It looks to me like the ONLY problem with this whole MESS is: "Are these engines correctly "factored" by NHRA?", so that there's not another debacle that takes YEARS for the AHFS to resolve, like it did with the LS-1's.
That was an inexcusable, totally preventable, (and deliberate, I think), faux pas on NHRA's part, and could (and probably will) happen again with these Cobra Jets. It's the one thing that NHRA can "do" for these manufacturers when they (NHRA) want to give them a pat on the back. Unfortunately, it invariably comes at great expense to the rank-and-file....
Having said that, and with that scenario fresh in mind, I don't understand why anyone would think it necessary to create a new class ("F/X") for these cars when they will fit so very well in existing Super Stock classes.
That's what they did in '68 with the then-new Cobra Jets, when they won there... Only the 'cammers were put into F/X (oh, and Bil Hoeffer's Weber-carbed 289.)
I think that the only real problem that these cars are going to create will come about if they're severely under-factored, (DUH....) but of course, that would also be a problem if they were put into Super Stock, too. But, the type of performances that Bruce has alleged they can produce wouldn't be so overtly out-of-line in Super Stock, as they are almost guaranteed to be in Stock.
If they are correctly "factored" (and I have my doubts), then they should be fine in Stock; if not, make them Super Stockers; there are lots of cars in that Eliminator that will not be intimidated by the blowers and 4-valve technology they possess. They are, in fact, small motors, after all... just GOOD ones!
The problem is, of course, getting it right the first time... you don't want to have to move a car out of one Eliminator, into another, after it's originally been classified. That would be unprecented, and undoubtedly wouldn't happen. The Cobra Jets (and their competitiors) are going to have to live with wherever they are put, initially, it would seem. Get it right, NHRA!
I'm delighted to see both them and the Dodges in the fray. I think it's a wonderful opportunity to give Sportsman racing some badly needed media exposure; I just hope it doesn't come at the expense of long-established racers' programs that have been many years and many dollars in the making.
We'll know a lot more in about two week....
Thanks for listening.