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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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