Could Top Stock Come Back?

tavirace · 02-08-2023, 02:08 PM

We had it at the IHRA National events we had at Grand Bend it was great. From what I knew the tech was very hard to police, it's hard to find people that want to spend all night taking their engines apart . It's also hard to take the oil pan off on first gen cars.

GUMP · 02-08-2023, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tavirace

We had it at the IHRA National events we had at Grand Bend it was great. From what I knew the tech was very hard to police, it's hard to find people that want to spend all night taking their engines apart . It's also hard to take the oil pan off on first gen cars.

The IHRA version of Top Stock got out of hand way too fast. I got a bunch of parts together to build a Buick GS. By the time that I was ready to start the build the combination was no longer viable!

What I am talking about is A, B, C Stockers having a little fun within the existing NHRA rules.

BRETV · 02-08-2023, 03:07 PM

I put some sponsorship money up in 2006- 2007 with Dick Butler when he was really trying to get it going with NHRA. I even built a 2003 Cobra for the class, but it all kinda faded away. When they ran at the US Class Nationals in 2001 it was awesome!! Hopefully some day it can be reality and stick around.

Bret Velde
2003 ??/SA

Alan Roehrich · 02-08-2023, 03:53 PM

I love Top Stock, I worked with Dick Butler when he tried to revive it a few years back. He and I sponsored Top Stock and Top Super Stock at Bowling Green out of our own pockets.

I think Top Stock is viable, however, you need only look at the quota issues this year to see that it is not going to happen at NHRA national events. Especially if you exclude the FS/FX cars, which you obviously should do.

Bret is correct, there are a few cars that a 2001 cutoff would exclude that should be included. How about 2005-2006? Or just no FS/FX cars?

Where Top Stock is possible is at the National Open events, and the LODRS events. You'll need to gain some cooperation, and some sponsors. Friendly tracks such as Bowling Green, with Broc Porter managing it, will work with you, within reason.

While Todd is correct, making it 8.0# per HP may make it easier for a few AA cars to enter, that really just makes it A/S-A/SA heads up. Honestly, it excludes more of the C and D cars that move up, and try to play "giant killer", which tends to involve a few more cars, AND gives the crowd some underdogs to cheer. We had a couple of natural D cars run at Bowling Green, and they had a decent showing, as well as a good time. When we race, we run AA/SA, we have a 435HP combination, and have considered a 445HP combination. So we also understand where the AA guys come from when they say that they don't like the 8.25# weight break. But I think it needs to stay at 8.25#.

The continuing popularity of the A Stick challenge at Indy shows that there is interest in something such as Top Stock, among racers, spectators, and even a few sponsors. And I think that's how/where you start the return of Top Stock.

Andrew Hill · 02-08-2023, 04:29 PM

I’ll get going on a diet for both the car and driver if Top Stock comes back around here!

Watching Top Stock at the 2001 Class Nationals is one of my favorite memories from being a kid at the track.

DG7050 · 02-08-2023, 11:24 PM

What’s the weight break for Jr Stock? Would be cool to have a heads up class for the high hp small block cars.

Adger Smith · 02-09-2023, 02:27 AM

US Class Nationals
21 Top Stock paired for first round
Matt Morgan #1051 Low ET 10.370
Paul Mercure #2503 Top speed 127.41

134 Stockers paired for first round
103 Super Stockers paired for first round

Nitro Joe did the qualifying sheets and I had help doing the pairings in the lanes.
I grabbed some of the sheets that we had laying around after the race and kept them for posterity
If any one is interested I can post the round pairings I have.
It is not a full set.
I will have to get to my shop computer to post the pairings by rounds.
I'm not familiar with this new computer format at my home..

Glenn Briglio · 02-09-2023, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DG7050

What’s the weight break for Jr Stock? Would be cool to have a heads up class for the high hp small block cars.

In division one I've tried to get Jr stock going. First at 11lbs/hp and then at 11.5 lbs/hp.

02-08-2023, 03:07 PM	#3
BRETV Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 566 Likes: 4,135 Liked 776 Times in 199 Posts	Re: Could Top Stock Come Back? I put some sponsorship money up in 2006- 2007 with Dick Butler when he was really trying to get it going with NHRA. I even built a 2003 Cobra for the class, but it all kinda faded away. When they ran at the US Class Nationals in 2001 it was awesome!! Hopefully some day it can be reality and stick around. Bret Velde 2003 ??/SA

02-08-2023, 03:53 PM	#4
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,105 Likes: 1,564 Liked 1,789 Times in 408 Posts	Re: Could Top Stock Come Back? I love Top Stock, I worked with Dick Butler when he tried to revive it a few years back. He and I sponsored Top Stock and Top Super Stock at Bowling Green out of our own pockets. I think Top Stock is viable, however, you need only look at the quota issues this year to see that it is not going to happen at NHRA national events. Especially if you exclude the FS/FX cars, which you obviously should do. Bret is correct, there are a few cars that a 2001 cutoff would exclude that should be included. How about 2005-2006? Or just no FS/FX cars? Where Top Stock is possible is at the National Open events, and the LODRS events. You'll need to gain some cooperation, and some sponsors. Friendly tracks such as Bowling Green, with Broc Porter managing it, will work with you, within reason. While Todd is correct, making it 8.0# per HP may make it easier for a few AA cars to enter, that really just makes it A/S-A/SA heads up. Honestly, it excludes more of the C and D cars that move up, and try to play "giant killer", which tends to involve a few more cars, AND gives the crowd some underdogs to cheer. We had a couple of natural D cars run at Bowling Green, and they had a decent showing, as well as a good time. When we race, we run AA/SA, we have a 435HP combination, and have considered a 445HP combination. So we also understand where the AA guys come from when they say that they don't like the 8.25# weight break. But I think it needs to stay at 8.25#. The continuing popularity of the A Stick challenge at Indy shows that there is interest in something such as Top Stock, among racers, spectators, and even a few sponsors. And I think that's how/where you start the return of Top Stock. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

02-08-2023, 04:29 PM	#5
Andrew Hill Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 700 Likes: 446 Liked 170 Times in 38 Posts	Re: Could Top Stock Come Back? I’ll get going on a diet for both the car and driver if Top Stock comes back around here! Watching Top Stock at the 2001 Class Nationals is one of my favorite memories from being a kid at the track. __________________ 3207 D/SA, C/ED

02-08-2023, 11:24 PM	#6
DG7050 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 54 Likes: 62 Liked 115 Times in 31 Posts	Re: Could Top Stock Come Back? What’s the weight break for Jr Stock? Would be cool to have a heads up class for the high hp small block cars.

02-09-2023, 02:27 AM	#7
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: Could Top Stock Come Back? US Class Nationals 21 Top Stock paired for first round Matt Morgan #1051 Low ET 10.370 Paul Mercure #2503 Top speed 127.41 134 Stockers paired for first round 103 Super Stockers paired for first round Nitro Joe did the qualifying sheets and I had help doing the pairings in the lanes. I grabbed some of the sheets that we had laying around after the race and kept them for posterity If any one is interested I can post the round pairings I have. It is not a full set. I will have to get to my shop computer to post the pairings by rounds. I'm not familiar with this new computer format at my home.. __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

02-08-2023, 02:08 PM	#1
tavirace Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 37 Likes: 7 Liked 18 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Could Top Stock Come Back? We had it at the IHRA National events we had at Grand Bend it was great. From what I knew the tech was very hard to police, it's hard to find people that want to spend all night taking their engines apart . It's also hard to take the oil pan off on first gen cars.