FS/XX @ The Four Wide Nationals
 

These cars had the attention of a lot of fans Sunday for round two through the finals. The announcers did a better job of what the cars are, and talked up the "factory wars". A lot, maybe half of the second round cars had traction problems. When the cars obviously spun and smoked the tires you could here a muffled groan from those fans seated around us. Just when the thought of track-prep was needed, Barton goes 8.18 sec. @ mid 160's. Track temp was, I think, in the 130 range making it tricky for 1000 Hp plus cars on nine inch tires to get down the track. It looks like a lot of the teams have the power but some need more testing and a better shock package. So it begs the question, where do the teams go to test at a national event grade prepared track to improve there program, and improve the show on Sunday?

I would like to see the field expanded to a 16 car field so the Friday night fans can see a round of FS/XX on a cool track. A cool track will help the new teams trying to get down the track and expose more fans to the FS/XX show.

Re: FS/XX @ The Four Wide Nationals
 

Thanks for the observations. I agree that a sixteen car field would be great.
Bill

Re: FS/XX @ The Four Wide Nationals
 

During qualifying the scoreboards were blank, just like the pros, until eight cars went down and established a bump spot. The announcing crew mentioned a few times about the bump spot and if the car was in or out of the show.

At Gainesville the score boards had the index of the FS/XX class which, unfortunately, is 9.90. Many fans thought that super gas was running, it was a little confusing. Some fans left only to return when they saw that Factory Showdown was running, instead of Super Gas.

It would be great if the Showdown cars have a different prefix for the class. Fans see the Factory Stock car with the FS/A through FS/K and wonder why they are not racing with the FS/XX cars. Two very different cars and category's with the same prefix. Just a thought, how about reviving the A/FX wars, it will reignite long time fans and help fan the flames of the new tuner generation

Re: FS/XX @ The Four Wide Nationals
 

Re: FS/XX @ The Four Wide Nationals
 

In January, the NHRA announced that the factory Stock Showdown at Indy will be a 16 car field. Here is a link to the article

http://www.nhraracer.com/content/gen...216&zoneid=132

Re: FS/XX @ The Four Wide Nationals
 

With the next three races within a four and half hour drive of Indy and a high participation of racers it would make a better show with 16 cars. These racers will travel many miles just to race each other heads up. How about this; if 16 or more cars make Q runs and are able to make first round so its a full field of 16 they run four rounds. If breakage reduces the field to less than 16 including use of all the alternates, then field is reduced to eight cars so that bye runs are not part of the show.

Re: FS/XX @ The Four Wide Nationals
 

And keep them out of stock when they don't qualify. They are racing factory shootout
If you can't make the field GO HOME no mulligans

Re: FS/XX @ The Four Wide Nationals
 

WITH those cars in at INDY will make it harder for cars to make the field !!! js not knockin them at alll ......

Re: FS/XX @ The Four Wide Nationals
 

X2, if they decide to run stock then their runs should count against the AHFS.

1 1587 FS/XX Don Fezell, DuBois PA, '08 Mustang 8.499 9.90 -1.401
2 3662 FS/XX Scott Libersher, Wilmington IL, '15 Camaro 8.594 9.90 -1.306
3 R210 FS/XX Richard Bierie, Acworth GA, '17 Camaro 8.712 9.90 -1.188
4 439 FS/XX Stephen Bell, Shreveport LA, '17 Camaro 8.723 9.90 -1.177
5 385 FS/XX Bruno Massel, Elmhurst IL, '17 Camaro 8.763 9.90 -1.137
6 222 FS/XX Waldemar Rodriguez, Cidra PR, '15 Camaro 8.764 9.90 -1.136

Re: FS/XX @ The Four Wide Nationals
 

I agree with this. Plus have the shoot out cars have their own quota