RANT No. 6,234,012

[Mike Gray]

If they run in stock eliminator they should be on 9" tires any other class just use the tires that fit the rules. Why should they get an advantage over any other fast car in stock?

[fastlane]

Originally Posted by Mike Gray

If they run in stock eliminator they should be on 9" tires any other class just use the tires that fit the rules. Why should they get an advantage over any other fast car in stock?

Maybe because they don't run against any other cars in stock they have there own class or because with 1400hp on a 9 inch tire half the time they smoke the tires and put on a lousy show. Or it is just not that safe running 170-180 mph in 7.something seconds on that size tire there have already been to many crashes in that class. There are a lot of reasons to keep the 9 inch tire but there are also many reasons to go bigger I think safety should be a concern.

[Daran Summerton]

When Stock quotas drop to 40 it will take 10 grade points. We all soon will be millionaired out.

[cicero819]

factory stock are actually super stock cars, wolves in sheeps clothing.lol Love them but not many can be competitive anymore.

[Bobby Lundholm]

I'm pretty sure most of them are running a drag radial tire. Similar to the outlaw small tire classes.

[Jim Kaekel]

Originally Posted by Lee Valentine

There never was and never will be an inexpensive heads up class,that said keep the rules as they stand especially 9" tires.

X2!

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by Bobby Lundholm

I'm pretty sure most of them are running a drag radial tire. Similar to the outlaw small tire classes.

You guys are all wet - I have the exact 9" tire on my FS/D Camaro as they have on the FS/XX cars .The NHRA checks their tires on a regular basis - and I've never seen any of them with a drag radial.

As for new tires at every race its just not true - wouldn't do any good as its the track surface that causes them to spin.This past weekend at Virginia the surface at one point was 140 degrees .That alone will make cars spin .

[troublemaker427]

Originally Posted by Bobby Lundholm

I'm pretty sure most of them are running a drag radial tire. Similar to the outlaw small tire classes.

Wrong.....LOL

[troublemaker427]

I sure wish some folks that constantly bash this class would take the time to educate themselves about what they are even talking about. A good start would be to talk to some of the racers who actually race the class!!! Listen to what they have to say about the cars, the rules, the 9" tires.... I think you would have a different opinion, at least you would know what is really going on with the class. I spent a good part of two days this past weekend in Petersburg doing just that. I guess it is just easier to bash the class and spew things that "you think" or may have read on the internet. FS/XX cars are not stock eliminator cars anymore. They don't drop back into the eliminator anymore. They are their own separate deal. Why do some continue to hold them to the stock eliminator standard?


There has not been one safety issue occur because of the 9" tire. The racers in the class who actually drive the cars do not want big tires. Big tires will kill this class and the interest.


And as others have said, since when has racing heads up at a high level supposed to be economic or cheap? 26 FS/XX cars showed up for 16 spots at Richmond. There is a very good chance Indy will be a 32 car field. The class is doing just fine and the fans love it....

[2Ton71]

The few accidents I have seen in the class have been from either top end engine failure or results of steering out of the groove after a big wheel stand. 9" tire or 12" tire, it would have the same results.

As said before, no heads up class is cheap. Add a heads up class format to where the required race car at minimum as a roller is $60-70k. Add what it takes to be competitive, it's going to take a big budget to keep up with it. You're not going to see the average Joe with an open trailer being able to run.

Regardless of the number of "millionaires" involved with the class, I think this class is what the big 3 needs to bring back the "win on Sunday, sell on Monday". These cars are the only ones in the mainstream motorsports spotlight in the states that a fan could buy the same model off of the show room and it practically be the same car.

To have a similar heads up format for the budget minded, maybe NHRA should adapt NMCA/NMRA's Coyote Stock/Chevrolet Performance Stock, and add a Mopar Hemi class. Keep the cars in the 10.00-10.30 range. That's something the average budget fan can relate to, and racer can afford to run. (it's still not cheap, ceramic bearings out the wazoo)