NHRA "FIXED" Factory Showdown
 

A real nice mix of Fords and Chevys in the top 18 on the qualifying sheet

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Typical NHRA reaction...

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Mustangs vs Camaros to the lanes please for Q3 !! Wonder what the field will look like mid season ? Will it be all Mustangs or all Camaros ?? Gonna look like Pro Stock soon !! Maybe they'll let you run any make engine in any body !!

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Word I got was that they asked all three manufacturers what they wanted and MOPAR said, “nope, we’re good”. It will be interesting to see what changes they make next for “parity”. Schumacher can’t be too happy so we’ll see..

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This class is being ruined very quickly by NHRA. The rule changes are sending it the way of pro stock. Yet NHRA keeps marketing the class are "go to your dealer and buy one of these cars and come race with us".

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No not our beloved NHRA! It will go the way of PRO Stock already some else pays. It will be the elminator of the HAVES and HAVE NOTS,

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Much like Pro Stock, NHRA will get sick of fooling with multiple combinations, and the manufacturers playing games, and they'll either legislate some set rules on weight, displacement, and other factors, or just wreck the class and let it go away. When are people going to realize that sort of thing is not what NHRA wants? NHRA wants classes that require as little effort as possible, no rule changes, no factor changes, as little tech as possible, and as few combinations as possible.


Wake up. NHRA wants fuel classes, and 0.90 Super classes. Period.


EVERYTHING else is nothing but a cash cow to them. They're going to suck every dollar out of it that they can, and put in as close to zero effort as possible.


NHRA is not, and has not been for years, run by car people and hot rodders. NHRA is run by salespeople and accountants. Hell, most of them don't OWN cars, and those that do, don't work on them.

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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ C mon ----We have to get the sand out of our ears. They know how old we are. They are business men and have a plan for the NEAR future. Time for alternatives . Look around --- Some forward thinking smart promoters are setting up Big money races for S/SS . They are planting the seeds for what we all know is inevitable.------------- Barry Parker Div.1 -- Rock Falls Div.3

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Come on guys, we are 2 qualifying runs into the season for these cars and you got them in the grave. Mopar had the upper hand last year and they "MAY" be behind right now, but it ain't over. With the number of cars trying to make the field, I would say this class is alive.

Enjoy the show and competition

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Leah made a killer run down low with a 1.158 60' to run 7.85 at 173 and become the only Dodge in the show. Bill Skillman will be #1 with a 7.74 with several more Fords in the 7.70s and several Chevys in the mid-high 7.80s. It took a 7.91 to qualify, that is wild. I can't believe they're knocking on the door of 180 mph already!

This class is the best thing NHRA has going, hopefully they can improve the parity as the year goes on. There are very talented teams working hard on all 3 combinations, and it would be great to see them all fighting a the top of the sheet.

Looking forward to seeing what happens in eliminations!

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Leah Pritchett in the leading Dodge is in the mix today. The field looks competitive and it is only the first race. This original post and calling it a Ford show was premature. I hope that Mark Pawuk can step up next race as I am a fan and was in Pro Stock also.

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Pretty simple, they are playing HP/ET Poker!

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Only three Dodges total entered out of 31. Weren`t there more in the past?

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Why isn't Corvette a Factory racecar ?

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Joe Welch raced last year and won 2 races in a Dodge

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My understanding is most of the problem is with Mother Mopar, the lack of parts and advancements. Look at the Mopar guys who switched brands in the off-season, there is little support from the factory.

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Looking at how quickly things have changed since St Louis last fall, I'm going to put on my tinfoil hat and speculate that Mopar is doing the same strategy Harley used with the bikes.


It's early in the year - you back things down until you get some breaks since "you can't run with the others". Later in the year when things really count, you unleash the hounds and put enough tuneup back in to stay ahead of the pack. But, never ever show everything you've got.


Sure, the other manufacturers could have stepped up and have now gone past them. But that still doesn't explain how either Pawuk or AJ lost a tenth or so from last year, assuming they did any development or not.



And no, I'm not a raving fan of any manufacturer. In fact, the first successful car I raced was a 340 Duster.

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Well, stuff like THAT NEVER happens in Stock and SS! That's a terrible thing to say that it would EVER happen in Factory Stock Showdown!!!

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Points to consider to create more parity:
Everybody runs the same blower
Make the weight based on the ci (maybe sliding scale)

Also the fastest non Ford car is a Mopar

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WFO “Factory Stock podcast” has some great insight from the racers!

Barton said he thinks everyone should have to run a restricter plate. Same size hole for air coming in could be a huge equalizer.

No way they will ever get everything on a level field. Just do the best you can with what you have and go for it...

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The thing is, I'd just as soon that they never be equal. That's what made the early days of Pro Stock so interesting. Everybody has to play by the same rules and the best builders and tuners found the advantages as time went on. And those at the top kept changing places as each of them thought up something new.



What I don't want is for any differences in the car's performance to come from manipulating the process to get an advantage that wasn't earned. Is Brand X a bit porky? Don't put weight on the cars that aren't. Let Brand X figure out how to build a car lighter/smaller than the other guys.


Yes, it's 2019 and I'm living in the past. The manufacturers are not going to make investors mad by spending more money (better product? Naw; more dividends? Always!), and the NHRA can't afford (!) to hire even a single person to ride herd on what's being done to the cars.

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Sources are telling me these cars will soon be allowed to run the electric shocks, similar to what a pro-stock car is using. This supposedly will help them "get down the track" and put on a better show.

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Roderick went 179.33 in a FFFord but his ET was off.DNQ'd at #18....nuts. gsa612

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Agree. I watched Pro Stock on TV yesterday and man was it boring. Pro Stock used to be my favorite class. The sameness and parity created by NHRA has made it like watching .90 index cars. Factory stock feels more like old school Pro stock, keep it that way.

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Sign of today's times, everybody equal, don't keep score, all get a participation trophy. I think Barton's right, restricter place, same displacement, same basic suspension (not exotic), 9" tires and same weight. Also untouched body!

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How about the huge $1,500 check Skillman won?

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The Skillman will probably donate their winnings to a charity. They do a lot for their community.

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I wonder what the "Legends" got paid to race someone else's 15 second Toyotas?

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Word on the street is NHRA paid all expenses to get them there house and feed them.

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They had 1st round on tv that lasted for about 20 seconds. Fuel cars got a lot more time. This would make anything boring

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I'm sure they do but that's not the point. It's investing $150,000 in a car and winning $1,500.

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150k lmao!

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This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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It is embarrassing to show the winner receiving this check. NHRA should really try to not show this. It certainly discourages people.

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I think you will find the cost to buy that car and build it to where it needs to be to be competitive is closer to $225,000

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That was WAY to much !

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Hi Bobby. None of us sportsman are racing NHRA to make money. There is none to be made. The factory stock racers are doing it as a hobby. If you can afford to build and race one of those cars the purse that a being paid by NHRA is of no importance. Anyone know what Sam Tech does for the class? Do they also pay a purse as the series sponsor ?

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I wonder how that is any different than running a Pro Stock? Might be a little cheaper?

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I completely understand that. As with Pro Stock they aren't in it to win money, but at least Pro Stock gets $25,000. Granted that doesn't cover the costs of their program either but it does look a lot better than $1,500. What about Laughlin winning $50,000 for his small tire race win at Lights Out? If you made it $15,000 to win in Factory Shootout wouldn't even more racers show up?

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I would say no way!!! They players in the game do it for themselves and the satisfaction. (This is totally a guess on my end)



If I was going to spend 250K on a race car its going to go deep 6's or 5's and run races with a good payout.



I really like FSS cars and think its a great class, but the money to play is mind-boggling.