Pro stock What the heck

http://www.dragracingonline.com/agent1320/2015/1320-xvii_7-19.html

This going to get interesting, the cars will quick, that's for sure. Good move in my opinion.

It will be interesting to hear what AJ thinks about this.... if he will share his thoughts. (After hoisting the Wally in Denver of course!)

AWESOME!!!!!!!!

Good move IMO. I wonder how it will affect the cost of running a car in Pro Stock?

If it is all in fact true, I would be interested in hearing what the current teams have to say? Some very big changes!

I think one of the reasons behind the supercharger is Ford, in a normally aspirated class, the Mod motors would get left behind. Those mod motors just don't have the bore spacing.

It will be interesting to see what eventuates!

repost ----- https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbt...tml#Post1871238

so? what does it matter?

I think current stock 2 door body style will be good. But forget the superchargers. blah. Anything can be made to run if you force air into it. Current production based engine N/A. If dorf don't have an engine that can compete they need to make improvements. The 5.4 ford, 5.7 dodge, and 5.7 chevy in cars that don't look like funny cars would be cool. Must use factory blocks and heads. Win on Sunday and sell cars on Monday

I hope this is true, because right now the only thing stock on a pro stocker is the head lights and the tail lights. They are long over due for a re-vamp JMO

This sounds like it could be a good move.

I think going to a more traditional type car like the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger will be AWESOME!!!!!! Going to these new gen motors might be a little challenging. Cars now going 6.60's, could they go 6.60's with the new gen motors??? I think they will look more like a S/S car,plus, more ppl may be able to afford to race in Pro Stock.

http://competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/drivers-owner-discuss-possible-pro-stock-changes

owners speak.....

I spend far more time watching vids and reading about pro stock of long ago and I really dont know what age group the current program is really centered in.

There is still time span 20-30 years left where I think alot of us would like to see a retro pro stock program maybe like it was in 1970.


Im probably wrong though but id much rather see a bunch of cars like we used to see or grew up with where a hard worker could have a go at things where skill and smarts think took the place of big money.

Is progress always a good thing?

WJ used to say that big scoop need 50 HP to push it through the air at 200 MPH. Going to EFI and dropping the scoop should speed the cars up a little, probably not really where they want to go though. I would much rather see bodies much closer to stock appearing myself, they are more Funny Car than Stock Car now.

Danny

A guy that works for us now, was formerly employed by Steve Schmidt and we had this very discussion tonight at dinner. He said one change they could make RIGHT NOW and likely get 10 more teams is an RPM limit. He said 10,000 rpm was easy, 10,500 was a little tougher, but that near 11,000 as some of the top teams run now, would nearly double your required budget for the year. He said he knew it sounded crazy, but pointed out that when the Schmidt motors were one of the top leased motors, they were around 10,200. He said they got up to 10,500 and were right with the other teams. After that the price to keep up just got astronomical and they folded the program up and went elsewhere.

Keep the Chassis, keep 2350 pounds but loose the scoops.

Now make them run LS, new Hemi or 4V ford OEM based combos with an aftermarket block but a PRODUCTION cylinder head. (to put some Stock back in Pro Stock). Then make them run a SPEC dual TB EFI/injector size system that will Cap the flow rate and HP. Limit the cubes to 427 inches (7.0L) for 2V OHV and 358 cubes (5.8L) for a 4V OHC, these are "time and memorial" Displacements everyone in US motorsports recognizes.

You hold your breath and I'll count... but I think this would make it a LOT more interesting and would push the OEM technology engine development.

I like it.... Now if NASCAR would do the same thing....

I'm sure there are many reasons that NHRA has decided to go in this direction. They have to try something. The NASCAR "cult of personality" model is not working out. It's surely about money first and not just money for NHRA but sponsorship money for teams. The cost of this stuff is out of hand. Teams are dwindling and so are the spectators. When spectators leave, so do sponsors. It's a vicious circle. This was the evolution of Pro Stock which ended up having nothing to do with "stock". One of the underlying opinions in recent posts is about cars returning to something closer to "stock". At least in appearance. Sometimes, no matter how fast they go, indistinguishable rolling billboards can get old.

My problem with the direction of pro stock is only with the ever morphing bodies that look like short funny cars more than anything production.

I understand why it transformed, the engine programs were so close that any size or aero of the production car gave a significant advantage to one brand over the other.

I applaud the idea of going back to a production body that has modifications, not a body that is hand built to kinda/sorta look like the street version.

I thinks its a great thing. Pro stock is getting way out of hand. Look at enders car. Dosent even look like a Camaro. They look like small funny cars.

http://www.enginelabs.com/news/nhra-ponders-efi-and-other-changes-to-pro-stock/

Peter Clifford set forth only two specific directives at a power meeting between sanctioning body officials and Pro Stock teams. Slightly paraphrasing, according our source, Clifford said, “I want the hood scoop gone, and I want fuel injection.”

Thanks for putting that link up. This whole topic is interesting. I hope the racers/owners can work with NHRA and save the class.

GLENDORA, Calif. --

NHRA announced today a series of changes for the Pro Stock category designed to increase spectator appeal, make the class more relevant from a technology standpoint, and to enhance the overall pit experience for fans of the 200-mph factory hot rod class.

The changes will be mandated in two waves. Three changes will take effect at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 31, 2015, while several others will not take effect until the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

The three changes that are effective at Sonoma are designed to increase spectator appeal and enhance the overall pit experience for fans.

NHRA will require teams to back their racecars into the pits and leave engines uncovered so that spectators have better accessibility to see the racecars and interact with the drivers and crew members. A new rule also will discontinue the practice of crew members standing beside the cars to hold them in place as they begin their burnouts. Finally, NHRA will make it mandatory for teams to create automobile manufacturer identification headers visible on the racecars' windshields up to a maximum of 4.5-inches high, but not smaller than 4.25-inches.

Starting on Jan. 1, 2016, NHRA will require all Pro Stock teams to equip their cars with electronically-controlled throttle body fuel injection systems, making engines more relevant from a technology standpoint. In order to reduce and control costs for the race teams, an NHRA-controlled 10,500 Rev Limiter will be added to the fuel injection systems.

NHRA also will require Pro Stock teams to remove all hood scoops and reduce the length of the wheelie bars to a length specified by the NHRA Tech Department. Those changes are designed to make the racecar designs more relevant and to boost spectator appeal by increasing the unpredictability of the class through more "wheels up" launches from the starting line.

In addition, NHRA will work with new television partner FOX Sports to improve coverage and maximize exposure of the Pro Stock category through increased driver and team profiles and technical features, in addition to expanded on-track racing coverage.

"Pro Stock racing has a tremendous history with NHRA and proves each weekend by the close side-by-side finishes that it is one of the most competitive forms of racing in all of motorsports," said Peter Clifford, NHRA president. "Through these changes we hope to provide a platform so the Pro Stock class can evolve from a technological standpoint, yet reconnect with its roots by generating more interest and appeal among spectators."

smh

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=302490#indextop

NHRA likely figured any car/motor changes had to be gradual, can't imagine the billionaire going along with having his entire operation obsolete overnite.

In another 3-4 years, neither Pro Stock or NASCAR will be anything like they are today.

If NHRA wants to reconnect with its' roots, that sounds to me like they need to implement the use of whats running on the 2015 models. Blowers, turbos, EFI. Now figure out how to make it all competitive!