Pro Stock

Pro Stock is a drag racing class featuring high-performance cars that look like regular production vehicles but are heavily modified with naturally aspirated engines for straight-line racing.

These cars are often called "factory hot rods" because they start with recognizable car bodies like Ford Mustangs or Chevrolet Camaros, then receive extensive modifications for racing. The key rule that defines Pro Stock is that engines must be "all motor" - meaning they can only use natural air intake without any forced induction like turbochargers, superchargers, or nitrous oxide systems.

Pro Stock vehicles typically use massive V8 engines limited to 500 cubic inches that produce over 1,300 horsepower. Despite this incredible power, the cars must maintain their stock appearance, including original headlight and taillight locations. However, the bodies are usually made from lightweight fiberglass instead of steel.

The racing takes place on quarter-mile drag strips in head-to-head competition, where the first car to cross the finish line wins. Races are incredibly close, often decided by thousandths of a second, making driver skill just as important as the car's engineering.

Under their stock-looking exteriors, Pro Stock cars feature sophisticated tube chassis construction and advanced suspension systems. They weigh around 2,350 pounds including the driver and burn high-octane racing fuel at extremely high rates. Drivers must manually shift through up to five forward gears during each run.

Building a competitive Pro Stock engine can cost over $100,000, and every aspect of the car is carefully regulated to ensure fair competition. The combination of strict rules, incredible engineering, and skilled driving makes Pro Stock one of the most exciting and technically demanding forms of drag racing.