New NHRA racing class - A/FX (or back to Pro Stock as it was originally meant to be....)

[tim boyd]

Per the online "DragZine" drag racing magazine....

(As background, for years - decades, actually - I have been a fierce critic at how racing organizations (NHRA and NASCAR in particular) have allowed their racers to distort and disfigure their cars to the point where they no longer resemble in any way their intended factory equivalents.  (Historically, I had decided to temper my public comments on the subject because I was employed by a major supporter of those racing venues.)  Now it appears that the NHRA might actually be coming to its senses....at least as it is discussed below.  While these would not be Pro Stock racers as we now know them, they WOULD be very true to the original intent of the Pro Stock racing class (see my book "Collecting Drag Racing Model Kits" for more on that subject).  In particular, note the restrictions on changes to factory stock body contours as proposed in the text below (which I highlighted as bold/italic/underlined text for added emphasis.)..  This is potentially great news....let's hope it materializes as discussed below).  TB

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A New Pro Stock On The Horizon? NHRA Reveals A/FX Exhibition Class

 

By ANDREW WOLF NOVEMBER 05, 2021

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) quietly revealed today the rules package for a new exhibition category for the 2022 season, known as A/Factory Experimental (or A/FX), that will feature modified, lightweight Factory Stock Showdown-style (FSS) production cars. The class, which follows the formula many journalists (this one included) and countless racing fans have been clamoring for, will utilize the 2020 Chevrolet COPO Camaro and its Magnuson-supercharged 350, the 2021 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak with a Whipple-supercharged 354, and the 2019 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet with the Whipple-supercharged 327 combination.

The significant difference, however, will be the 2,650-pound weight minimum, nearly 1,000-pounds lighter than a Factory Stock Showdown car. This will be accomplished through the allowance of composite doors and noses of factory dimension, polycarbonate windows, and aluminum or composite floors on the passenger side, among other concessions. As well, manual transmissions up to five forward speeds and clutches up to three discs are mandatory — no automatics as in FSS. In another departure, 14-inch wings with a wicker bill will be required, and drive tires will grow from 9-inches in FSS to a 33×10.5.

Dragzine has reached out to the NHRA for comment and will update this story as more information becomes available. Needless to say, however, it deserves kudos for blending the formula of the existing Pro Stock category with that of Factory Stock Showdown, creating a package that should run near the 6-second zone at about 200 mph. It should be noted that chopping, channeling, and alteration of the factory body lines is prohibited, as is any lengthening of the wheelbase over stock, and so the final product will be the factory-appearing car that Pro Stock nayayers have longed for — similar to those found in outlaw-style and NMCA/NMRA categories — with performances more in line with Pro Stock. And should it take off, factory support could carry over from FSS by Dodge and Chevrolet. Regardless, cars and engines exist from all three makers to build these cars, which simply cannot be said for the all but exclusively GM-powered Pro Stock class.

You can view the rules for A/FX on NHRARacer.com, beginning on page 48.

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Thanks to Dragzine magazine for the article/info!   Drag Racing fans who frequent this forum can subscribe to the Dragzine online newsletter for no charge....  https://www.dragzine.com/

[bobthehobbyguy]

Hopefully this will be a good thing. I com9letely lost interest TV in prost8ck since it v

Became all chevy engine and predominately camaros.  When my brother-in-law and I watch the races its just the funny car and dragsters and fast forward through the rest.  Its just boring in my opinion.

[4mula1fan]

All my years attending NHRA events, I always watched the "normal" cars run, and hit the pits when the big boys ran. I enjoy a bad 6 cyl Chevy II, and the MOPAR wagons and such. SS and stock classes. Way cool!

[Bob Warfield]

My own opinion on this move is they are in the early stages of doing away with pro stock as we know it. I welcome the change. Get the factories involved.

Bob

[1972coronet]

Pro Stock hasn't been truly 'stock' in a very long time . One can --and many have-- argue that Grumpy Jenkins' 1972 and 1974 Vega's were the first to take the whole 'stock' thing and contort and distort its definition insofar as NHRA is concerned . 

Personally , I don't agree with those arguments . 

Not sure as to why NHRA decided to name this "new" class A / Factory Experimental . It excludes so much ! Why not some additional classes ? How about , say , B/FX or C/FX ? Some V6-powered vehicles would be cool ! Turbo 4 and 6 cylinders , too !  Also , why limit the transmission to a 5-speed manual ? Would a manually-shifted automatic count ?

 

[Scott8950]

Pro stock is the same as nascar to me, absolutely nothing stock appearing about them. I have not watched professional drag racing in over 20 years. If they could get it back to its roots I'd definitely watch again. A class with true backhalf cars with stock frame rails and suspension up front also allow small or big blocks and I think people would get interested again.

The absolute best drag racing I've seen is the southeast gassers association.  I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to see some great drag racing.

Edited November 9, 2021 by Scott8950

[Snake45]

21 minutes ago, Scott8950 said:

If they could get it back to its roots I'd definitely watch again. A class with true backhalf cars with stock frame rails and suspension up front also allow small or big blocks and I think people would get interested again.

Look at how popular the "outlaw"/No Prep cars are. They're anything but stock underneath, but they're instantly recognizable as different makes and models. And there's (comparatively speaking) a wide variety of makes and models, too, just about anything from '55 Chevies up can show up--and be competitive. 

[Scott8950]

2 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

Look at how popular the "outlaw"/No Prep cars are. They're anything but stock underneath, but they're instantly recognizable as different makes and models. And there's (comparatively speaking) a wide variety of makes and models, too, just about anything from '55 Chevies up can show up--and be competitive. 

I agree

[tim boyd]

On 11/8/2021 at 4:35 PM, tim boyd said:

 

Here's the latest update/news on the new NHRA "Factory Experimental" ("F/X") drag racing class, per the online mag "Dragzine"....TIM 

[iBorg]

Having been a fan of drag racing since 1970, I see this as a way to recapture what Pro Stock was. I am concerned with the years of the cars. 

Quote

2020 Chevrolet COPO Camaro and its Magnuson-supercharged 350, the 2021 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak with a Whipple-supercharged 354, and the 2019 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet with the Whipple-supercharged 327 combination

These are not current production cars but a model year or two old. While I'd love Pro Stock and FSS to merge into this, the designated car's age limits future growth unless the OEM manufacturers produce future high performance models. The current PS cars seem like Pro Mod light. Hopefully this class will help get more fans in the stands. Maybe if its successful, NHRA will address the jello blobs in funny car.

[Mopeyguy]

i haven't watched pro-stock or any drags for that matter since the mid 90's because the cars got ugly and appear nothing like stock or factory.

[Snake45]

13 hours ago, Mopeyguy said:

i haven't watched pro-stock or any drags for that matter since the mid 90's because the cars got ugly and appear nothing like stock or factory.

I think you'd like street outlaws/No Prep Kings. 

[Keef]

I used to love watching NHRA on TV when the cars actually resembled what they were supposed to be. Now I have more fun going to my local 1/8th mile drag strip and watching true cars race.