Pickup bed covers in competition in Stock

[Bill Howell]

I have run a 99 Ford Lightning truck in stock a few times back in 01-02. I ran it at my local track a few times with the tailgate up, then down. It ran a little faster with the tailgate up but I really didn't see any difference in et.
Just for the record, bone stock with a computer chip change, it would run a couple tenths under the index. I bet a real race car version of one of these would be a killer if someone was inclined to race something like that. Of course, raising the supercharger boost would be another discussion.

[bill dedman]

Thanks, Bill!!! Everything seems to point to less drag: with the tailfate in the "up" position. I think that's pne of those things that doesn't LOOK like it would work, but, it does... Laying it down flat seems to LOOK better, aerodynamically-speaking, but it just doesn't work in the real world.

I appreciate the input!!!

[Rory McNeil]

There are only a few trucks running in Stock here in Div.6, but I believe they all have bed covers of some sort on them. Couldn`t be for a little extra weight out back, could it?

[bill dedman]

Rory,

Since a certain amount of ballast is legal, wouldn't it be more benefical to add all of it at the very back of the bed, so it would cantilever weight off the front? That way, you'd get more on the rear wheels than you actually added...

I'd guess that the bed covers do good things for the aerodynamics.... but, I'm JUST GUESSING, of course!

Thanks for your thoughts!!!

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

Rory,

Since a certain amount of ballast is legal, wouldn't it be more benefical to add all of it at the very back of the bed, so it would cantilever weight off the front? That way, you'd get more on the rear wheels than you actually added...

I'd guess that the bed covers do good things for the aerodynamics.... but, I'm JUST GUESSING, of course!

Thanks for your thoughts!!!

No, putting the ballast all they way to the end of the bed will not help; it would affect the acceleration.

Regarding the use of the covers, the language used to be in the rulle book in the same fashion as the IHRA book. When the truck classes were added to the general Stock Eliminator population, it was not added.