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Top Stock Eliminator Press Release
April 28, 2000
Norwalk, OH -
Mike Baker, IHRA National Technical Director, has released the rules for
the Inaugural "Top Stock" Eliminator that will be contested at the Mopar
Parts World Nationals. He is very excited about the possibilities of the
introduction of this format to IHRA Stock Eliminator competition.
TOP STOCK ELIMINATOR, a new concept in Stock Class Drag Racing has been
developed by Terry Bell and Mike Keener. IHRA has agreed to provide a
showcase for this new category during the MOPAR PARTS WORLD NATIONALS at
Norwalk Raceway Park August 22-26, 2000.
In 1965 modified muscle cars became Funny Cars and in 1970 factory muscle
cars were the beginning of Pro Stock. Yet, head-to-head racing featuring true
factory muscle cars has been scarce over the past twenty-five years. TOP
STOCK ELIMINATOR will showcase the original Ford, GM, and MOPAR factory
hardware in the "no holds barred" format that started it all!
This exciting collection of very rare and limited production factory muscle
cars equipped with original but race-tuned components will go head-to-head in
determining the "Best of the Best" in cars and drivers. These cars are not
"fiberglass replicas of the Detroit iron" but, in spite of very specific
rules governing car preparation, the performances being wrung out of thirty
year old stock parts will rival those produced by the legendary figures of
early Pro Stock.
The head-to-head, non handicapped format is capturing the attention of
competitors and spectators alike. The growing entry list contains the names
of drag racing's Stock Eliminator elite from coast to coast. Likewise, racers
from across the country, even those not yet competing in head-to-head TOP
STOCK ELIMINATOR racing have indicated that they will be attending as
spectators.
If you'd thrill to seeing cars like the ones you drove to high school going
head-to-head with low-10 second, 125+ mph, wheelstanding drag racing action
you can't miss this event. If your heart beats faster when "Hemi Cuda,"
"Cobra Jet," "COPO", "6 Pack", "Max Wedge," "427 Fairlane," and "SS396," cars
are mentioned, then you'll BE THERE in Norwalk, Ohio, during the last weekend
of August!
RULES FOR TOP STOCK CLASS AND ELIMINATOR
During this initial race Top Stock Eliminator cars will compete as a separate
class within the Stock Eliminator field and use the class designation T/Stk.
Later in the event they will compete in a show of their own called TOP STOCK
ELIMINATOR. The showcase event will be conducted under rules drafted
collaboratively over the past few months by owners and drivers of cars
currently participating in the A, B, and C Stock and Stock Automatic classes
within the IHRA and NHRA sanctioning bodies.
TOP STOCK ELIMINATOR entrants must pass technical inspection prior to the
start of the event to be considered legal for competition. For qualifying and
handicapping purposes during the Stock Eliminator portion of this event Top
Stock Eliminator cars will be assigned an 11.00 class index. They will make
the same two (2) qualifying runs, and be placed on the competition ladder in
Stock Eliminator in the same manner as any participant within the class.
Although these runs will be made at the correct weight, these sessions will
not count as qualifying runs in Top Stock Eliminator. All cars passing
technical inspection and paying entry fees for Top Stock Eliminator will
participate in the "show." No one will be barred from the eliminator on the
basis of qualifying time.
All technical specifications and standard safety rules as outlined within the
IHRA or NHRA rule books apply during Stock Eliminator . In the event of a
difference between the two books, IHRA rules will prevail. This includes
handicap starts between other classes, dial-in, break out, and heads up runs.
TOP STOCK ELIMINATOR cars will not be allowed to change back to their natural
classes to run the traditional Stock Eliminator category. For example, as in
any other class when two opponents in the same class race, a Top Stock
Eliminator classed car could only incur a heads up run against another car
entered in Top Stock. The MOPAR PARTS WORLD NATIONALS also has scheduled
Stock Class Eliminations before competition in Stock Eliminator. TOP STOCK
ELIMINATOR cars will not participate in the Stock Class Eliminations portion
of the event. Instead they will run two (2) qualifying sessions set aside for
Top Stock Eliminator. These qualifying runs are the only runs that count for
Top Stock Eliminator qualifying. Other classes within Stock Eliminator will
not run in these sessions.
ALL OTHER RULES FOR TOP STOCK CLASS AND ELIMINATOR ARE:
1. CLASS ELIGIBILITY: Cars acceptable in either the IHRA or NHRA rule book as
legal A, B, or C class stock cars are eligible for TOP STOCK and TOP STOCK
ELIMINATOR. This includes additional engine parts usage/modifications allowed
by IHRA. The weight break is 8.25 pounds per factored HP ratings in effect at
the time of the event. Just like existing classification rules, 170 pounds
will be added for the driver. The class designation will be T/Stk. Any other
rules not modified below will remain in effect as defined in the IHRA or NHRA
rule book for the car's natural class.
2. TRANSMISSIONS: Any transmission accepted as legal in the car's natural
class for the year engine, make and model may be used. Either stick or
automatic transmissions are eligible.
3. TIRES: Any tire that is deemed legal for competition in Stock Eliminator
using either the IHRA or NHRA rule book is acceptable.
4. WEIGHT: Any car in this class is allowed to remove the passenger seat,
front battery or both to meet minimum weight. Cars using only one battery are
allowed to move it to the trunk in accordance with the IHRA or NHRA rule
books. Cars adding weight must do so in accordance with either the IHRA or
NHRA rule book.
5. STARTING SYSTEM: Competition in TOP STOCK ELIMINATOR will be conducted
using the Five (5) Tenths PRO TREE. Staging procedures will be in accordance
with the rules of all IHRA classes currently using the Pro Tree System. For
example, BOTH CARS MUST PRE-STAGE BEFORE EITHER CAR MAY STAGE. TOP STOCK
ELIMINATOR WILL BE RUN HEADS-UP WITH NO BREAKOUT.
6. SCALES: All cars will cross the scales after EACH qualifying and/or
elimination run in TOP STOCK ELIMINATOR. Deliberate failure to weigh after
each run will be grounds for disqualification. Instances of failure to weigh
due to breakage will be evaluated at the discretion of the TOP STOCK Event
Director.
7. FUEL CHECK: All cars will be fuel checked after EACH qualifying and/or
elimination run in TOP STOCK ELIMINATOR. Deliberate failure to stop at fuel
check after each run will be grounds for disqualification. Instances of
failure to complete fuel check due to breakage will be evaluated at the
discretion of the TOP STOCK Event Director.
8. PAIRINGS/LADDER/LANE CHOICE: TOP STOCK ELIMINATOR pairings will be run
using the Pro Ladder in accordance with the IHRA and NHRA rule books. TOP
STOCK ELIMINATOR will be an all-run field. Lane choice for first round will
be awarded by qualified position. After first round, lane choice goes to low
ET of the prior round. In the event of identical (to three decimal places,
i.e. .000) prior round ET's, the car with the greatest Top Speed will have
lane choice.
9. TEARDOWN: Cars may be randomly selected for teardown at any time. THIS
RULE IS INCLUSIVE OF THE WINNER AND RUNNER UP. IHRA Technical Guidelines will
be the standard for determining the legality of any car. During and following
teardown, decisions of the IHRA Technical Department will be final.
10. ENTRY FEES/PRIZE MONEY/DISPUTES: NEITHER IHRA NOR NHRA WILL BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY PAYMENT MATTERS IN TOP STOCK ELIMINATOR DURING THIS
EVENT.
Entry fees for TOP STOCK ELIMINATOR ($150.00 per car) will be collected by
the TOP STOCK Event Director. Prize Money payments will be equal to 100% of
all entry fees collected from the contestants. Payouts due winner(s) will be
made in accordance with a published payout schedule. Prize money posted by a
manufacturer or sponsor will paid in accordance within the normal payment
terms of the manufacturer or sponsor. Neither the organizers of Top Stock nor
IHRA are responsible for the payment of prize money posted by manufacturers
or sponsors.
UNFORESEEN DISPUTES WILL BE SETTLED BY THE TOP STOCK EVENT DIRECTOR.
DECISIONS MADE BY THE EVENT DIRECTOR WILL BE CONSIDERED FINAL.
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