In its ongoing efforts to bring new fans and competitors to Pro Stock, NHRA will have four additional tests of Mountain Motor Pro Stock cars during the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.
The first test of these large-engine cars that customarily run the Extreme Pro Stock Professional Drag Racing Association (PRDA) races was held during the 2018 Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend. Exhibition laps were taken so that NHRA could gather data to evaluate the possibility of these machines running alongside current NHRA Pro Stock competitors.
This year, Mountain Motor Pro Stock exhibitions will take place at the Charlotte Four-Wide contest in April, at the June Bristol race, Epping’s July event and at Dallas, the third race of the six-race Countdown to the Championship.
NHRA’s 500 cubic-inch engined Pro Stock category is contesting 18 races this year, down from 24 races over the past decades. These appearances should help NHRA evaluate the balance of power necessary to include Mountain Motor Pro Stock in its Mello Yello Pro Stock class.
One entrant is already ready to take on this new challenge. Team Aruba, which competed in PRDA’s Extreme Pro Stock championship in 2018 with an Aruba.com 2018 Ford Mustang, has announced its intent to schedule all four exhibition races in 2019, as NHRA continues to evaluate the prospects.
Team owner Vic Mean said, “Mountain Motor Pro Stock will participate in four NHRA National events in 2019, which could not have come at a better time. American Airlines has just added four new straight flights to Aruba; we can market The One Happy Island to a new population, and it’s easier than ever for them to enjoy a paradise vacation.”
Because Team Aruba has already made the choice to compete, they can also promote their sponsor; the team is based in Oranjestad, Aruba. “Direct flights are available from Charlotte and Houston, so those markets will be an incredible opportunity for us to promote our island. Racers spend a lifetime working towards racing with the NHRA. We feel extremely privileged and grateful for this opportunity.”
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