{{Short description|Class of drag racing}} {{Distinguish|Pro Stock}} {{Multiple issues| {{notability|Sports|date=April 2023}} {{more citations needed|date=April 2023}} {{Orphan|date=June 2023}} }} {{Infobox sports league | title = Factory Stock Showdown | upcoming_season = 2026 | logo = Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Class Logo.jpg | sport = Drag Racing | league = National Hot Rod Association | founded = 2012 | inaugural = 2016 | champion = Mark Pawuk | champ_season = 2025 | sponsor = Flexjet | website = https://nhra.com }}
'''Factory Stock Showdown (FSS)''' (in the NHRA), or Pro Stock (in the IHRA) is a class of drag racing designed to showcase the Chevrolet COPO Camaro, Dodge Challenger Drag Pak, and the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet.
FSS continues to be a fan favorite with growing popularity over the last ten years. The popularity of this class of racing is in large part due to the recognizable cars. All three of the types of cars that race in the FSS are standard monocoque chassis cars that are body in white from the factory with all drag racing running gear installed at the factory, using production chassis of the cars on the road.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-28 |title=Why NHRA "Factory Stock" Is The Hottest Class In Drag Racing! |url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/nhra-factory-stock-hottest-class-drag-racing/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=MotorTrend |language=en}}</ref>
While cars competing in FSS are of the same type you see on the road, they do have numerous safety enhancements and rules that are required to be eligible to run in FSS events. Cars are limited to 9" wide tires, must have full safety cages, independent fuel cells, weight limits and other general racing safety requirements. These safety enhancements are in place to allow these cars to run the 1/4 mile at speeds no faster than 7.50 seconds. Since its inception the FSS class has gone faster every year and the NHRA has put restrictions in place to ensure safety and parity between the cars<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-22 |title=Noted Drag Racing Historian Sees Factory Stock Showdown at a Pivotal Crossroads |url=https://competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/noted-drag-racing-historian-sees-factory-stock-showdown-a-pivotal-crossroads |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=competitionplus.com |language=en}}</ref>
Drivers competing in the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Series earn championships points at each of the NHRA National events at which they compete. The points are accumulated throughout the year, and an annual champion is crowned at the conclusion of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Constant Aviation NHRA Factory Stock Showdown |url=https://www.nhra.com/how-points-are-earned/factory-stock-showdown |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=NHRA |language=en}}</ref>
While the NHRA FSS is the original and preeminent racing series for Factory Stock cars the growth and popularity of FSS racing has been seen through expansion in other series. These include the National Muscle Car Association's (NMCA) Factory Super Car<ref>{{Cite web |last=nebhub.com |title=NMCA Digital {{!}} Muscle Car Motorsport Experience |url=https://www.nmcadigital.com/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=www.nmcadigital.com |language=en}}</ref> series and Drag Illustrated's Factory Stock Classic<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zadel |first=Kayla |date=2023-01-24 |title=Factory Stock Classic Added to 2023 World Series of Pro Mod |url=https://dragillustrated.com/factory-stock-classic-added-to-2023-world-series-of-pro-mod/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Drag Illustrated {{!}} Drag Racing News, Opinion, Interviews, Photos, Videos and More |language=en-US}}</ref> as examples. In 2026, the International Hot Rod Association eliminated the traditional 500 cubic inch formula for Pro Stock in favour of using the "Pro Stock" moniker for Factory Stock Showdown cars.<ref>{{cite web |title=IHRA Pro Stock to Replace Factory Stock Showdown (F.S.S.) Beginning in 2026 |url=https://ihra.com/ihra-pro-stock-replaces-fss |website=International Hot Rod Association |access-date=2026-02-20 |ref=IHRAPS}}</ref>
== History ==
=== 2012 === The FSS class was started with a single event at the US Nationals.
Winner - Bo Butner
=== 2013 === FSS expanded to three events.
=== 2014 === FSS Expanded to four events.
=== 2016 === The School of Automotive Machinists and Technology ([https://samtech.edu/ SAM Tech]) became the series sponsor.
=== 2017 === SAM Tech NHRA Factory Stock Showdown added a fifth event.
Champion - David Barton
=== 2018 === Expanded to a seven-race series with a 16-car qualifying field.<ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=SAM Tech NHRA Factory Stock Showdown expands to seven events in 2018 |url=https://www.nhra.com/news/2017/sam-tech-nhra-factory-stock-showdown-expands-seven-events-2018 |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=NHRA |language=en}}</ref>
Champion - Lean Pruett
=== 2019 === Expanded to and eight event schedule.
Champion - Drew Skillman
=== 2020 === Champion - Aaron Stanfield
=== 2021 === In 2021 [https://www.constantaviation.com/about-us/nhra-fss/ Constant Aviation] <ref>{{Cite press release |date=2021-05-04 |title=Constant Aviation Joins NHRA as Factory Stock Showdown Class Sponsor |url=https://motorsportsnewswire.com/2021/05/04/constant-aviation-joins-nhra-as-factory-stock-showdown-class-sponsor/ |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=Motor Sports NewsWire |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Constant Aviation to continue as title sponsor of NHRA Factory Stock Showdown |url=https://www.nhra.com/news/2022/constant-aviation-continue-title-sponsor-nhra-factory-stock-showdown |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=NHRA |language=en}}</ref> became the title sponsor and introduced the Factory Stock Showdown Bounty prize. The Bounty prize is a $1000 bounty that is put on the winner of the previous event. Whomever eliminates the holder of the Bounty at the next event earns the bonus. If the same driver wins the next event than the Bounty is rolled forward until it is awarded.<ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=NHRA, Constant Aviation launch Factory Stock Showdown Bounty program |url=https://www.nhra.com/news/2021/nhra-constant-aviation-launch-factory-stock-showdown-bounty-program |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=NHRA |language=en}}</ref>
Champion - Aaron Stanfield
=== 2022 === Champion - David Barton
=== 2023 === In 2023 Flexjet will be the title sponsor and the series will be expanded from 8 to 10 races <ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Flexjet named title sponsor of NHRA Factory Stock Showdown; schedule expands to 10 events |url=https://www.nhra.com/news/2022/flexjet-named-title-sponsor-nhra-factory-stock-showdown-schedule-expands-10-events |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=NHRA |language=en}}</ref>
Champion - Aaron Stanfield
=== 2024 === The schedule is reduced back to eight races. Mark Pawuk became the first Stellantis champion since 2017.
Champion - Mark Pawuk
===2025===
Champion - Mark Pawuk
===2026=== The series expands to a ninth round in the championship season, for a total of 9 of 20 rounds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown sets nine-race schedule for 2026 season |url=https://www.nhra.com/news/2026/flexjet-nhra-factory-stock-showdown-sets-nine-race-schedule-2026-season |website=National Hot Rod Association |access-date=2026-02-20 |ref=NHRA26}}</ref>
== 2026 Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Schedule == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Date !Event !Location |- |March 5-8 |Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals |Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fl |- |April 24-26 |NHRA Four-Wide Nationals |zMAX Dragway, Charlotte, NC |- |May 14-17 |Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK |Route 66 Raceway, Chicago, IL |- |June 12-14 |Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals |Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn. |- |June 25-28 |Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals |Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio |- |Sept. 2-7 |Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals |Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis |- |Sept. 19-21 |NHRA Great Lakes Nationals |U. S. 131 Motorsports Park, Martin, Michigan |- |Oct. 2-4 |NHRA Midwest Nationals |World Wide Technology Raceway, St. Louis |- |Oct. 12–14 |38th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals |Texas Motorplex, Dallas |- |}
== References == <!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> {{reflist}}
Category:National Hot Rod Association Category:Drag racing events Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2012