Sad that this is happening

[340 Six Pack]

"The average 60 year old vividly remembers the beginning years of Pro Stock..."

I am that guy, and I do! The only thing resembling that excitement, interest, and energy in today's racing is FS.

[gsa612]

Originally Posted by nhramnl

It does appear to be the end of an era, but I don't know if it's what I would call sad. Lots of things have come and gone in drag racing, and the sport just moved on. I don't think anyone would disagree that Pro Stock has lost its way, but I think the sport in general has become far less relevant to the average young American man or woman that it used to be. What's been lost is the history of drag racing, and from that, the ability to put the sport in context. None of the young people participating today have much of a sense of where the sport came from, so it exists in the present, rather than having any historical foundation. The average 60 year old vividly remembers the beginning years of Pro Stock, and that memory "connects" today to the past. When a Pro Stock race takes place today, the 60 year old is unconsciously thinking "Oh man, I remember when Grumpy raced Ronnie Sox, and this is still a lot like that", where the young person of today just sees two Pro Stock/Pro Mod/Top Sportsman/Everything Looks the Same cars fly down the track, oftentimes driven by young people who never actually even work on the car. In the hero days of Pro Stock, it was man against man, hero against hero, because each car literally represented the brains, creativity, hard work and driving skill of the owner. Those days are gone, never to return, and the guys that miss them most are the guys who remember how incredible Pro Stock was.

Agree 100%... gsa612 (a 62 yr.old guy).

[CMcAllister]

It is sad. I've always liked Pro Stock and considered it the top of the food chain for NA, gasoline engines. The GM vs Ford vs. Mopar days were great.

The cost of the technology, hardware, people and organization to do it, and be competitive, has gone way beyond what most can spend. And the ROI for sponsoring teams, when the class gets little airtime and is treated like a step-child by NHRA, makes it look like a charity case instead of smart business.

It's hard to put the genie back in the bottle once it gets to this point. I don't know the answer, but I hope they figure out how to keep it viable and interesting.

[jmcarter]

Think nhramni nailed it. At 69 I fondly recall the beginning and watching first hand how hard WJ, Grumpy, Buddy Martin, Glidden etc shaped the class that was based on hard work more than $$$. Didn’t even mind the NHRA meddling (thought the four door Maverick was kinda cool but then one of my all time favorites is a 62 Dodge so that gives my perspective). The current Pro Stock Camaro Class is hard to watch, wouldn’t mind one bit seeing Jason Line, Bo and others concentrate on classes that we enjoy.

[George Fitzpatrick]

when PS was great. I'm older but I remember PS match race. I would travel many miles to see them, Sox, grumpy, dyno don, Landy, ETC. The old days are gone and they not coming back. Will they incorporate pro mod?

[rognelson777]

Originally Posted by Barry Polley

Cannot forget that the trickle down affect of PRO STOCK ENGINE DEVELOPMENT is found in all the new FS cars as well as Comp, Superstock, Stock and every other class. .

Not sure much prostock stuff is crossing over to factory stock, all cars are supercharged and most automatics. Ford is 4 overhead cam motor.

Bottom end maybe but factory cars had EFI before prostock and maybe that is why factories are pushing Factory stock. I bet Big 3 sell significantly more factory stock parts to racers than they sell to prostock racers also

[nickh]

Jim you remember the Chrysler imperial pro stock my crs is kicking in on his name

Originally Posted by jmcarter

Think nhramni nailed it. At 69 I fondly recall the beginning and watching first hand how hard WJ, Grumpy, Buddy Martin, Glidden etc shaped the class that was based on hard work more than $$$. Didn’t even mind the NHRA meddling (thought the four door Maverick was kinda cool but then one of my all time favorites is a 62 Dodge so that gives my perspective). The current Pro Stock Camaro Class is hard to watch, wouldn’t mind one bit seeing Jason Line, Bo and others concentrate on classes that we enjoy.

[FED 387]

Larry Peternel Imperial Pro Stock

[cicero819]

I unfortunately lost interest like many when you couldn't compare a stock bodied car to the cuppies we now see. I come from the time of Jr Stockers era( you can follow us on Facebook Jr. Stocker)to the Super stock and finally to the jump of the Pro-Stock era. Now NHRA has made a mistake allowing all those multi-teams to take over the class, allowing no small budget team to even have a chance to move up. Competition eliminator was an incredible talent pool in engine builders to drivers but how the mighty rich, short sighted even myopic team owners have ruined this class.I'm a sportsman racer and spectator that love stock,super/stock,competition eliminator,s/g s/c etc etc I leave on Saturday type guy.Bracket racing is where I now swim in and love it and will always continue to compete until I can't.put a fork in it, P.S. is dead.

[GarysZ24]

I just hope before this season ends, Erica and Jeg Jr., Jason, Greg, and Bo, plus Drew and Vincent, Deric, Chris, Alex, & Matt, all rain on Tanner's parade before he goes over to Nascar! Hopefully the last two races will go better for those who're in the opposite lane to Tanner, than Dallas did. Moreover, I still want to see Erica give Tanner a parting shot (i.e., trip to his trailer w/o a Wally in hand). I know she can do it, and I'll be rooting for Erica, and all the above mentioned guys the remainder of the season!