Ever since the 1960’s, the “Big Three” Detroit automobile manufacturers have been going toe-to-toe at the drag strips all over this great nation. This tradition, which has been revitalized in recent years with the introduction of the NHRA’s Factory Stock Showdown, pits Ford Mustang Cobra Jets, Chevy COPO Camaros, and Dodge Challenger Drag Paks against one another in their own special eliminators at select national events.  

The rules are fairly simple. There are two classes, FS/A and FS/B, which run as separate categories within the Stock Eliminator class. NHRA “Wally” trophies are awarded to each of the two class winners followed by a run-off between the two to determine the Factory Stock champion. A three-tenths staggered start will be employed in the championship run-off to level the playing field. 

The rules have been updated from last season and are now as follows: FS/A has a minimum weight of 3,200lb. for all naturally-aspirated entrants with 451 or more cubes and a 3,.500lb minimum for all supercharged combinations, with a 10.10 index. In FS/B, any naturally-aspirated combo with less than 400 cubes must weigh at least 3,250lbs., and 401 – 450 cubic inch naturally-aspirated combos must weigh at least 3,350lbs., with a 10.40 index.

Additionally, the showdown will be contested at two new events this year over last. The action kicks off at the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville, March 13-16, followed by a stop at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals held at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Labor Day weekend, Aug. 27 – Sept. 1. The final contest will be at the NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Oct. 30-Nov. 2.  

To many drag racing purists, the Factory Stock Showdown represents what today’s Pro Stock class should be. Last year’s event at the U.S. Nationals in Indy drew 27 competitors, with Chris Holbrook and his 2013 Cobra Jet defeating Pro Stock star Dave Connolly driving the Camaro of his Pro Stock team owner, Victor Cagnazzi.   With two new events on the schedule this season along with rapid support from the NHRA faithful, the sky is the limit as to how much this program can grow.