Pro Stock
Pro Stock Drag Racing is a class of drag racing featuring 'Factory Hot-Rods'. The class can be known as "all motor," as the cars cannot use artificial induction such as turbocharging, supercharging, or nitrous oxide, and there are very strict rules governing the modifications allowed to the engines, and the types of bodies used.
History
The National Hot Rod Association Pro Stock class emerged from the production-based Super Stock class in 1970 with a more liberal set of rules and an absence of handicaps. Rules initially favored big-block V8s but by 1972 had changed to favor small-blocks to reflect contemporary trends in the American auto industry. In 1982, the NHRA implemented a new engine formula that allowed the big-blocks to return, due to the popularity of the Mountain Motor IHRA Pro Stocks with unlimited displacement in the late 1970s. However, NHRA still limits the size of the engine to no more than 500 cubic inches(about 8100 cubic centimetres) in displacement.
The 1972-81 small-block formula (358 cubic inches - about 5,900 cubic centimetres) would reappear from 1998 until 2001 in the Pro Stock Truck class that used compact pickup truck bodies instead of sedan bodies.
Pro Stock today
Engine
- The engine must be manufactured by the same company as the car body. Though no engine currently being raced in Pro Stock is used on any manufacturer's assembly line, all of the raw components are available to anyone. Engine blocks and cylinder heads are often provided in a "raw" condition with only approximate dimensions and rough machining. Each team will continue to machine and modify the part to their own standards.
- Engine capacity is restricted to a maximum 500 cu in (8.2 L) single-camshaft, 90-degree V8.
- Some non-NHRA bodies will have different rules. The American Drag Racing League (eighth-mile) and Mountain Motor Pro Stock Association (quarter-mile) do not have a 500-cubic inch rule, and some engines exceed 800 cu in (13.1 L), known as "mountain motors."
- Pro stocks are limited to dual 4-barrel carburetor (naturally aspirated) intake systems. The four-barrel carburetors can be "split" (i.e. sawn in half) so that each of the halves can be more accurately positioned over the slightly staggered intake runners. The intake manifold and heads are open to modification. The most effective intake manifold configuration has continued to be the "tunnel ram" for nearly 40 years. The carburetors are raised above the engine; the length and configuration of the intake passages ("runners") is critical to horsepower output. The tall intake manifolds predicate the large hood scoop that is a signature of the Pro Stock class.
The rules that forbid forced induction of any sort, plus allowing head modifications have resulted in Pro Stock heads being the most sophisticated in any drag racing category, with valve lifts in the 1" region.
Pro Stock engines generally produce around 2.5 hp/in³ (114 kW/L). A complete Pro Stock engine normally costs more than $80,000.
Drivetrain
- Pro Stock clutches utilize multiple discs. These must be serviced after every run to maintain critical tolerances that can mean the difference between a good run or severe tire shake.
- Since 1973, the most popular transmission was the Lenco planetary design, first used as a four-speed and now as a five-speed. Although the five-speed unit (usually air-shifted) is still used in ADRL and Mountain Motor Pro Stock Association and in Air-Shifted three-speed units in Pro Modified, NHRA Pro Stocks utilize a Liberty or G-Force five-speed clutchless manual transmission.
Body
- NHRA Pro Stock racers are no longer required to use modified stock steel bodies from the respective manufacturers' cars. Instead, NHRA-approved bodies that resemble the stock bodies are utilized.
- Some have complained that the "Stock" portion of "Pro Stock" is not really all that accurate anymore, because so little, if any, of the race cars' bodies having their origins in the respective manufacturers' factories.
Chassis
- Pro Stock chassis are welded 4130 chrome-molybdenum alloy steel tubing, with an integrated "funny-car style" cage around the driver that, combined with the safety restraints and helmet produce a very rigid and safe driving environment.
Suspension
- Pro Stock cars are required to use automotive-type suspension systems.
- Since the 1970s, front suspensions have utilized MacPherson struts with control arms; for rear suspensions, the design of choice is the four-link.
- Coil- over shock absorbers are used at both front and rear.
Brakes
- The primary means of slowing the cars from their top speeds of around 200 mph are the dual drag chutes.
- Four-wheel disc brakes made by aftermarket manufacturers are also used.
- The brakes have single calipers on the front and double calipers on the rear.
Fuel
- The factory hot rods may use only racing gasoline (octane rating: 118), which is tested and certified by chemical analysis at NHRA, ADRL, or MMPSA events.
- Pro Stock fuel systems flow the gasoline at 7.5 US gallons per minute (0.5 L/s).
On top of all of these specifications, each car must:
- Weigh a minimum of 2,350 pounds (1,066 kg), including driver.
- In NHRA competition, the cars must be produced within the last five model years (2007–2011). In the late 1980s and into the 1990s, car sizes increased as mid-size family sedans had become the car of choice, but cars shrank by the 2000s as compact cars, banking off the popularity then of the sport compact class, became the trend, as General Motors and Chrysler began using compact cars (similar to Pro RWD except for the engine). Current NHRA rules require the Ford Mustang or Dodge Avenger, with the Chevrolet Camaro scheduled to come later in 2011.[1]
- Rear spoilers cannot be longer than 13 inches (330 mm), measured from the body-line-to-spoiler transition point to the tip.
- Complete stock headlights, parking lights, and taillights must be retained in original factory location.
This makes for some incredibly tight racing; the front runners in the class can reach speeds over 200 miles per hour (322 km/h) in 6.6 seconds (approx). The qualifications rounds are separated by less than a tenth of a second across all competitors. In a particularly tight qualifying roster, the difference from #1 to the final #16 qualifier may be only .05 seconds.
MMPSA cars, because of their 800+ cubic inch mountain motors, dip into the 6.30's at almost 220 miles per hour (354 km/h). Recently, a few cars have dipped into the 6.20's, with Brian Gahm being the first with a 6.29 second pass at Grand Bend Motorplex.
NHRA Pro Stock Champions (1974-2010)
1974 - Bob Glidden, 1975 - Bob Glidden, 1976 - Larry Lombardo, 1977 - Don Nicholson, 1978 - Bob Glidden, 1979 - Bob Glidden, 1980 - Bob Glidden, 1981 - Lee Shepherd, 1982 - Lee Shepherd, 1983 - Lee Shepherd, 1984 - Lee Shepherd, 1985 - Bob Glidden, 1986 - Bob Glidden, 1987 - Bob Glidden, 1988 - Bob Glidden, 1989 - Bob Glidden, 1990 - Darrell Alderman, 1991 - Darrell Alderman, 1992 - Warren Johnson, 1993 - Warren Johnson, 1994 - Darrell Alderman, 1995 - Warren Johnson, 1996 - Jim Yates, 1997 - Jim Yates, 1998 - Warren Johnson, 1999 - Warren Johnson, 2000 - Jeg Coughlin, 2001 - Warren Johnson, 2002 - Jeg Coughlin, 2003 - Greg Anderson, 2004 - Greg Anderson, 2005 - Greg Anderson, 2006 - Jason Line, 2007 - Jeg Coughlin, 2008 - Jeg Coughlin, 2009 - Mike Edwards 2010 - Greg Anderson ,
See also
External links
References
- ^ NHRA 2010 Rule Book Amendments