The rumors around the sportsman pits became official on Monday afternoon as NHRA officials announced the creation of the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown to take place at the 2012 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto Plus in Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend — adding another dimension of excitement and fanfare to the action packed, week-long affair that is the world’s oldest and most prestigious drag race.

The NHRA Factory Stock Showdown, much the SuperCar Showdown unveiled by the ADRL this season, will showcase the modern day factory warriors of the strip, including the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, the Dodge Challenger Drag Pak, and the new COPO Chevrolet Camaro.The program will feature vehicles from 2008 to present, and will be run as a heads-up contest during Stock Eliminator class eliminations.

“There has been a revival of sorts in terms of drag racing-ready vehicles out of Detroit,” said Graham Light, senior vice president of racing operations, NHRA. “The NHRA racing community has embraced these new vehicles so to showcase these unique vehicles in a showdown format at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals seemed like a natural fit.”

The early rounds of the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown will be run on Thursday, August 30, during the traditional and always exciting Stock Eliminator class eliminations runoff to narrow the field down to four racers. Those four remaining combatants will then square off on the big stage on Friday, August 31, as part of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions. The winner of the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown will earn a coveted NHRA “Wally” trophy and a year’s worth of bragging rights.

Known as the “Big Go” by racers and fans to describe its significance, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals will celebrate its 58th edition during the week of August 29 to September 3. The addition of the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown will compliment a host of specialty events throughout the week, including the popular Mopar Hemi Shootout for SS/AH machines in the Super Stock division on Friday and the inaugural Traxxas Nitro Shootout bonus events for Top Fuel and Funny Car competitors.

Below is a brief summary of the tech requirements and rules, including the eligible car and engine combinations:

•             New Stock class: “Factory Stock” made up of cars from Stock AAA, AA, BB & CC classes.
•             Preliminary index – 9.70
•             Preliminary weights

•             300-450 CID naturally aspirated – 3000 lbs.
•             451+ CID naturally aspirated – 3475 lbs.
•             All supercharged – 3675 lbs.

Eligible Car Combinations

Chevrolet

Year       Engine Combination       Transmission
2012       Chevrolet 427 CID 425    Automatic/Manual
Chevrolet 327 CID 500    Automatic/Manual

Ford

Year       Engine Combination       Transmission
2008       Ford 330 CID 435               Automatic/Manual
2010       Ford 330 CID 435               Automatic
Ford 330 CID 425               Automatic
Ford 428 CID 375               Automatic
2012       Ford 330 CID 450               Automatic/Manual
2013       Ford 427 CID 425               Automatic/Manual
Ford 302 CID 500               Automatic/Manual

Mopar

Year       Engine Combination       Transmission
2009       Mopar 370 CID 385          Manual
Mopar 345 CID 305          Automatic
Mopar 370 CID 385          Automatic
2010       Mopar 345 CID 305          Automatic
Mopar 370 CID 390          Automatic
Mopar 392 CID 375          Automatic
2011       Mopar 512 CID 450          Automatic/Manual