Evan J. Smith

Factory-built and tuned race cars have been a part of drag racing and road racing for decades. Competing in drag racing, road course racing, endurance, drift or off-road, helps each manufacturer engineer and develop engines, suspensions, and other parts for power, durability, handling, economy and safety. And when they win, the promotional aspect is hard to beat.

Detroit’s Big Three automakers have spent billions since the 1950s, designing production-based race cars and hiring top-gun drivers to put them in the winner’s circle. Wins translate to sales—and over time GM, Ford and Mopar have shared the spotlight that victory provides.

Just like stick-and-ball sports, each brand also enjoys a loyal following of fans and racers who pledge allegiance to their favorite mark. Only today, we’re cheering for fuel-injected and supercharged Camaros, Challengers and Mustangs that are knocking on the 7-second door. Stock purists cringe at the thought, while others argue it’s the natural evolution of what started in the late 1960s. Either way, you can’t deny that COPO Camaros, Dodge Drag Pak Challengers and Ford Cobra Jet Mustangs are providing an unrivaled show—one that represents the brands better than anything else going. These cars use current engine technology, production blocks and heads, they come from the production line and the noise, wheelstands, and competition is as strong as any gearhead could hope for.

In addition to offering nostalgia and modern heads-up racing, NMCA introduced Holley EFI Factory Super Cars in 2016. The class is filled with Chevy, Dodge, and Ford hot rods.

Thankfully, sanctioning bodies like the NMCA (National Muscle Car Association) and NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) have recognized the potential and fan appeal of these production-based factory supercars. Both the NMCA and NHRA have developed dedicated heads-up classes with balanced rules, solid payouts and they generate excellent media coverage. And while these cars started out as in the Stock Eliminator mix, the NMCA Holley EFI Factory Super Cars and NHRA Factory Stock Showdown, takes the racing to another level.

NHRA offers Factory Stock Showdown, which in 2016, was contested four times at select national events. NMCA Holley EFI Factory Super Cars run at all six NMCA national events and is a points-earning championship category. Smartly, the rules are nearly identical between sanctioning bodies so racers can easily run NHRA, NMCA or both—and many racers do.

“Our first season of Factory Super Cars went extremely well,” said Rollie Miller, GM and National Event Director for NMCA. “We started out in Florida with Bruno [Massel] winning the first race in a COPO and we had heavy hitters come out all season. We use an ‘all-run’ field rather than a Top 8, so everyone gets to race for the win and championship points. And our purse is $1,500 to win with $3,500-4,000 in contingency available. We had two or three times where the winner took home over $5,000,” added Miller. “And we’re looking to pick up right where we left off in 2017.”

Lewis Bloom of Fox Sports interviews 2016 NMCA Holley EFI Champion Kevin Skinner. Skinner has scored wins in NHRA and NMCA competition and recently switched from a 2014 Cobra Jet to a 2016 model.

Holley EFI Factory Super Cars 2016 series champ Kevin Skinner runs both organizations and had this to say. “The NMCA is a good deal, especially if you’re going to focus on the shootout stuff. You’re under same pressure and you get lots of runs so you can test under race conditions. The main difference [between NHRA and NMCA] is the tree. NMCA runs a Pro-Tree. I think the Pro-Tree is fun, but the Full-Tree in NHRA has its points too,” he stated. “NMCA is more laid back and they accommodate the racers nicely. At NHRA the pros are the priority and you can tell it’s more tense when you’re in the lanes waiting to run.

“It feels pretty good to win the first championship that’s offered for these cars. We won NMCA races in Chicago, Norwalk and Bowling Green. And we just ran our new 2016 Mustang from John Holt Race Cars. They did a real good job with it and Chris Holbrook built the engine, which ran 8.18 at 161 mph. I leaned on it too hard for the conditions, but we’ll be ready for next season.”

Another player in the modern muscle car game is Glen Pushis who finished 3rd in NMCA Holley EFI Super Cars points.

Chris Holbrook has brought a ton of excitement to production-car racing. The former Pro Stock racer and engine builder from Michigan is a regular in the winner’s circle.

Jonathan Allegrucci has been the top Mopar runner with his high-flying Barton-powered Drag Pack Challenger

Jonathan Allegrucci with his Dodge.

Anthony Bongiovanni recently won the NHRA Dutch Classic in his 2016 Cobra Jet. Look for Bongiovanni to be a serious contender in 2017.

After running 8.07 at Maple Grove Raceway at the recent Dutch Classic, David Barton (left) currently drives the quickest Factory Stocker in the country.

Dodge Drag Pak supercharged engine.

Ford Mustang Cobra Jet supercharged engine.

Chevrolet COPO supercharged engine.

Maximum Muscle

Where To Watch:

2017 NMCA Schedule
March 9-12, 2017
15th ANNUAL NMCA MUSCLE CAR MAYHEM • Bradenton Motorsports Park, Bradenton, FL

April 6-9, 2017
9th ANNUAL NMRA/NMCA ALL-STAR NATIONALS • Atlanta Dragway, Commerce GA

May 18-21, 2017
16th ANNUAL NMCA BLUEGRASS NATIONALS • Beech Bend Raceway, Bowling Green, KY

July 27-30, 2017
12th ANNUAL NMRA/NMCA SUPER BOWL OF STREET LEGAL DRAG RACING • Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, IL

August 24-27, 2017
16th ANNUAL NMCA ALL AMERICAN MUSCLE SUPERNATIONALS • Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, OH

September 21-24, 2017
16th ANNUAL NMCA WORLD STREET FINALS • Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis, IN

NMCA
Nmcadigital.com
Or call Gene Bergstrom at 714-460-3813

NHRA
nhra.com
2017 Factory Stock Showdown Schedule TBA
In 2016, Factory Stock Showdown was contested at Gainesville, Englishtown, Norwalk and Indy.

Photography By Evan J. Smith