The first side-by-side competition between drivers in the exciting new Factory X presented by Holley will take place at Indy with four drivers set to take part in an historic exhibition.
by Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Following the debut of the first official Factory X presented by Holley car at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, the thrilling new class will now host its first side-by-side runs as four drivers are planning to run during the upcoming Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Greg Stanfield, Allen Johnson, Chris Holbrook, and Jim Cowan have officially entered the event, and will take part in multiple side-by-side exhibition runs throughout the weekend as Factory X presented by Holley begins to take shape.
Stanfield debuted his new Jerry Haas-built Camaro in Norwalk and the car was a huge hit with the fans. Combining modern technology with a hint of nostalgia, the car features a throwback paint scheme honoring the legendary Rod Shop team.
Cowan will also be wheeling a COPO Camaro powered by a supercharged Chevy LS engine. The former Comp racer and chassis builder joined partner Rob Smith to field an entry in the new class. Cowan built the car with the help of his son, Kyle, at their American Racecraft shop in Arizona.
The Mopar brand will be represented by Johnson, the 2012 NHRA Pro Stock world champion, who has been tabbed to drive Geoff Turk’s Blackbird X Dodge Challenger. Turk debuted the new entry in the NHRA booth at the 2022 PRI Show in Indianapolis and was set to be the first racer in the new class. Those plans changed when the car was heavily damaged in a testing accident that also forced Turk to vacate the driver’s seat.
Turk and Johnson met while they were both racing in the Factory Stock category and when Turk needed a replacement, the former Pro Stock champ, who has a long affiliation with the Mopar brand, seemed to be a perfect fit.
Holbrook, who has enjoyed success in everything from Super Stock to Factory Stock to Pro Stock, is also set to bring his new Cobra Jet Mustang to Indy. Holbrook, who runs his own engine shop in Michigan, is planning to test the car during the NMCA event in Norwalk before heading to Indianapolis for the Big Go. Holbrook previously won the 2019 Dallas event in the Factory Stock class.
Ironically, both Holbrook Stanfield and have sons who race in the FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown. Aaron Stanfield is a two-time Factory Stock champion while Del Holbrook is currently ranked No. 8 in his first season in the class.
Cars in NHRA Factory X presented by Holley will have a minimum weight limit of 2,650 pounds, which is nearly 1,000 pounds lighter than a Factory Stock Showdown car, and a manual transmission is mandatory.
The COPO Camaros will race with a 630-hp Magnuson 2.65-L supercharger, and the DragPak Challengers will utilize a 630-hp, 3.0-L Whipple. The Cobra Jet 327 Mustang’s engine combination will be a 610-hp, 3.0-L Whipple unit.
Each body must be OEM dimensional, meaning there can be no alterations to the bodies. Cars in NHRA Factory X presented by Holley must race also use rear tires that are 33 inches tall and 10.5 inches wide as well, which are wider than FSS cars.Factory X cars have the potential to showcase big-performance numbers and standout runs in the six-second range.
Originally posted on nhra.com