NHRA Factory Stock Showdown

The NHRA Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) is a class of drag racing designed to showcase the Chevrolet COPO Camaro, Dodge Challenger Drag Pak, and the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet.

Factory Stock Showdown
Upcoming season or competition:
Current sports event 2023
LeagueNational Hot Rod Association
SportDrag Racing
Founded2012
First season2016
Most recent
champion(s)
David Barton
(2022)
Sponsor(s)Flexjet
Official websitehttps://nhra.com

FSS continues to be a fan favorite with growing popularity over the last ten years. The popularity of this class of racing is in large part due to the recognizable cars. All three of the types of cars that race in the FSS are "factory" built cars that are based on the production platform of the same cars that are on the road.[1]

While cars competing in FSS are of the same type you see on the road, they do have numerous safety enhancements and rules that are required to be eligible to run in FSS events. Cars are limited to 9" wide tires, must have full safety cages, independent fuel cells, weight limits and other general racing safety requirments. These safety enhancements are in place to allow these cars to run the 1/4 mile at speeds no faster than 7.50 seconds. Since its inception the FSS class has gone faster every year and the NHRA has put restrictions in place to ensure safety and parity between the cars[2]

Drivers competing in the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Series earn championships points at each of the NHRA National events at which they compete. The points are accumulated throughout the year, and an annual champion is crowned at the conclusion of the season.[3]

While the NHRA FSS is the original and preeminent racing series for Factory Stock cars the growth and popularity of FSS racing has been seen through expansion in other series. These include the National Muscle Car Association's (NMCA) Factory Super Car[4] series and Drag Illustrated's Factory Stock Classic[5] as examples.

History

edit

2012

edit

The FSS class was started with a single event at the US Nationals.

Winner - Bo Butner

2013

edit

FSS expanded to three events.

2014

edit

FSS Expanded to four events.

2016

edit

The School of Automotive Machinists and Technology (SAM Tech) became the series sponsor.

2017

edit

SAM Tech NHRA Factory Stock Showdown added a fifth event.

Champion - David Barton

2018

edit

Expanded to a seven-race series with a 16-car qualifying field.[6]

Champion - Lean Pruett

2019

edit

Expanded to and eight event schedule.

Champion - Drew Skillman

2020

edit

Champion - Aaron Stanfield

2021

edit

In 2021 Constant Aviation [7][8] became the title sponsor and introduced the Factory Stock Showdown Bounty prize. The Bounty prize is a $1000 bounty that is put on the winner of the previous event. Whomever eliminates the holder of the Bounty at the next event earns the bonus. If the same driver wins the next event than the Bounty is rolled forward until it is awarded.[9]

Champion - Aaron Stanfield

2022

edit

Champion - David Barton

2023

edit

In 2023 Flexjet will be the title sponsor and the series will be expanded from 8 to 10 races [10]

2023 Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Schedule

edit
Date Event Location
March 9–12 54th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fl
April 28–30 13th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals zMAX Dragway, Charlotte, NC
May 19–21 23rd annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance Route 66 Raceway, Chicago, IL
June 9–11 22nd annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn.
June 22–25 17th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio
Aug. 30-Sept. 4 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis
Sept. 14-17 38th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, Pa.
Sept. 29-Oct. 1 12th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals World Wide Technology Raceway, St. Louis
Oct. 12-15 38th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals Texas Motorplex, Dallas
Oct. 26-29 23rd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas

2022 Constant Aviation NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Point Standings

edit
Position Driver Points
01 David Barton 712
02 Bill Skillman 662
03 Aaron Stanfield 586
04 Lenny Lottig 456
05 Mark Pawuk 394
06 Daniel Condon 382
07 David Janac 369
08 David Davies II 362
09 Anthony Troyer 352
10 Stephen Bell 346
11 Jesse Alexandra 333
12 Warren Walcher 321
13 Ricky Hord 304
14 Lee Hartman 276
15 L. Scott Libersher 238
16 Doug Hamp 230
17 Donald Belles 183
18 Conner Statler 129
19 Alan Scruggs 122
20 Geoffrey Turk 84
21 Lindsay Wheelock 72
22 Charles Watson II 63
23 Tripp Carter III 57
24 Dennis Chaisson 41
25 Jonathan Allegrucci 41
26 Kim Shirley 40
27 Carl Tasca 31
28 Richard Bierie 30
29 Jason Dietsch 30
30 Dustin Wheelock 30
31 Waldemar Rodriguez 20
32 Gardner Stone 10
33 Mike Letellier 10
34 Ryan Priddy 10
35 Anthony Berge 10
36 Terry Munroe 10
37 James Betz 10
38 Raymond Nash 10

References

edit
  1. ^ "Why NHRA "Factory Stock" Is The Hottest Class In Drag Racing!". MotorTrend. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  2. ^ "Noted Drag Racing Historian Sees Factory Stock Showdown at a Pivotal Crossroads". competitionplus.com. 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  3. ^ "Constant Aviation NHRA Factory Stock Showdown". NHRA. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  4. ^ nebhub.com. "NMCA Digital | Muscle Car Motorsport Experience". www.nmcadigital.com. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  5. ^ Zadel, Kayla (2023-01-24). "Factory Stock Classic Added to 2023 World Series of Pro Mod". Drag Illustrated | Drag Racing News, Opinion, Interviews, Photos, Videos and More. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  6. ^ staff, NHRA com. "SAM Tech NHRA Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018". NHRA. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  7. ^ NewsWire, Motor Sports (2021-05-04). "Constant Aviation Joins NHRA as Factory Stock Showdown Class Sponsor". Motor Sports NewsWire (Press release). Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  8. ^ staff, NHRA com. "Constant Aviation to continue as title sponsor of NHRA Factory Stock Showdown". NHRA. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  9. ^ staff, NHRA com. "NHRA, Constant Aviation launch Factory Stock Showdown Bounty program". NHRA. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  10. ^ staff, NHRA com. "Flexjet named title sponsor of NHRA Factory Stock Showdown; schedule expands to 10 events". NHRA. Retrieved 2023-01-28.