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Originally Posted by Groucho
Would someone please explain to me what's "Stock" about it? Seriously- I'm curious.
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Good point.
The class evolved out of cars which came off the assembly line and were hot rodded to go straight as fast as possible. Back in the 60's, before the class existed, factorys were building all kinds of cars like the Ford Thunderbolt -- basically a stripped car with a gigantic big block in it. Guys would weld a cage in it, frisbee the hub caps into a garbage can, plop an open face helmet on their head -- and go crazy fast right out of the box.
Until a few years ago, cars competing in the Pro Stock class were supposed to have body panels that were identical to a production vehicle -- with the exception of the hood scoop and enlarged wheel wells. The idea was that the car still had a "stock" appearing body -- even though everything underneath was built to go in a straight line. Bob Glidden got fined big time many years ago when the body contour on his Probe was off something like 1/8 of an inch.
Seems to me, though, and I don't have the time or inclination to go look at the NHRA rule book, that this stance has been softened up a bit as the hood, back half of the roofline and rear deck lid don't look anything close to a production GTO body.
Kind of wish somebody would fund the development of a GTO funny car body mold -- as it would be as sleek and aerodynamic as the Dodge Stratus body without looking as goofy as the John Force 2004 Mustangs (because Tim Gibson can't make the aeropig 2005 Mustang competitive in the wind tunnel). Probably won't happen as Chevrolet has already sprung for Monte Carlo molds -- and will sell you one of those bodies pretty much at cost.
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