NHRA technical director Lonnie Grim and racer Geoff Turk were on hand for several back-and-forth discussions about the upcoming FactoryX category’s introduction in the NHRA on Fox booth. Both were excited, as Turk’s nearly-complete Blackbird Challenger build was on display for the first time as well. This is an all-new car, though looks quite similar to the well-traveled version that fans have seen on the Factory Stock Showdown tour. In chatting with informed sources, with the final rules package already complete, builders and racers will be going flat-out to get fresh cars ready for the 2023 Gatornationals.

To those who have not been following along, the new-for-2023 FX category will be for the basically-unchanged supercharged Factory Showdown engine package in a body and chassis that can finally make full use of the 1500 or so horsepower these mills are capable of. The reality of a wider tire, 2650-pound minimum weight, race-spec chassis built into the OEM factory production body core, and other adaptations are expected to quickly push the gasoline-powered cars toward both 6-second and 200-MPH barriers. Indeed, Grim admitted this may be one of the final frontiers for a 200-MPH Club in the sport for the foreseeable future.

Turk, who has driven a number of different door cars in the course of his career as a racer, noted that of all things he looked forward to, it would be letting the clutch out and grabbing gears that really was getting him ready for that first test hit sometime in the offseason.

“My competitive race cars have never been a manual,” he admitted with a grin. “I’m really looking forward to letting out that clutch. I mean, I get in the car when nobody is looking, and bang through the gears and make motor sounds. I’m itching so bad to get to the track.”
 

The class rules call for a manual transmission and allow for an 8-inch multi-disc clutch, up to 3 discs. Grim noted that he did not expect these Pro Stock-type units to require between-round servicing, at least at this stage of the game. Once the combination is dialed into the expected horsepower-to-rear tire optimum, this job would be able to get done when the weekend is complete. He also noted that, due to the dangerous potential of these parts coming apart at race RPM levels, an SFI spec 6.3 bellhousing had been mandated as well.

“With the established rules, I know of 8 cars that already have pipe being fitted or construction underway,” says Grim. “I know of about 20 other guys who have said they have deposits with builders or are planning to get involved. 

“We have great partners in this category,” he continued. “We call it Factory X for a reason; there’s a lot of history in factory experimental.”
Holley has come on the class sponsor, and other developments will certainly occur before that first set of WIDE tires behind a Factory Showdown motor splash through the bleach box at the Gators.