New NHRA ProStock Race Schedule

[Rick62]

Here's a recent article on the NHRA website: https://www.nhra.com/news/2018/nhra-announces-18-event-2019-pro-stock-car-event-schedule
The title could have been "NHRA Eliminates ProStock From Six National Events Due to Lack of Interest"

 

[JackpotJim]

Is Pro Mod the reason for the lack of interest? Or the rule changes like adding fuel injection. I loved that class and the drivers.

 

[Rick62]

I think the fact that the only cars left in the ProStock are Camaros doesn't help matters any. The Super Stock class Camaros, Challengers and Mustangs are running in the sevens. More brands, more cars, more interest. At least in my opinion, eliminating ProStock from national events and adding ProMod to all events would be a step in the right direction. There are typically thirty of more ProMods trying to qualify at national events.

 

[Roughbird72]

There are a handful of factors to the decline of PS.
Cost to compete, only one manufacturer putting money in the class, PM is more exciting and cheaper, switch to fuel injection and rev limiter(pretty much killed the Dodge PS engine), etc...
It's pretty bad when you had to put decals on the cars so fans can tell what make they are. To be honest, there really hasn't been much stock/factory in Pro Stock for a long time.

I'm not even sure with the Challengers, Camaros and Mustangs in FS, what wins on Sunday sells on Monday works anymore.
There are many more options for the drag racer and fan compared to 20 years ago. Look at all the radial races, muscle car/ nostalgia races, etc.
NMRA, NMCA, PDRA, IHRA, NHRA, the Nostalgia organizations, etc.

 

[WP29440SE]

it wouldn't hurt my feelings any if they phased out that pro stock camaro class all together. less b.s. I would have to wade through to see DSR run

 

[Budnicks]

P/S lack of full '16 cars fields' at some races
or barely 16 cars to even qualify, usually only like 18 cars
when they can get a couple locals to show up
other than INDY or the 2 Pomona & Vegas races

I remember the days when it was 30+
to try to get the top 16 spots

dying a slow painful death

Advertisers/sponsors aren't getting
'the same exposure as they use to'
hardly any airtime anymore on the national TV coverage
not worth the $$$, if you don't get exposure
Filthy rich people will be the only P/S owners/racers soon

Pro-Mod has a limited schedule too,
So is the P/SM class too

& Pro-Mod it is more to my liking anyway
I use to worship P/S
Not anymore, $10,000 (or more) shocks, electronics etc.
everyone renting cars & combos from the same 3 groups
pricy chassis builders, $250k or more for a roller
$40k + per engine, EFI, Spec. tires, Rev limiters etc. etc. etc.
huge bore blocks, availability of parts,
having to have a huge racing operation, a team, a rig, a trailer
5 backup engines & at least a back up car etc. etc. etc.
Then there's the crappy payouts (it's a joke in NHRA)
for the $$$ spent, just to get there...

It's not a good investment for an independent

unless your rich as ****

all that crap have all but 'helped to kill it too'

& unless your a big team that has an in-house engine & parts program
machining, casting, building, producing or Billet or CNC all their own stuff
'like the competitive guys all do' KB Racing, Elite MS, Gray MS

Cylinder Heads are the really big deal in P/S,
1/2 the cost of the engine build now,
in R&D porting, machining, valves & 1 off valve springs, rockers etc.
top secret camshafts, expensiiiiiiiiiiiive configurations
most any independent team can't or won't be able to afford or have
unless they have an open checkbook

The were debating letting in Mountain Motor cars
over 500ci, with weight added (I'd assume)
so they can have a bigger qualifying fields,
more/new competition
not the same ol', same ol' 16 people/cars
every damn week, at every damn track
"Yawn/Boring"
not to speak of the all GM/Camaro class,
a couple independent MoPar's, not really competitive anymore
which need to spin higher RPM to be able to compete with the Hemi
I smell a rat, not the BBC type either,
the NHRA has a record of punishing MoPar
No Ford's at all now either

I'm 1/2 surprised they didn't open it up to Toyota & Nissan too

Pro-Stock is dying a painful death !!
Cubic Dollars have killed the sport IMO

 

[Shorthorse]

It would seem that most agree that Pro Mod might end up replacing or supplementing Pro Stock. I have a few personal thoughts on that.
First, NHRA's "Pro" model, like NASCAR, has more to do with the personalities than with cars. They are attempting to include or entice the casual observer with "stars". Pro Mod doesn't have such universally known personalities so it will be an uphill battle.
Second, I like Pro Mods a lot but to the non-hardcore fan, they don't look much different than old Pro Stock cars, at least to the crowd NHRA pro racing is trying to appeal to.
Last, Pro Mod racing is expensive but like all the pro classes, once the real big money gets into the mix, Pro Mod will go the way of all the "Pro" classes. If Pro Mod become an official Sunday TV covered class, the guys you see today will be gone in a few years. "Follow the money".

 

[wagonman]

Pro Stock + Summit + Camaro = Yawn.

 

[383man]

Myself I could care less if the Pro Camaro class ever runs again. As for Pro Mod I don't know how it will do. Many people may not like it a lot because like most of the Pro classes a lot of the cars look the same. Or in Pro Mod many may not be able to tell what kind of car/truck it is and many spectators like to relate to the vehicle by knowing what it is. I know myself that's why I love door cars that I can actually tell what kind of car it is. I am not and never have been a follower of the drivers as I always followed the cars I like and rooted for the cars I like to win as I did not care who was driving and to this day I am like that. I guess that's why I just don't have much interest in Top Fuel and Funny Car because I cant tell one from the other. And I hate watching motorcycle's race for the same reason which is they all look the same. Course I do like to see Nitro cars live because of the noise but that's the only reason. If Ronnie Sox had drove a Chevy or Ford I would not have been wanting him to win since I wanted Mopars to win. Don't know if many are like me in todays world but its just one more reason I love Nostalgia Super Stock so much since I can tell what kind of cars they are. Ron

 

[Rick62]

In addition to Ford and Chevy NASCAR races once included Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Mercury, Dodge, and Plymouth. I've read a few articles that say NASCAR is trying to convert it's fans from "brand fans" to "driver fans". As many ten thousand seats have been removed from places like Daytona and Charlotte and they still can;t fill the seats that remain. Here's the problem with trying to convert car guys to driver fans; who can name the jockey than won the last Kentucky Derby?

 

[Roughbird72]

Pro Mod certainly didn't help Pro Stock and I do think that the NHRA is trying to put the focus on the drivers/personalities instead of the cars.
One of the attractive parts of Pro Mod is the Blower v Turbo v Nitrous power adder. They sometimes tend to have a wilder paint job too.

 

[Dartari]

The problem with prostock is the lack of stock in its appearance and structure add to that the lack of brand diversity this class has morphed into a new IROC series aka chevy show I for one find it boring I do like the factory stock class which is what prostock used to be and the reason for its popularity as far as I’m concerned prostock is dead and factory stock has risen from its ashes long live factory stock

 

[wagonman]

The problem with prostock is the lack of stock in its appearance and structure add to that the lack of brand diversity this class has morphed into a new IROC series aka chevy show I for one find it boring I do like the factory stock class which is what prostock used to be and the reason for its popularity as far as I’m concerned prostock is dead and factory stock has risen from its ashes long live factory stock

Exactly.