For about a week, our pals over at CompetitionPlus.com have been dropping some hints on what would be another new and potentially awesome NMCA category for the upcoming season. They are smarter and more talented then us (we’re better looking) so we think that they have a line on this thing that we don’t. We cannot get anyone at NMCA to tell us a damned thing about what they are proposing but picking up the phone and beating the bushes has gotten us a couple of nuggets we can share. None of this may be ground breaking but it is at least what we know.
Bob Book was the driving force for this thing and what we’re talking about potentially is a naturally aspirated class that uses 400ci engines similar to the ones that lots of Competition Eliminator racers use. These engines are also very similar to what are run in the Australian version of Pro Stock in that country. Engine builders like Book, Patterson, Schmidt, and others crank out engines not only for the Aussie competitors but also for a modicum of racers who compete in NHRA comp eliminator and this class which has now been officially referred to as Pro NA in a Facebook posting by Dart could potentially give comp racers another place to run their stuff. We have heard that there will not be a restriction on body style but that is not confirmed so no only would we have some screaming small inch naturally aspirated engines but there would also some diversity in equipment if what we are hearing is correct.
This class would also provide an “aspirational” naturally aspirated class for those racers who are running the N/A 10.5 category in the NMCA as well. We think it is a great idea on paper and we think that when a class gets developed that helps racers compete more in what seems like (at first anyway) a simpler environment than the tricky world of NHRA comp, it could be a big win. We KNOW the engine builders are on board.
What do you think? We’re going to keep harassing the NMCA officials until they answer the phone or get a restraining order…again.
We’re going to keep our ears to the ground on this! Here’s some dyno video to show you what we all might be in for –
Would be great!
impressive numbers, NHRA should of just put 400s in last years P/S type cars, I guess the thought of more racers showing up scared them (think it would of increased car count), they do not seem to know what to do with P/M when 30 plus show up at limited events (they need P/M at every race)
Now that type of engine would be perfect in the new COPO, Cobra Jet, or Dragpack. That should be the new Pro Stock.
I prefer stock based engines for what should be pro “stock” but this is one step closer to killing NHRA pro snore.
awesome idea! The NMCA just keeps coming up with better and better ideas… First it was Factory Super Cars, which IMO is what NHRA Pro Stock should be… And now this. Like you said, the Aussies have been running these in their version of Pro Stock for awhile, and their 400ci mouse motors aren’t all that much slower than the NHRA rats. And who doesn’t love screamin’ small blocks?! Bravo NMCA!
Great idea, as long as they allow EFI.
Don’t mandate it, but give it a place and some rules (dual carbs of up to x-CFM, or throttle body of up to x-square inches) and allow those who want to play with it to do so.
I know that a lot of racers see EFI as the devil, but I can’t stop wondering how much opinions and technology would be different now if EFI had been allowed as an option in 1995, like when WJ said to do so.
Rev happy little bastards