Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

The dates are posted for next seasons Factory Stock Showdown, more info can be found here.... https://www.nhra.com/news/2017/sam-t...en-events-2018

2018 SCHOOL OF AUTOMOTIVE MACHINISTS & TECHNOLOGY SCHEDULE

March 15-18 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, Fla.
April 27-29 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Charlotte, N.C.
June 15-17 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, Tenn.
June 21-24 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio
Aug. 29-Sept. 3 Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis
Sept. 21-23 AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis
Oct. 4-7 AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, Dallas

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

16 car fields and as their own eliminator...exactly the way it should be!

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

Here is the 2018 NMCA schedule where the Holley EFI Supercar Showdown will be run.

13 races for both series next year.

March 8-11, 2018
16th ANNUAL NMCA MUSCLE CAR MAYHEM • Bradenton Motorsports Park, Bradenton, FL

April 5-8, 2018
10th ANNUAL NMRA/NMCA ALL-STAR NATIONALS • Atlanta Dragway, Commerce GA

May 17-20, 2018
17th ANNUAL NMCA BLUEGRASS NATIONALS • Beech Bend Raceway, Bowling Green, KY

July 26-29, 2018
13th ANNUAL NMRA/NMCA SUPER BOWL OF STREET-LEGAL DRAG RACING • Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, IL

August 23-26, 2018
17th ANNUAL NMCA ALL-AMERICAN NATIONALS • Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, OH

September 20-23, 2018
17th ANNUAL NMCA WORLD STREET FINALS • Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis, IN



4 comments

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

;) Glad to see it!

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

Disappointing nothing in the north east, ET,maple grove or Epping.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

I believe the first 7 second run will be at a non NHRA event. Reason, track prep will not be a compromise between T/F, F/C, and Pro Stock. The track will be prepared for dead hook all the way to the finish line.

Factory Showdown was good at St.Louis. A lot of the teams had a much better handle on suspension and engine management. It will be a very good show next year!

With Factory Showdown having its own eliminator the DNQ's should not be able to invade Stock eliminator, this will make most of us happy.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

I counted 12 FS/XX cars that went into the eliminator but most didn't make the 1st rd.
call.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

Having their own eliminator is great and future expansion to beyond seven events is probably a certainty. Pro Mod will probably expand more as well...only downside I see is that quotas for the rest of Sportsman classes might decrease.

As for the first seven, would not be surprised to see it at the Dutch next weekend. Weather forecasts change by the hour of course but looks to be VERY fast so I'm planning on going if only to spectate.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

Great news !

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

I like it!

Since they are now in their own eliminator, I would like to see them get a little more tire.

Is there larger size that would fit all the cars with out modification?

I don't enjoy tire smoking runs any better in FSS than I do Top Fuel.

However if the stocker tire is all that will fit all of them, I think that is the way it should stay.

Bill

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

Respectively disagree. The nine-inch tire is key to the popularity and long-term success of the class. Being able to effectively manage all that power will help prevent an all-out "arms race" where the most powerful cars always win. You're going to have to be a tuner and a driver to make it in Factory Stock.

And yes, the show in St. Louis has so far been amazing.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

Quick question if I enter the factory stock showdown and say there is only 20 cars does that mean there would only be 4 in the class they would drop into?

Is this only for the factory stock showdown events?

Will the FS cars still run stock in the non showdown events or will there be a class mixing all FS cars blown and NA?

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

Kevin, I agree.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

I'm glad that it keeps gaining traction.(no pun intended) So far it's all positive. I will be able to race at 4 of the 7 events this year.

Since we won't go back into Stock it would be nice to see a couple changes. Biggest one would be allow older cars(08-14 to 16-17spec) to run newer engine combos if keeping to factory specifications. Cheaper to upgrade an engine to new specs then build a whole new car. *When running regular stock the regular stock Eliminator rules remain.

I'd keep it tire limited but limit it to a 10.5 tire because so many other classes outside of the NHRA is limited to that size.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

10.5" tire = Super Stock. New engine in old car = Super Stock. Just try running "Showdown" under 2018 rules before making any changes. Just my thoughts.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

Great Post!! Dead on!

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

Factory Stock Showdown rules = Factory Stock Showdown.

It will hopefully grow and evolve just like anything that can stay relevant. As some changes are a good thing.

By all means do not issue a bunch of rule changes. Classes that get constant rule changes often tend to drive away some competitors. This is due to each rule costing money to work around or take advantage of. I would agree not to make any drastic changes for the 18 season. Just keep watering the seed and watch it grow.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

How about putting the non-qualifying FS/XX cars into Comp Elimnator?
Comp can use the car count, the speeds would match and the personal index system could keep the second tier cars competitive for a while.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

I agree, they must stay with the 9" tire to keep the cars interesting to the fans.




I'm also disappointed that there are no events scheduled for the northeast. Englishtown or Maple Grove would be very supportive of these cars.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

[QUOTE=goldformula;546568]Quick question if I enter the factory stock showdown and say there is only 20 cars does that mean there would only be 4 in the class they would drop into? QUOTE]

I'd guess somewhere along the way it has to become like IHRA Top Stock, where Factory Stock entries who do not qualify for that eliminator go home.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

Not factory and certainly not stock; put them all in Comp or let them race with the 8.5 tire guys. The "fans" have no idea what size tire is on virtually any vehicle in competition.

No interest whatsoever.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

[QUOTE=troublemaker427;546611]I agree, they must stay with the 9" tire to keep the cars interesting to the fans.




I'm also disappointed that there are no events scheduled for the northeast. Englishtown or Maple Grove would be very supportive of these cars.[/QUOTE

Englishtown was a Showdown race for several years through and including 2016; but with the traction problems that existed, Englishtown was dropped in 2017 and 2018. In 2016, only David Barton was able to consistently get down the track and he made it look relatively easy at 8.25 which, at the time, was the fastest run ever by a Stocker.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

You are completely wrong. The fans know a lot more about these cars than you are giving them credit for. The factories are the reason for these cars to start with so yes they're "factory". And what is "stock" in stock eliminator anymore? They look quite a bit more stock under the hood than many "stock eliminator" cars.


And if you aren't interested why did you open the thread and make a comment?

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

All well and good but.......can we lobby for a Factory Showdown race at a fabled division 1 track, like say...Englishtown? It would make an even 8 races.

Re: Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018
 

The Factory Stock cars were just as quick as the finalists in Comp .

If there are any short FS fields next year, they should allow the quickest cars from the rest of Stock to move up and fill the empty spaces.