[Mike Keener]

This should help clarify the difference in the rules for the new FS/A class. When Mike D made his original post the last sentence was left off the FS/A class rules. Here is the correct wording according to the NHRA web site:

FS/A: Minimum weight 451 + CID 3200 pounds, all supercharged 3500 pounds, index 10.10

FS/B: Minimum weight up to 400 CID 3250Lbs, 401 to 450 CID (including maximum allowable overbore) 3350 pounds, index 10.40

FS/A: It looks to me that what this boils down to is the new 2014 COPO Camaro 450 cu in F/I car (if overbored) now races in FS/A and receives a 300 lb. weight reduction (3200) over a 3500 lb. Supercharged car. Obviously Ford and Mopar are not going to submit a 450 cu in F/I engine (at least not this year) so NHRA had no choice but to throw the new GM 450 in to the lion's den with the Supercharged cars. The good news here is perhaps the fans will get a kick out of seeing a F/I COPO racing heads up against a Ford supercharged car? The bad news is will any COPO Camaro be able to get down to the 3200 lb minimum weight let alone get down the race track effectively on a 9 inch tire with 850+ HP?? We shall see....

FS/B looks unchanged from last years rules as long as the 450 or under cu in rule is adhered to. To me this is a good thing for last years cars still wishing to run the Showdown Cass. Let's face it, if the new GM 450 wasn't pitched in with the FS/A cars the 426 Hemi and the 427 COPO's wouldn't have stood a chance against them, so no way could they be allowed to run in FS/B. Another good thing here is that 2012 & 2013 COPO's won't have to convert their cars to the 2014 model and build new 450's to remain competitive in the class.

Hopefully the balance of the Stock Eliminator entries will also be happy that both classes of Showdown Cars got a tenth whacked off their indexes and as a result won't dominate the Q sheet as much as last year at Indy. However, I'm sure there are those who feel that it still isn't enough.