No details of chassis or tire restrictions were given which leads to speculation that the class will mirror anything from NMRA's Pro 5.0, (6.50/215 performance), to NMCA's Xtreme Street, (8.20/165 performance).

Now that Econo Altereds are running 7.20s at almost 180 mph, they've been granted wings by the Safety Gods of the same type afforded conventional Altereds.

SUPER STOCK ELIMINATOR

To the amazement of many, NHRA has thrown the doors wide open for Super Stock '06. Although the number of new classes and combinations will certainly spark some of the most insane possible cars, it will do nothing to make SS racing any less complex for the novice fan. However, if the NHRA wanted to attract the same outrageous machinery and frenetic spectator response as the Australian National Drag Racing Association's Super Sedan division, these new rules just might do it.

The Super Stock/GT classes, created in the mid-1980s out of fear that new Detroit offerings had no place to race in a competition formula designed in the 1950s, were originally despised by the hardest-core racers because of the lack of restrictions previously mandatory in Super Stock. The SS/GT rules allowed any factory-produced "muscle car era" engine combination in any of the engine manufacturer's late-model body styles. The resulting 283-powered '90 Camaros and 289-powered '90 Ford Probes were, for all intents, Modified Production cars, (if not Gas Coupes!), masquerading as factory-built muscle cars.

A quarter-century later the SS/GT machines are by far the most popular machines to construct for SS Eliminator and have, indeed, allowed brand-new bodies (especially with the provision for front-wheel-drive conversion to RWD) to be prolific in a category which might well have become a field of museum relics. If nothing else, the SS/GT classes have ensured that the Oldsmobile Achieva will be remembered by somebody somewhere for something.

Now comes the word that, for 2006, ANY factory-produced engine combination will be permitted in ANY of the engine manufacturer's body styles! Rat-motored '55 Nomads, anybody? Ever dream of seeing a 427 Ford-powered '62 Falcon? Bring on the HEMI-POWERED GREMLINS!

Ironically, Danny Gracia, NHRA's National Tech Director, was quoted in the release referencing, again, the Street Car contestants, saying, "There are many, many backhalved 'muscle cars' running in 'fast street car' competition throughout the country. Some of them are natural Super Stock platforms, except for the high cost of building the correct engine with all of the proper casting numbers, etc. Now, a guy with a basically restored backhalf Camaro or Nova, or even a '57 Chevy, can buy or build a late-model engine, such as the LS1, and go Super Stock racing. Even a '70 Challenger with a new Hemi Magnum engine will be accepted. We think this will add a whole new flavor to Super Stock and open the door for new competitors."

No mention of Hemi-powered Gremlins, however.