The NHRA’s Factory Stock Showdown series is contested at four key events each year. It is a showcase of the latest and greatest in factory drag racing technology and last year Ford stomped a mud hole in everyone else. Cobra Jets dominated the series and won four out of the four events. With reason to look back over 2015, Ford Performance has released the video that you can watch below that highlights the racers who were in contention all season. Bo Butner, Chris Holbrook, and Kevin Skinner were the drivers who notched the race wins in 2015 and they all come into 2016 with the target on their back.
For those of you who don’t know how this works, there are two showdown classes X and XX. X is for the naturally aspirated cars and XX for the blown entries. The final is decided on a first to the finish line handicapped start style race pitting the winner of X against the winner of XX. It is exciting as hell and people LOVE it. In fact, like the Mopar Hemi Shootout, it has become one of the premier side races at the Chevrolet Performance US Nationals each season. It is a BLAST to call the action and we’re talking about some of the most talented and dedicated sportsman drag racers on planet Earth.
Chris Holbrook is one of the most prominent engine builders in the class and Kevin Skinner runs Holbrook power in his car. Butner has his own engine program and as you will here him say, the engine leaves the car after the race and heads for the dyno to make more snot before the next one. Chassis setup is huge in these cars and as you will see, it likely cost Holbrook a championship because of either wheelies or spin.
You’ll dig this video, even if you are not a Ford guy specifically. It speaks to the nature of the class, the fact that it is exploding in popularity, and the fact that it is some of the most entertaining racing that happens on a few select weekends each NHRA season. Gainesville, E-Town, Norwalk, and Indy will be the locations for the mayhem to happen in 2016. Be there!
My favorite class . buddy has an old mustang racer that came with two Holbrook FE motors good to see them still going strong .