09 challenger

[Bill Harris]

The start of the retro muscle cars was when Ford introduced the '05 Mustang. How many of them do you see in stock and S/S? They weren't even in the classification guide until last year. One guy built a one for SS/GT and couldn't run in NHRA, only in IHRA, until he put up a fight to get it into the classification guide. It was added in May of '07, almost three years after it was introduced.

I have no idea of how competitive an '05-'07 Mustang would be in stock. The only engine is the 3 valve 4.6L SOHC engine which is factory 300HP. Even though it has never been run, NHRA put an extra 20 HP on it from the get-go so it's factored at 320. It could run D, E or F, but there aren't any out there. Why not? Why have the extra HP added to it before anyone even tries to run one?

It is probably Ford's fault, since it is up to the manufacturer to provide the specs for the classification guide. Ford doesn't seem to support drag racing at the sportsman level at all. They put more money into Harley pro-stock motorcycles (???!!!) than sportsman racing. It sucks, and as a Ford guy it pisses me off.

I'll betcha that within 6 months of the introduction of the new (ugly as sin IMHO) Camaro, there will be dozens of them in class racing. GM supports the sportsman and sees some value in having their cars at the track. That sure isn't going to make me change my colors but it does make me jealous.