The last time Pro Stock was a full-time class in NHRA professional racing was in 2018. Since 2019, Pro Stock (cars) have competed for either 16 or 18 races, rather than the full 21 contests allotted to Top Fuel and Funny Car. As the NHRA’s premier series morphs from Camping World sponsorship to its newest naming partner, Mission Foods, Pro Stock returns as a full-season category on the complete, 2024 21-race campaign.
With ever-increasing interest and racer participation, NHRA decided it was the right thing to promote this class. “I think the class is in a good spot and everybody’s excited about it,” said Richard Freeman, Elite Motorsports team owner. “Seeing that the overall schedule has moved to 21 events, I think it’s only fitting for [Pro Stock] to be a part of every event. I definitely think it was a group effort. This category is absolutely healthy and we just have to keep working towards that.”
Freeman and Elite Motorsports have eight cars entered in the 2023 campaign and last weekend entered six-time champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. as a ninth participant. He’ll be in the water box again for the season finale, the In-N-Out Burger Finals at In-N-Out Burger Dragstrip at Pomona, California. Freeman and Elite Motorsports’ convoy is usually matched against KB Titan Racing, another large participant in the class.
“It shows the class is very popular right now,” said KB Titan principal and five-time champion Greg Anderson. “It shows that when we (aren’t at) a race, people miss us. That’s a great feeling. I feel great about the class right now and that’s the reason we’re being asked to participate in all 21 next year. I love it! Since day one,” he said, “I want to run as many races as I can.”
Later this week, during the annual SEMA Show at Las Vegas, NHRA intends to release the full category schedule for all racing classes eligible to compete in NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events around the US. The 2024 opening salvo is the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals, scheduled March 7-10 at Gainesville Raceway.
Elite Motorsports’ Erica Enders, the reigning and five-time Pro Stock champion, has a 114-point hold over KB Titan Racing’s Greg Anderson, also a five-time champ. The success of both of these teams, together with other top, independent competitors, has signaled the continued growth and stability of Pro Stock, helping to pave the way for a return to full-season status in 2024.
Regarding the pull-back of the class, Anderson noted, “Sometimes you just have to do what’s good for the class, and I think that’s what we did over the last few years when we cut back on races. Then,” he noted, “we showed people how important the class is and how great the class is. Pro Stock is on an ascent,” he continued. “It’s all good and all thumbs-up on my end, and great for the class and that’s what’s most important. We’ve got a little bit of everything, a great product, a great group of drivers and it’s a great mix right now.”
Pro Stock’s “factory hot rods” are far more technical than some other, more popular categories in NHRA. Using electronic fuel injection on their 500 cubic-inch engines and converting the power inside to more than 1,300 horsepower provides thrilling side-by-side action. On many occasions – with the right air density and temperature, of course – Pro Stock can run in the 6.40-second range at more than 210 mph, with most trips down the quarter-mile track decide by a fraction of a second.
“Pro Stock is an extremely important category to the NHRA and we’re excited to have them at every race during the 2024 schedule,” noted Josh Peterson, NHRA vice president, racing administration. “Pro Stock continues to thrive from a driver participation and competition standpoint, and I know our fans will be thrilled to see [Pro Stock] at all 21 races next year.”
YEAH!!
I’m very glad NHRA has decided to return Pro Stock at every race. I don’t understand why they ever cut it back. This class is so competitive and exciting to watch.
Go Erica