Interesting...Jon Asher on Pro Stock and Factory Stock

[Bunkster]

Originally Posted by MR DERBY CITY

I can see by your writing that you are a well educated man. How about you decipher this post in PLAIN English so this dumb Azz hillbilly can understand what you are sharing with us ??

Mike:

Esoteric indicates a fan base that would pay dearly if you and friends install a W-motor in that wonderful wagon.

Intrinsic would imply the tri-power version is used.

These two words used together mandate it be a 4 speed.

Let me know if any further interpretation would be helpful.

[matt82114]

I'm just a casual fan, but I have always liked stock and super stock. Pro Stock started intriguing me when I was in my mid-twenties. Full disclosure, I'm 35 now. And I probably know and understand way more about each category then 99% of the other casual fans simply bc I enjoy learning about the ins and outs of the classes.

But I started to lose interest a couple years ago when I realized that the class is just becoming so mundane and uninteresting. For a time it almost seemed like whoever let the clutch foot out first would win the race. Okay, so we have these really expensive cars that are so evenly matched it comes down to who can let the left foot up first. That gets pretty boring race after race after race after race.

But I'm one of those casual fans who has always liked watching drag racing ever since I was a little kid. I still remember my dad taking me to Baylands in Fremont, California.

If I had the money and the time, I would absolutely figure out a way to have a stock or super stock car. But to be completely honest, I just cannot see spending $30,000 for an entry-level stocker, another $50k for a very used motorhome & trailer, and spending the amount of time and money it would take to be a division 3 racer for a hobby. Does that mean I think stock and super stock are going to die? Absolutely not. But I'll sit on this side of the fence for a long long time simply watching you guys and respecting (the absolute dog snot) what you do.

Whether it is stock, super stock, top dragster, top Sportsman, comp Eliminator, or any of the super categories, drag racing "participants" has evolved into a blue-collar sport for white-collar people.

In regards to the FS cars taking over Pro Stock; it is something I would like to see. I think as of right now it's pretty neat that the same cars I can watch go down the quarter mile in low-to-mid 8-seconds look just like their street legal counterpart driving around on the road.
I do think it's only a matter of time though that the guys with the deepest pockets will eventually rule the roost and take over the factory Showdown cars if they do become the new Pro Stock. The only way to save that would be if, and I do mean a serious if, NHRA can regulate it and keep it to where the above average joe's can still compete with the Grays, Ken Black, Elite, Etc.

When I'm in the stands, either at a divisional or a national, other fans like the FS cars. Sure, they don't know jack squat about the cars, but they can relate to them. And that's how you spark interest. Finding common ground.

I truly am sorry that NHRA put you guys through so much crap. You guys put so much Blood Sweat and Tears into your hobby and NHRA pretty much doesn't give a darn about it. So I guess you can say that's another reason why I really don't want to race in any category NHRA has to offer. Because what's the point of spending all of that money and time just to feel like I'm getting crapped on week in & week out.

Sorry for the long post. Just thought some of you would want to hear thoughts from a fan and not a fellow racer.

Matt Hanley
Hendersonville, TN

[Mike Pearson]

Pro stock is the only pro category that I like to watch. The racing is very close and has become a drivers race. No more can you cut a .060 light and expect to win a round. It would be better for the class if the other makes were better represented. Nothing in a pro stock car came from the big 3 manufacturers. Every part is aftermarket racing equipment. The one thing that has hurt pro stock was the addition of pro mod into NHrA ationalevent competition. Pro mod is kind of pro stock on steroids and they have taken away some of the potential sponsorships that could have gone to the pro stock teams. I don't think that replacing pro stock with the factory stock cars will make any difference. If there is no sponsor money the millionaires will be the only ones running those cars as well. It really comes down to the fact that NHRA has not promoted a good value for the sponsors needed to keep the high dollar classes funded. The super teams in all of the pro classes have pretty much ruined it for the smaller teams or privateers and NHRA has stood by and allowed it to happen. The factory stock class should be a class all i its own to see if it can survive on its own merits. If you can't qualify for the FD show than you should not be allowed bac in the stock or super stock elimination rounds with the same vehicle. I don't know how long the factories will continue to build the cars and engine components to keep the factory stock class alive. I guess time will tell in that. The factory stock cars are very cool but they are not that fun to watch. The cars a finicky with regard to traction and there is not many good side by side races that I have seen where at least one of the cars did not have traction problems. Big power and small tires have that recipe.
I surely don't have the answers nor do the sanctioning bodies. All Motorsports seem to be in the same predicament. Gate fees too high for the racer and spectator is one big issue. I was recently at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona and the attendance there was at an all time low. Just too expensive. The racing and entertainment was really good and the updates that were done to the Daytona speedway are spectacular. Too bad they did not add a drag strip to the property when they did the update.

[MR DERBY CITY]

Originally Posted by Bunkster

Mike:

Esoteric indicates a fan base that would pay dearly if you and friends install a W-motor in that wonderful wagon.

Intrinsic would imply the tri-power version is used.

These two words used together mandate it be a 4 speed.

Let me know if any further interpretation would be helpful.

.....Oh, OK......Thanks....For a moment I thought I might have to ask Chuck Norton to translate it for me........