NHRA Factory Stock Showdown

Last updated
Factory Stock Showdown
Upcoming season or competition:
Sports current event.svg2023
Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Class Logo.jpg
League National Hot Rod Association
Sport Drag Racing
Founded2012
First season2016
Most recent
champion(s)
David Barton
(2022)
Sponsor(s) Flexjet
Official website https://nhra.com

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.

Contents

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 requirements. 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

2012

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

Winner - Bo Butner

2013

FSS expanded to three events.

2014

FSS Expanded to four events.

2016

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

2017

SAM Tech NHRA Factory Stock Showdown added a fifth event.

Champion - David Barton

2018

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

Champion - Lean Pruett

2019

Expanded to and eight event schedule.

Champion - Drew Skillman

2020

Champion - Aaron Stanfield

2021

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

Champion - David Barton

2023

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

DateEventLocation
March 9–1254th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fl
April 28–3013th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals zMAX Dragway, Charlotte, NC
May 19–2123rd annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance Route 66 Raceway, Chicago, IL
June 9–1122nd annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn.
June 22–2517th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio
Aug. 30-Sept. 469th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis
Sept. 14–1738th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, Pa.
Sept. 29-Oct. 112th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals World Wide Technology Raceway, St. Louis
Oct. 12–1538th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals Texas Motorplex, Dallas
Oct. 26–2923rd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas

2022 Constant Aviation NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Point Standings

PositionDriverPoints
01David Barton712
02Bill Skillman662
03Aaron Stanfield586
04Lenny Lottig456
05Mark Pawuk394
06Daniel Condon382
07David Janac369
08David Davies II362
09Anthony Troyer352
10Stephen Bell346
11Jesse Alexandra333
12Warren Walcher321
13Ricky Hord304
14Lee Hartman276
15L. Scott Libersher238
16Doug Hamp230
17Donald Belles183
18Conner Statler129
19Alan Scruggs122
20Geoffrey Turk84
21Lindsay Wheelock72
22Charles Watson II63
23Tripp Carter III57
24Dennis Chaisson41
25Jonathan Allegrucci41
26Kim Shirley40
27Carl Tasca31
28Richard Bierie30
29Jason Dietsch30
30Dustin Wheelock30
31Waldemar Rodriguez20
32Gardner Stone10
33Mike Letellier10
34Ryan Priddy10
35Anthony Berge10
36Terry Munroe10
37James Betz10
38Raymond Nash10

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References

  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. "SAM Tech NHRA Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018". NHRA. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  7. "Constant Aviation Joins NHRA as Factory Stock Showdown Class Sponsor". Motor Sports NewsWire (Press release). 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  8. "Constant Aviation to continue as title sponsor of NHRA Factory Stock Showdown". NHRA. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  9. "NHRA, Constant Aviation launch Factory Stock Showdown Bounty program". NHRA. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  10. "Flexjet named title sponsor of NHRA Factory Stock Showdown; schedule expands to 10 events". NHRA. Retrieved 2023-01-28.