Factory experimental

[Rory McNeil]

I have to wonder if these new Cobra Jet (NOT ROUSH) Mustangs would be causing such an uproar if they would have been equipped with a less powerful engine, and fit into a mid pack Stock Eliminator class, rather than the "Top of the Heap" "A" &"AA" classes, where the big dogs play. Yes, they are supercharged, but they are also only 331 cubic inches. I also don`t understand why there is such a big deal about superchargers not "belonging" in Stock, when Turbo`s have been in use on 4,6,and 8 cylinder Stockers for years. Could it be because they tended to fit into the middle to lower classes, so the upper class runners didn`t feel too concerned, other than the turbo cars hogging the quick qualifier positions on the ladder. Personally, I think that since the superchaarger is belt driven with easy to see pulleys, it would be a simple matter for Tech to measure these pulleys to keep the blowers drive ratio to factory levels, whereas the turbo cars seem to pretty much have no boost restrictions. I have no personal interest in these new Mustangs, Hell, if I was one of the mysterious racers that NHRA seems to ask about all the rules changes over the past several years (Wheelie bars,fuel cells, aftermarket lightweight racing brakes, aftermarket alum. cylinder heads, ) I would have voted against all of that stuff. Myself, I wish the rules were more restrictive like they were 15-20 years ago, but they are not, so you go with the flow. As for the big bad manufacturers "ruining the class for the little guys", I remember reading pretty much the same thing in Hot Rod and Car Craft magazine in the late 60`s! These Mustangs are sure causing a lot of stress for people, considering there hasn`t been one down a dragstrip at a NHRA race yet.