The Changes to Pro Stock

[Ghoste]

I guess it's cynic in me but the changes in Pro Stock to appeal to fans seem a bit goofy to me.  To make the cars more relevant to spectators they now require the cars to be backed into their pits and the engines left exposed for fans to see.  They will also now use throttle body injection instead of carbs so people can relate to them because a TBI looks so much different from a carb and the average fan can spot that from far away and be turned off from watching the class run.  They are also gettting rid of hood scoops and shortening wheelie bars to make the cars look more stock and limiting rpm to 10,500 so they sound more stock and in the ultimate rule to ensure that fans can identify with their daily driver, all Pro Stock cars will now be required to have a decal at the top of the windshield to tell you the manufacturer.
Most of this started last summer but the final part will be in place for the 2016 season.  I guess the mutant body alterations are still okay.

[Mike DC]

 
They're no smarter than NASCAR about this. 


Hey you guys in charge of the racing leagues, listen up!  Racing is show business, dummies!  The public doesn't really think any of those cars are stock, any more than they think James Bond can really ride a motorboat through a city street.  Don't try to convince them of a falsehood.  Just make it easy for them to suspend their disbelief and they will convince themselves.  They already want to. 


If the racecars' outer skin was fully customized then even a stock drivetrain won't seem relatable. 

If the outer skin was 100% factory, fans would eagerly watch cars powered by nuclear reactors. 

[John_Kunkel]

NHRA is always pandering to their perceived spectators.  I believe their philosophy is based on the old dated theory about racing that says "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" but consumers are more cynical nowadays.

Here's a slightly outdated link to the Pro Stock changes:

http://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/bangshift1320-nhra-news/is-this-what-nhra-pro-stock-induction-systems-will-look-like-are-they-doing-it-wrong/

[Ghoste]

 
If the racecars' outer skin was fully customized then even a stock drivetrain won't seem relatable. 

If the outer skin was 100% factory, fans would eagerly watch cars powered by nuclear reactors. 

Thats largely my opinion too Mike.

[68pplcharger]

LOL, if they want to appeal to the spectators make them use a motor that came in the vehicle. IMHO... They wouldn't let a guy in the late eighties run his Gran National because it had a turbo v6 and was competing with the 500 inch big blocks. The rules state you can't have forced induction. That's the motor the car came with!!!! Many engine builders have been pushing to use fuel injection for decades to try and get a few more horsepower out of there maxed out combinations. I think they are using the the spectator angle to throw heat away from them.

[c00nhunterjoe]

The changes do nothing for me. I dont care for prostock. Give me stock, superstock and the nostalgia versions any day of the week. Walk through the pits and look at those cars. You will scratch your heads after looking over the cars. Not the same can be said about the other classes and the hp they make.

[Moparman01]

Of the televised Pro classes, Pro Stock puts on the best show by far. I love the big top fuel cars for sure, but 8 out of 10 runs at least one of the cars breaks or boils the tires and the race is over. But the Pro Stockers more often than not run side by side and until the win light comes on it's hard to tell who won since they are so close. As far as all these changes are concerned, i can see them going to fuel injection, there is no such thing as carbs on any new street vehicle today so the transition makes sense. But, the funny part is that the Dart doesn't come with anything near a V8, so where is the fans relation going to be?? I guess they don't run the Challenger in PS because of aerodynamics, but at least that would be more relate-able to the fans. But, at least Mopar has good representation in Pro Stock, and NHRA in general, one thing that makes next year very exciting (to me anyways) is the fact that Mopar has stolen Erica Enders-Stevens away from chevy, 2 in a row champ in the bow ties, now she's on our side!! I do hope Allen Johnson get's a deal together, with him, Erica and also Jeg Coughlin back in Mopars, Dodge may get a lot of wins this coming year in PS, much like the Don Schumacher Chargers in funny car!!     

[Ghoste]

Pro Stock was my favorite class at one time but I just don't care much for it now. 

[c00nhunterjoe]

Changing teams in prostock is the same as nascar today.... just change the decals.... lmao

[Mike DC]

Many engine builders have been pushing to use fuel injection for decades to try and get a few more horsepower out of there maxed out combinations. I think they are using the the spectator angle to throw heat away from them.

Switching away from carbs is one of the dumbest things NASCAR has done in a while.


"Relatability" is a joke.  We're talking about racecars based on FWD production models half the time.   

I wouldn't be surprised if the teams want it.  The teams would also love to get rid of restrictor plates too.  Since when does a modern racing league want faster cars, NASCAR or any other? 



I wonder if half the reason for dumping carbs is just because NASCAR was tired of getting jokes & crap about it all the time.  Like the domestic car companies and pushrod motors.  Sometimes the insult-ammo factor is enough get something abandoned when it's totally practical.   

But if NASCAR thinks switching to FI will make anyone quit calling them the knuckle-draggers of motorsports, they are sadly mistaken. 

[JB400]

The only benefit that I see to fi is, it'll give the teams the ability to tune their engines to where they'll last longer, cutting costs.  Personally, the hood scoop is a signature piece of a Pro Stock.  Now, they're a miniature Funny car.

The problem with NHRA is they're trying to get tv coverage.  That is fine for a news program for ESPN, but doesn't suit well with a tv audience.  NHRA is an experience, not a tv show like Nascar.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Nhra is trying to get spectators. Period. They have tv coverage but noone watches like they used to. There is never anyone in the stands for local events and even at divisionals the stands are mainly filled with us racers and crew. Nationals are the only draw and even those are light. Spectators have tanked for a long while and nhra didnt care because of those in power and because they still had so many racers. In recent years the racers have had enough. Payouts suck and even if you win a divisional, the payout doesnt even cover your weekend expenses so the race field has greatly diminished. Their paying sponsors have bailed and Nhra has been forced to do something now. They have a new group running the show now. They have changed alot of rules this year and got some big sponsors back. We will see where it goes

[John_Kunkel]

They have tv coverage but noone watches like they used to.

I used to think that TV was a poor substitute for "being there"....now I think different. Outrageous ticket fees, $8 bottles of water, six-deep crowds just to see the cars in the pits, lousy seating with drunks and mouthy kids, I could go on.

On TV you get to see insider things you'd never see at the track, instant replays of interesting events, multi-view perspective, etc.

[HPP]

Nhra is trying to get spectators. Period. They have tv coverage but noone watches like they used to.

How about if they broadcast the races at sometime other that the dark of night on Sunday evening. I would watch if I could catch it at reasonable times.

[Ghoste]

Bring back NHRA Today, at least it was a weekly update.

[Mike DC]

 
The revenue from cable TV coverage wouldn't replace what they need from live attendance.  Not even close. 

TV revenue only does a lot to help keep a sport afloat when it's something the size of pro Baseball or Football.  Either that, or a sport that costs almost nothing to put on.   

[JB400]

They need to use tv as a promotional tool.  I don't hardly see any commercials or anything promoting NHRA.

[c00nhunterjoe]

You thought it was expensive as a spectator? Lol, try being on a crew for a national event....

[Ghoste]

You guys pay more to be there than a spectator?