NHRA Brings Back Hood Scoops And  Introduces Dual Throttle Bodies To Pro Stock For 2027

Back in 2015, people were arguing on social media if a dress was blue/black or white/gold, they were doing “The Dab”, and Pro Stock cars had hood scoops. Well, one of those is coming back as the NHRA is taking a decisive step toward reshaping the future while revisiting the past of Pro Stock competition by bringing back the hood scoop.

In a move that blends modern technology with classic visual appeal, NHRA officials announced that hood scoops will return to Pro Stock bodies beginning with the 2027 season. Alongside that change, the current single forward-facing throttle body configuration will be replaced with a dual, top-mounted 4-barrel-style throttle body setup.

This evolution is part of the NHRA Technical Department’s ongoing effort to improve parity, increase participation, and reduce long-term operating costs across the category. The announcement comes roughly a decade after one of the most significant shifts in Pro Stock history. In 2016, the class moved away from carburetors and hood scoops in favor of electronic fuel injection (EFI) systems and flat hood designs.

EFI isn’t going anywhere, but the airflow strategy is getting a major overhaul.

After extensive collaboration with teams, racers, engine builders, and crew chiefs, the overwhelming consensus favored bringing back hood scoop air entry. That feedback played a critical role in shaping the new rules package.

At the core of this decision is performance consistency and tunability, two areas that have proven challenging under the current configuration.

“The general feeling among competitors and stakeholders is the current low/front air-entry setup makes the engines more difficult to tune and creates more variation from car to car than it should,” NHRA Director of Engineering Clinton Snead said. “By adding the hood scoop and top-mounted/dual throttle bodies, it should eliminate those issues, which should help all teams, but especially the smaller and lower-budget teams.

“We’re excited about the return of hood scoops and the addition of dual throttle bodies in Pro Stock. There was considerable momentum from teams, racers, and engine builders to make this move, and we believe this should draw added interest from fans as well, returning to more of the classic look fans have associated with the category.

“The class is in a strong place as far as overall participation, and we’re confident this move will only continue to add to the depth and interest in Pro Stock.”

From a technical standpoint, relocating the air entry point to a hood scoop and splitting airflow across dual throttle bodies is expected to create a more stable and predictable tuning window. That’s a big deal in a class where thousandths of a second separate winners from the rest of the field.

One of the biggest takeaways from this rules update is accessibility.

The current front-entry intake configuration has introduced complexities that can disproportionately affect smaller teams with fewer resources. By simplifying airflow dynamics and reducing variation between combinations, the new setup could level the playing field. That aligns directly with NHRA’s long-term goal, making Pro Stock more competitive and sustainable for a broader range of teams.

While the return of hood scoops delivers a strong visual throwback, this isn’t just about nostalgia. The updated rules package will open the door for innovation in several key areas. The new dual top-mounted throttle bodies will be governed by dimensional requirements, allowing teams to design and build their own or partner with aftermarket manufacturers. Intake manifold rules will be loosened to encourage development and performance gains. Expanded flexibility for air inlets should allow teams to explore new approaches to airflow management.

Additionally, the reintroduction of hood scoops is expected to contribute to improved E.T. performance, something that fans and racers always want to see.

Beyond the technical implications, there’s no denying the visual impact. Hood scoops have long been synonymous with Pro Stock’s identity. Their return is likely to resonate with longtime fans while adding an aggressive, purposeful aesthetic that reinforces the class’s roots.