[Evan Smith]

Ed,

There is no questioning that the GM LS engine is superior to other small-blocks. But this doesn't speak for all EFI cars. The LS1 started around 325 HP and is now over 370 in some cases. Over time I'm sure it will continute to get factored, so what's the big deal.

It is most certainly is possible to control cylinder-to-cylinder fueling with some EFI systems, but not with others. Getting this right would take eight wide-band a/f sensors in each header pipe, the data-logging to receive the data and quite a bit of time and money spent on testing. This is more than most Stock racers will go through to find what would likely be only a 5-10 hp at most. You could do similar tuning with MSD's adjustable ignition box (on virtually any engine) using adjustable timing to alter the a/f mix.

While I am not a carb expert (or an expert on anything for that matter), I would imagine you could stagger jetting (on some cabs) to affect the a/f ratio using same a/f sensor technique as noted above with simlar expense. Technology will always move forward, that is a fact in any part of life. There are plenty of racers going 1.20, 1.30 or even 1.40-or-further under with carburetors. If EFI is that much better then racers wishing to use such technology can go get at car or truck with EFI. NHRA doesn't require that you or anyone run any particular combination. This is competitive racing with thousands of combinations that NHRA has to try and keep on a level playing field. This, as anyone knows, is virtually impossible. Someone will always be fast, others will be slow.

I think guys with carbs have an advantage because the cars are easier to work on and simpler to operate. Plus, carb racers have had the advantage of far more R&D time since many have been running these cars since the '60s. So maybe we should ban carburetors and only allow 1988 or newer cars in Stock. Of course I'm kidding, but you see my point. Why sit here and complain about everything? I guarantee that over the broad spectrum of classes the majority of cars will be rather equal in performance. There will always be on fast EFI car or combo that eveyone points out, there will be many more with carburetors that fly.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that carbs are not as efficient as EFI. But the real issue that everyone is crying about is weak factors on EFI cars. Namely the LS engines. Many of the fast cars have been hit hard. There have been 9.80 passes in my division by two or three cars. All big-blocks, which is what the LS cars run against. Now that the classes are combined, there will be more heads-up runs and more action from the AHFS. If a racer's goal is to go far under the index, well find a combination that is soft.

Evan