Class Racer Stock Superstock (NSS) is an NHRA class that allows factory-produced muscle cars with minimal modifications to compete, with rules mandating safety equipment like seat belts, roll cages, and fuel cells for inclusion.
This class competes at various National events and all JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals races, featuring an additional race on Thursday or Friday before the main Stock Eliminator show.
Class Racer Stock Superstock Overview
Class Racer Stock Superstock competitions are held as part of an NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event and are open to cars that meet specific rules outlined by Class Racer Stock Superstock classes. Vehicles in these races should resemble those found competing in Super Stock, the pinnacle of factory-based handicapped production car racing. NSS classes feature both vintage muscle cars and late-model EFI machines among their ranks.
Most NSS competitors use factory-sourced engine blocks, cylinder heads, intake manifolds, and carburetors while permitting considerable modification elsewhere on their cars. All vehicles must pass an NHRA safety inspection, which includes having a crash bar in the driver’s seat as well as a rear bumper guard. In 2008, the National Sports Stock Car Series Association was created as its official governing body to administer rules, authority services, technical inspection, and race management for this category of competition.
At certain National and sports events, a special class runoff serves as a race within a race to identify the fastest car in each class. Once determined, this car may then be dismantled to compete in an effort to win the overall NHRA Top Fuel Championship title.
Other class races take place at Divisional and National Open meets, as well as other non-NHRA-sanctioned events. Some events specialize in specific brands of engines; the Ford Nationals and Hemi Nationals series for Plymouth/Mopar engines, respectively, are examples, whereas other events feature particular classes like the GM Performance Top Stock/Pure Stock classes.
At national events, racers in each class are paired up based on their Index numbers; those with the lowest Index qualify first – similar to how pros start at such events; similarly, for class runoffs where whoever crosses the finish line first wins, just like how pro cars do it. This method ensures the fastest car can consistently run under its Index figure for each race event or runoff round; ultimately, this goal should mirror that of Pro cars as much as possible.
Class Racer Stock Superstock Features
The Class Racer concept emerged out of dissatisfaction with the handicapped competition that is prevalent in NHRA Stock and Super Stock racing. Stated faster cars had an unfair advantage over slower competitors by lowering engine size limits for Stock Eliminator and Super Stock competition. At designated National events (and all Stock Eliminator races), class run-offs are held as a race-within-a-race to determine who has the fastest car.
These rules allow nearly any original factory muscle car to compete in class racer classes with certain restrictions and modifications. A class racer typically must maintain its original appearance; modifications might include adding an aftermarket intake manifold, camshaft, and valve train components or increasing traction with larger rear tires/wheel assemblies. Fuel injection is allowed, and an NHRA-approved chassis equipped with safety equipment like roll bars and harnesses is mandatory.
Debates exist regarding how restrictive rule sets should be and what level of modification a car can undergo. Certain clubs, like the Midwest Nostalgia Super Stock Association (MNSSA), have instituted very stringent requirements, such as using only approved racing fuel from NHRA-licensed race tracks; others, however, allow more excellent engine modifications.
Popular racer classes include GM Performance Top Stock and Ford Crate Motor. GM Performance Top Stock features head-to-head pro tree action between some of the worst original GM and Ford muscle cars (with factory-stock engines) competing against some of the fastest Crate Motors (1961-1974 for Crate) available – a favorite with spectators at both NHRA and IHRA events alike.
At most class racer events, competitors receive awards in several different categories. Beyond runner-up and winner-of-the-class awards, competitors may also win special recognition for things such as Best Appearing Car or Dirtiest Car. Class racing also gives competitors an invaluable chance to test their cars on various 1/8th mile tracks across the country before participating in their show-back home track.
Class Racer Stock Superstock Pricing
Many of the same rules that govern class racing also handle NHRA’s Stock Eliminator and Super Stock classes, with one key distinction: to compete in Stock Eliminator, a car must have been manufactured in quantities of 500 or more and be readily available for sale by the general public – this rule disqualifies Hemi Barracudas and Darts from running, along with Ford Thunderbolt Fairlanes and ’65 amXs from running Stock.
While Class Racer Stock and Super Stock competition is the mainstay of NHRA competition, IHRA also features some more unique classes such as Pure Stock, GM Performance Top Stock (heads-up. 500 Pro Tree no breakout), and Wheelstanding Top Stock that bring excitement to fans at events.
These non-NHRA points classes feature cars from imported 4-cylinder front-wheel drive hatchbacks to big block muscle sedans with different requirements for engine, chassis, and drivetrain modifications, as well as tire size and weight requirements. All races use an index system that divides factory shipping weight by its horsepower rating for handicapping purposes.
