Getting into Super Stock

ShipC1970 · 11-15-2023, 07:47 PM

Hey everyone!

I am new to the Motorsport want to get into Super Stock racing! I live in SoCal about 10 minutes from Pomona drag strip. I have a 70 mustang coupe that I plan on turning into a super stock machine. I have some questions in regard to classes and motors. I am looking running in the modified class. Anyone here run the modified class? What class would be best? To my understanding I can use any ford production motor and the class I get put into is based off race weight divided by cubic inches. With that being said I am looking at the SS/DM class so I can run a 302. My question for the engine is how do these super stock engines make so much power with stock stroke etc? I do know this is not going to be cheap but I plan on taking it in stages as finances allow. Any and all advice is appreciated!

Thanks!
Chris ��

Bobby Fazio · 11-15-2023, 07:59 PM

Welcome! You might want to talk to Venice Perno who runs Fords in Super Stock modified. Me personally, I would much rather see you run that as a traditional super stocker!

MR DERBY CITY · 11-15-2023, 08:19 PM

You can take this advice for what it’s worth… Don’t spend a single dime , YET…Please attend some NHRA divisional races next year and TALK to some FORD guys. Not quite sure you realize how expensive a Ford modified engine can really cost. As Always, it is cheaper to buy a race car than to build one from the ground up…Please READ my reply a few more times …..

Painter · 11-15-2023, 09:52 PM

Please reread Mr Derby City’s post, a couple of times. And what ever you decide to race, whether you buy a car or build one, get one of his Derby City front end covers. Sure do protect the paint and on a modified car you WILL be working under the hood!

Ed Carpenter · 11-15-2023, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShipC1970

Hey everyone!

I am new to the Motorsport want to get into Super Stock racing! I live in SoCal about 10 minutes from Pomona drag strip. I have a 70 mustang coupe that I plan on turning into a super stock machine. I have some questions in regard to classes and motors. I am looking running in the modified class. Anyone here run the modified class? What class would be best? To my understanding I can use any ford production motor and the class I get put into is based off race weight divided by cubic inches. With that being said I am looking at the SS/DM class so I can run a 302. My question for the engine is how do these super stock engines make so much power with stock stroke etc? I do know this is not going to be cheap but I plan on taking it in stages as finances allow. Any and all advice is appreciated!

Thanks!
Chris ��

Much less expensive to find one ready to go. Building one is going to cost you a fortune. Modified engines are very expensive and a lot more maintenance than a traditional SS engine. Like other said ask around. Talk to Ashton Hudson. He ran SS/CS for years and now runs comp with a Ford. Venice is great too. They can set you straight on the Ford stuff. That’s another thing. Ford stuff is much harder to get.

ShipC1970 · 11-15-2023, 10:31 PM

Thanks for all the info gents. Definitely going to need one of those covers with the new paint job! I definitely will be going to more races next season to get as much intel as possible. This also give me time to start stashing my overtime checks haha. After doing some research and thinking around I’m aiming more toward the traditional super stock or modified stock route. It just seems more entry level and “budget” friendly. I do have the original engine and heads for the car too. I know my wallet is going to start crying but nothing that overtime and forces won’t fix haha.

ShipC1970 · 11-15-2023, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

Welcome! You might want to talk to Venice Perno who runs Fords in Super Stock modified. Me personally, I would much rather see you run that as a traditional super stocker!

Thanks Bobby! Love your YT channel btw! I think I’m going to go with super stock or modified stock…like Ricky Bobby I wanna go fast lol! But I think the traditional super stock is going to be the way for sure! I say this lightly but “budget” friendly and especially since you don’t see too many 70’ coupes at the drags or around in the first place lol.

Mike Gray · 11-15-2023, 11:29 PM

Chris, welcome we can always use some more Ford guys. The comments above should not be taken lightly, they are good advice. You do realize even though you live 10 min. from Pomona Raceway you won’t be racing there for at least a year after you have a running car. (It’s called grade points) Also figure on everything costing more than you think and taking twice as long to get. I’m building a stock eliminator car from scratch and it’s approximately 3 times as much money as the super gas car I bought as a roller. I assume you have raced your street car a few times? If not take it out to Irwindale Speedway and run some test n tune or brackets just to get familiar. Get a rule book and pick the brain of guys in SS at divisional or national events. Good luck

ShipC1970 · 11-15-2023, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Gray

Chris, welcome we can always use some more Ford guys. The comments above should not be taken lightly, they are good advice. You do realize even though you live 10 min. from Pomona Raceway you won’t be racing there for at least a year after you have a running car. (It’s called grade points) Also figure on everything costing more than you think and taking twice as long to get. I’m building a stock eliminator car from scratch and it’s approximately 3 times as much money as the super gas car I bought as a roller. I assume you have raced your street car a few times? If not take it out to Irwindale Speedway and run some test n tune or brackets just to get familiar. Get a rule book and pick the brain of guys in SS at divisional or national events. Good luck

Thanks for the feedback Mike i highly appreciate it. What do you mean grade points?Could you down and dirty explain that please? I’m sorry for bugging but this is all new to me and I’m still trying to figure it out. Yes I’ve taken her out to a few test and tunes nothing crazy though.I do understand that it won’t be cheap at all. I’ve been very interested in getting into super stock racing and now I have the ability to(money). Got my rule book! And I definitely do plan on going to more races and talking to people. Thanks again Mike!

Mike Gray · 11-15-2023, 11:58 PM

Grade points are earned by entering division races (1 per event maybe two if it’s a double up and you participate at both.) National events (where the Pros run) open for online registration before the event. There usually is a field quota for each class set by NHRA (can be different from race to race) Racers with the required grade points from the previous year are allowed to enter first. (Starts around 8) then after a certain number of days it drops to 7 then 6 and so on until the event quota is reached. Past champions and alternates can result in more entries than the quota. Chances of getting into a National event with only 2 or 3 grade points is slim in most cases with a few exceptions.
Hopefully I got this out there correctly, there are a few more ways with withdrawals and exemptions but that’s about it in a nutshell.

11-15-2023, 07:47 PM	#1
ShipC1970 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2023 Location: Upland, CA Posts: 37 Likes: 26 Liked 28 Times in 11 Posts	Getting into Super Stock Hey everyone! I am new to the Motorsport want to get into Super Stock racing! I live in SoCal about 10 minutes from Pomona drag strip. I have a 70 mustang coupe that I plan on turning into a super stock machine. I have some questions in regard to classes and motors. I am looking running in the modified class. Anyone here run the modified class? What class would be best? To my understanding I can use any ford production motor and the class I get put into is based off race weight divided by cubic inches. With that being said I am looking at the SS/DM class so I can run a 302. My question for the engine is how do these super stock engines make so much power with stock stroke etc? I do know this is not going to be cheap but I plan on taking it in stages as finances allow. Any and all advice is appreciated! Thanks! Chris ��

11-15-2023, 07:59 PM	#2
Bobby Fazio VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Egg Harbor Township, NJ Posts: 1,467 Likes: 1,444 Liked 4,365 Times in 501 Posts	Re: Getting into Super Stock Welcome! You might want to talk to Venice Perno who runs Fords in Super Stock modified. Me personally, I would much rather see you run that as a traditional super stocker! __________________ '65 Mustang SS/L & L/SA DriverInterviews.com \| App.DragInsights.com

11-15-2023, 08:19 PM	#3
MR DERBY CITY VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Derby City, USA Posts: 3,630 Likes: 1,080 Liked 7,900 Times in 1,512 Posts	Re: Getting into Super Stock You can take this advice for what it’s worth… Don’t spend a single dime , YET…Please attend some NHRA divisional races next year and TALK to some FORD guys. Not quite sure you realize how expensive a Ford modified engine can really cost. As Always, it is cheaper to buy a race car than to build one from the ground up…Please READ my reply a few more times …..

11-15-2023, 09:52 PM	#4
Painter Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 227 Likes: 4 Liked 162 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Getting into Super Stock Please reread Mr Derby City’s post, a couple of times. And what ever you decide to race, whether you buy a car or build one, get one of his Derby City front end covers. Sure do protect the paint and on a modified car you WILL be working under the hood!

11-15-2023, 10:31 PM	#6
ShipC1970 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2023 Location: Upland, CA Posts: 37 Likes: 26 Liked 28 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Getting into Super Stock Thanks for all the info gents. Definitely going to need one of those covers with the new paint job! I definitely will be going to more races next season to get as much intel as possible. This also give me time to start stashing my overtime checks haha. After doing some research and thinking around I’m aiming more toward the traditional super stock or modified stock route. It just seems more entry level and “budget” friendly. I do have the original engine and heads for the car too. I know my wallet is going to start crying but nothing that overtime and forces won’t fix haha.

11-15-2023, 11:29 PM	#8
Mike Gray Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 615 Likes: 309 Liked 685 Times in 196 Posts	Re: Getting into Super Stock Chris, welcome we can always use some more Ford guys. The comments above should not be taken lightly, they are good advice. You do realize even though you live 10 min. from Pomona Raceway you won’t be racing there for at least a year after you have a running car. (It’s called grade points) Also figure on everything costing more than you think and taking twice as long to get. I’m building a stock eliminator car from scratch and it’s approximately 3 times as much money as the super gas car I bought as a roller. I assume you have raced your street car a few times? If not take it out to Irwindale Speedway and run some test n tune or brackets just to get familiar. Get a rule book and pick the brain of guys in SS at divisional or national events. Good luck __________________ Mike 7570 A/SA

11-15-2023, 11:58 PM	#10
Mike Gray Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 615 Likes: 309 Liked 685 Times in 196 Posts	Re: Getting into Super Stock Grade points are earned by entering division races (1 per event maybe two if it’s a double up and you participate at both.) National events (where the Pros run) open for online registration before the event. There usually is a field quota for each class set by NHRA (can be different from race to race) Racers with the required grade points from the previous year are allowed to enter first. (Starts around 8) then after a certain number of days it drops to 7 then 6 and so on until the event quota is reached. Past champions and alternates can result in more entries than the quota. Chances of getting into a National event with only 2 or 3 grade points is slim in most cases with a few exceptions. Hopefully I got this out there correctly, there are a few more ways with withdrawals and exemptions but that’s about it in a nutshell. __________________ Mike 7570 A/SA