RANT No. 6,234,012

[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)

[Nick Heath]

The FSS deal has been getting out of hand since they started truly diverging from Stock Eliminator (e.g. when the FS/XX designation was born).

If it wasn't already a class for millionaires, it became one as soon as DSR, Gray Motorsports, etc. became involved 2-3 years ago.

Until my Powerball numbers come up and I actually get involved, I will enjoy the class as is and try not to worry about what's wrong with it. Some day, it will be gone and everybody will be writing retrospectives on how great it was .

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by 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)

Good points in your post Andy.

Before I got into NHRA Stock Eliminator I almost bought into the NMRA Coyote Stock class it's first year.
That is a hyper competitive group and there are no low buck builds to be seen. Impressive performance for the rules restrictions they work within, but you are forced to keep throwing money at the car If you want to get past round 1.

Glad I chose Stock instead...lol

[Mike Gray]

Originally Posted by troublemaker427

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?

Okay, I misunderstood, I thought we were talking about dropping back into stock.
If they can't do that then they should as a group be able to lobby NHRA for what ever they want.

[Bobby Lundholm]

Originally Posted by troublemaker427

Wrong.....LOL

That was from Brian Lohnes at the Gators last announcing on tv when Stanfield did a long burn in the finals against Kohn. I stand corrected.

[Tony Fagnilli]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

I thought my statement was fairly straightforward.
Do the FS/XX cars now use wheels /tires not legal for Stock eliminator?

I have no idea

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Tony Fagnilli

I have no idea

Neither do I . But, if they do use something other than Stock Eliminator tires, then why not allow Super Stock setups?
The whole A/FX shebang should have been there in the first place.