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SSGT Mustang · 07-01-2015, 10:49 PM

You're right. I don't know anyone who runs pro stock. But I've been drag racing for more than 30 years and I remember when pro stock was pro stock. I also remember the pro mod guys like Oddy and Animal Jim who used to do grudge races, and always to a full crowd.

Pro stock has become like funny car because the bodies look nothing like the production cars, and the motors are not like the production motors. Glidden used to run a Boss Hemi, the Chrysler guys used to run a 426 based hemi or a wedge, Pontiac guys ran Pontiac motors and BBC's guys ran basically BBCs. The bodies resembled real cars, like Glidden in a T bird and the late great Lee Shepherd in a Camaro.

Now, in a 16 car field, if you can get a 16 car field, you have basically one body style and one style motor, with the exception of Allen Johnson and sometime V. Gaines. Does that mean that the drivers, tuners and engine builders are not working hard? Absolutely not. But the greatness of pro stock has been lost.

Because of all the PC crap, there can't even be real rivalries anymore. To see a burn down today looks like a joke. When you saw a burn down between Glidden and Johnson, it was a BURN DOWN. It had meaning. People dominated because they tried new combinations and worked them. Like when Glidden went from a Cleveland to the Hemi, and Reher and Morrison went to a BBC.

I'm one of the odd Super Stock guys who actually likes fuel and alcohol cars. They are awesome, and anyone who has the nads to drive them deserves respect. I don't care about crashes, I care about how these guys get those cars down track. Same with pro mod. The fuel cars, the alcohol cars and the pro mod cars will always be the top draw because they are killers. They push the limits of human ingenuity. They are almost super human.

Pro stock used to have a strong following too, because people saw the diversity in the cars, the combination and the rivalry. They didn't just root for the driver. They rooted for the full package. And, teams didn't lease engines.

And about those fuel cars. It's interesting to look back and see how Garlits was so ahead of his time and a true innovator. I remember people joking about his bubble hooded dragster back in the day. Now, it's the "new thing." At least he had the nerve to go out there and try new things that people used to scoff at.

Times have changed. But pro mod to me at least represents what drag racing used to be. I'm not sure what can be done with Pro Stock, but I do know that I'm not the only one who feels that it has lost its appeal, and I used to be a die hard pro stock guy.

07-01-2015, 10:49 PM	#10
SSGT Mustang Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jersey Posts: 359 Likes: 35 Liked 204 Times in 54 Posts	Re: Pro Mod or Pro Stock? You're right. I don't know anyone who runs pro stock. But I've been drag racing for more than 30 years and I remember when pro stock was pro stock. I also remember the pro mod guys like Oddy and Animal Jim who used to do grudge races, and always to a full crowd. Pro stock has become like funny car because the bodies look nothing like the production cars, and the motors are not like the production motors. Glidden used to run a Boss Hemi, the Chrysler guys used to run a 426 based hemi or a wedge, Pontiac guys ran Pontiac motors and BBC's guys ran basically BBCs. The bodies resembled real cars, like Glidden in a T bird and the late great Lee Shepherd in a Camaro. Now, in a 16 car field, if you can get a 16 car field, you have basically one body style and one style motor, with the exception of Allen Johnson and sometime V. Gaines. Does that mean that the drivers, tuners and engine builders are not working hard? Absolutely not. But the greatness of pro stock has been lost. Because of all the PC crap, there can't even be real rivalries anymore. To see a burn down today looks like a joke. When you saw a burn down between Glidden and Johnson, it was a BURN DOWN. It had meaning. People dominated because they tried new combinations and worked them. Like when Glidden went from a Cleveland to the Hemi, and Reher and Morrison went to a BBC. I'm one of the odd Super Stock guys who actually likes fuel and alcohol cars. They are awesome, and anyone who has the nads to drive them deserves respect. I don't care about crashes, I care about how these guys get those cars down track. Same with pro mod. The fuel cars, the alcohol cars and the pro mod cars will always be the top draw because they are killers. They push the limits of human ingenuity. They are almost super human. Pro stock used to have a strong following too, because people saw the diversity in the cars, the combination and the rivalry. They didn't just root for the driver. They rooted for the full package. And, teams didn't lease engines. And about those fuel cars. It's interesting to look back and see how Garlits was so ahead of his time and a true innovator. I remember people joking about his bubble hooded dragster back in the day. Now, it's the "new thing." At least he had the nerve to go out there and try new things that people used to scoff at. Times have changed. But pro mod to me at least represents what drag racing used to be. I'm not sure what can be done with Pro Stock, but I do know that I'm not the only one who feels that it has lost its appeal, and I used to be a die hard pro stock guy.