What’s The Future Of The Factory Stock Showdown
What is the future of the Factory Stock Showdown. Well, without real support from NHRA, who knows. Its hard to understand why a class that has GM, Ford and Chrysler committed to building and supporting these cars gets very little promotion from NHRA. In fact, if it was not for Sam Tech (School of Automotive Machinists & Technology) they class may not exit today. Understanding that NHRA does promote its 4 professionally classes as it should to bring the best possible show for the fans. They seem to have missed an opportunity to increased their fan base with this new class. Knowing that most fans come to see the fuel cars, these fans are also very in tune with what the big three produce when it comes to factory performance cars.
It seems like the perfect storm, the big three making cars that compete in NHRA heads up competition. What more could you ask for, factory cars competing. Different body styles, engine combinations, brand loyalty. Its a recipe for a very exciting class. The cars look like their street counter parts, and the fans can relate to them. And although there is a excitement in the NHRA sportsman ranks about the Factory Stock Showdown cars, there seems to be very little excitement from NHRA.
Now if I had an organization built on 10’s of thousands of members with a love for drag racing, I would do everything to promote classes that the fans could relate to. As a business stand point, having the big three involved in making cars purely for my organization, I would be ecstatic for their involvement. Knowing that my major players, (fuel cars) would always get top billing, I would never pass up any possible asset (Sportsman Cars) that came with having a large organization. Always looking at what the cost over benefit would be when promoting and supporting a new class, it would be hard not to be involved with a class that the big three have invested so heavily in.
The photos show some of the teams that are competing today. Teams like Chris Holbrook, now teamed with Joe Welch. Chuck Watson, Carl Tasca, David Barton and Gary Wolkwitz, Anthony Bongiovanni, Steven Bell, Don Fezzel, Bruno Masssel, Jeff Trurk and Eric Enders are just a handful who support this new class. There are more teams coming on board every season. The 8 car field has typically 18 plus cars trying to qualify in a 5 race series. Many of those teams could support a professional class, but they choose the Factory Stock Showdown. Why, because they are racing cars that come from the factory, its exciting and new.
I don’t see articles like this changing NHRA’s mind set about the new cars. Most of the NHRA top brass has probably never walked the sportsman pits to look at the race operations of these teams and the investment they have. Many sportsman races are always talking to the tech officials and asking why? Why doesn’t NHRA want to promote this class, and why don’t they promote the sportsman class as a whole. Its one of the best car shows you can go to. What other motorsport has so much diversity and accessibility. With today’s business climate, why would you not treat the sportsman as an asset instead of a liability.
I don’t know what the answer is, or what the future will bring, but to say they are missing the boat is an understatement.
These are the real pro stocks not those bullit shaped things.
I think the Factory Stock Shootout deal is great for drag racing. New cars running some amazing times and look very much like cars the fans can buy new at dealerships.
Too bad NHRA does not view these cars with as much high regard as real gear heads. What a shame…
The NMCA is our last hope
From what I have read before NHRA sat down with the manufacturers Ford GM and Mopar and could not come to a set of rules that they could all agree on. Now think about this, manufacturers do not want to agree on the rules, this way they sell more cars each year.
Also, i believe one of the reason prostock truck did not work was aerodynamics of the competing brands. the Dodge was too big and could compete aerodynamically with the smaller Chevy.
This is an awesome class, great for the fans to watch especially heads up which makes it more exciting for the fans to watch. Its also good to see the Big 3 involved. Now if NHRA would just promote this in their advertising and help push it forward.
I really doubt that Class racer or NHRA wants to hear what I have to say about this. NHRA is on the way down and out. Stock and Super Stock will be a Bracket 1 and 2 class in a few years or less. Stock has turned into a lesser Super Stock category already. I was really hoping fro FS would be a professional class next year with 16 car fields. It looks like NHRA prefers the S/C and S/G categories’ with the start and stop runs. I wish Bill Bader was still in charge of IHRA and I was involved with them like when I started the Top Stock program with Mike Keener. It was a good show until the crate motors were shoved down out throats. Oh well…It was a fun ride while it lasted.
Terry Bell
AKA: X-Tech Man.
NMCA has a class for these cars AND they promote them. Same with stock and super stock, they actually like having us race with them.
NMCA is where the future is.
NHRA has thrown their lot into the fuel classes, and that’s it. They really don’t do much to promote Pro Stock, but do because there is still a lot of money being spent in it. But, they want the fuel classes only, because they like the yuppies willing to bring a charge card. The FSS appeals to the rank and file….and they are not sympatico with the NHRA powers that be.
NHRA=Not Helping Racers Anymore
Quite an exciting new class to watch. These are cars that can be purchased off the showroom and that people can relate to. I think it should be a 16 car field though. I also think that if you don’t qualify, your weekend should be finished. You should not be demoted to the top of the stock eliminator ladder and immuned to horsepower hits.
Sure hope NHRA steps up to the plate on this one. This one of the most exciting classes there is to watch. The drivers and their crews are very friendly take time to talk to fans let you get up close to the cars. The sound the horsepower ,the wheel stands and the new age of good old fashion racing mostly drive skill as all cars are pretty much a matched to what can be done to the drive train. So I hope to see NHRA move forward on this class.