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NMCA ’ s new Pro Stock class offers alternative to “ EFI era ” NHRA Pro Stock By Brandon W . Mudd
It ’ s no secret NHRA ’ s Pro Stock class is hurting . The switch to electronic fuel injection prior to last season ’ s kickoff in Pomona left nearly all the teams scrambling to catch up . While the Summit Racing teams of KB Racing — eventual champion Jason Line and runner-up Greg Anderson — were able to beat the curve and dominate their competitors , Anderson said even team owner Ken Black was disgusted enough with the plan , he left Pomona early last February . Although teams slowly made headway over the course of 2016 , there are many ready to write off that class for NHRA . Not so for NMCA , however . Doorslammers are incredibly popular and in recent years , the shows in which they ’ re featured have been among the biggest motorsports draws in the country . Nitro may always be a fan favorite , but there are nearly as many diehards in places like Tulsa , South Georgia , Darlington , and Orlando who line the fences and pack the stands to see small-tire machines do their thing . With this understanding , NMCA is planning to roll out a Pro Stock class this season . Series General Manager and Event Director Rollie Miller said a discussion regarding the need for a smallblock class led to the decision .
“ About a year and a half ago , ( Book Racing Enterprise owner ) Bob Book approached us , and my then-tech director Dave Werremeyer had a big part of that . Those two started talking about a naturally-aspirated small-block class .
“ Number one , Bob had to have the vision of it , and number two , Dave and I saw a need for the Comp Eliminator , Pro Stock-type cars that are small block . I don ’ t wanna pick on anyone that had nothing to do with it ; we just saw a need there . Four or five racers actually approached us , but the main one was Bob Book .”
Book , one of the top engine builders in the sport in addition to being a pretty good driver ,
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said his idea of a Pro Stock class within NMCA began with the issues NHRA and its Pro Stock teams had with that class and minced no words when discussing it .
“ I would say the single biggest reason is the current state of affairs in naturally aspirated drag racing ,” Book said . “ You know , as time has gone by here with the ADS and the turbos and nitrous
and all that , naturally aspirated drag racing has taken kind of a beating here lately with the emasculating that they did to NHRA Pro Stock this last off season with the EFI and the other rule changes they made there .”
A top-of-the-list reason for the change was
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also the desire to return drag racing back to a time when the cars were recognizable and had to be muscled down the track . Fewer rules , less tech , and faster cars are what Book foresees with the new class .
“ To me , and a lot of people of my generation ,” he said , “ the thing that most symbolizes real drag racing is a small block with clutch . I think back
to when I was young , you know , a four-speed Camaro with a 327 or something like that , that ’ s really drag racing at its roots .”
KB Racing is one of the very few NHRA Pro Stock teams who race full-time for a living , explaining why Line and Anderson were the only competitors with a legitimate shot at the title last season . Several parttime and journeyman teams either waited until late in the season when they were finally able to get a grasp of the new rules package or just didn ’ t race at all . NHRA Pro Stock veteran Larry Morgan didn ’ t race due to both health and sponsorship issues , but it ’ s very telling to see him on the entry list for the Pro Mod season opener in Gainesville .
In NASCAR , whenever the Cup Series moves to a new body style , sanctions such as ARCA allows those bodies to be used within their races . Miller said NMCA could provide the same opportunity for Pro Stock racers unable or unwilling to modify their race cars to satisfy NHRA rules .
“ It ’ s definitely a possibility ,” he said . “ It was
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