same limited numbers?

Jim R

[Chuck Norton]

Jim,

A racer making that case is considered to have no standing and would be pretty much disregarded. A manufacturer, on the other hand MAY be given consideration. Note the line in the Rulebook that says, "acceptance will not imply precedent."

It would seem to me that there is no benefit to Chrysler or any adjunct of Chrysler to petition for acceptance of an older model. They would, ostensibly, like to sell new cars and therefore the Challengers and Ford's new Mustang make more sense for this kind of option.

c