New Super Stock weight breaks for 2017

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Bryan Worner

I must be reading the change wrong than those on here getting all excited, ie. Beard and Butler.

All I see is they added four lighter weight breaks. 6.00-6.50, 6.50-7.00, 7.00-7.50, 7.50-8.00. That's it! No mention of combining sticks and autos, SS and GT, etc.

Nobody is gaining an advantage here, just adding lighter weight breaks. Remember when they did it in stock, (AA/SA)? Same thing here, only now your letter will change.

You are criticizing a point that I was not debating. I have no problem whatsoever comprehending what the rule changes are, past, present, or future.

I addressed very specific issues that are *already* in the rulebook, which based on NHRA's 2017 rule updates, will continue to be issues in the future.

[Greg Gay]

Let me try to explain where Michael is coming from with an example from my own car. I put the 400 back in the Mirada, and I'm in GT/HA. I had thought that I might put a Drag Pak 360 in the Mirada. With a slightly lower hp factor, and the small block being a little lighter, I would have also been in GT/HA. Now, the Factory Stock GT classes come out. If I had gone the 360 route, I would now need gloves, neck brace, thicker fire suit, chassis certification, etc. With the 400, I make no changes. Theoretically, both combinations have the same performance potential, but FSGT combination needs all the extra safety equipment. Previously, what would have happened was that when the record was set below 10.00 in a particular class, then the following year that class would have come under the additional safety requirements.

[Greg Gay]

In regards to combining stick and automatic classes, it seems like the automatics can hold their own in the lighter weight and higher cubic inch classes. A 427 Camaro with an automatic can probably run pretty close with 427 stick Camaro. However, a 283 Nova, even with a 3 speed automatic, is not going to hold a candle to 283 4-speed Nova.

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Greg Gay

Let me try to explain where Michael is coming from with an example from my own car. I put the 400 back in the Mirada, and I'm in GT/HA. I had thought that I might put a Drag Pak 360 in the Mirada. With a slightly lower hp factor, and the small block being a little lighter, I would have also been in GT/HA. Now, the Factory Stock GT classes come out. If I had gone the 360 route, I would now need gloves, neck brace, thicker fire suit, chassis certification, etc. With the 400, I make no changes. Theoretically, both combinations have the same performance potential, but FSGT combination needs all the extra safety equipment. Previously, what would have happened was that when the record was set below 10.00 in a particular class, then the following year that class would have come under the additional safety requirements.

Additionally, going from GT/HA to FGT/H, your index gets hits .20. Some other classes only got .15, and GT/AA to FGT/A only got hit .10. I & J got hit .25!

And again, other Super Stock classes where sticks and automatics are combined, the automatics get a weight break. The Factory classes are the only exception.