Almost 50 years after the IHRA revealed their mountain motor Pro Stock concept as an answer to the NHRA’s controversial pounds-per-cubic inch approach to factory hot rod racing, the NHRA has announced the large displacement Pro Stocks will be back on tour in 2024, thanks to major sponsorship from Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage. 

The new sponsorship is built on a multi-year partnership, starting in 2024, and will feature six events each season, where the eight-car field will compete for the highly coveted Wally. In addition to the event purse, racers will now have the opportunity to contend for a world title, with a season champion being crowned.

Richard Freeman, the owner of Elite Motorsports, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership. 

“For myself and my business, I love these cars and want to see it grow, and it’s exciting to see Jason Johnson and the team at Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage take on this title sponsorship,” Elite Motorsports, LLC Team Owner Richard Freeman said. “I’m excited to see a program like this where drivers can race for points and a championship. We’ve already had a lot of interest, and I think the class brings a lot of value to the NHRA. We’re going to start at six races, make it available to people, and see if we can grow it from there.”

Starting in 2024, the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock category will race at six events each season, with competitors in the eight-car field racing for a coveted Wally. In addition to the event purse, racers will also compete for a world title for the first time in the class, with a champion being crowned at the end of the season. 

“Starting next season, the final round of each race in the category will also be featured on the NHRA on FOX broadcast, putting a bigger spotlight on the fan-favorite category. The full six-race schedule for Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock in 2024 will be announced in the coming months. The winner will earn $10,000 at each race, while the world champion will get a $25,000 prize. 

“It’s exciting to see the passion and interest Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and Elite Motorsports has in the Mountain Motor Pro Stock class, and we’re thrilled to welcome them as an official category in 2024,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA Vice President, and Chief Development Officer. “It’s a class loaded with action and adds another great element to six NHRA national events next season as they compete for a Wally and a world championship.”

The Elite Motorsports NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock cars, with their hood scoops and remarkable performance on the track, have already garnered a significant fan following. These cars, featuring 800-plus cubic-inch engines, complete quarter-mile runs in the low six-second range at speeds approaching 230 mph. Richard Freeman won the Mountain Motor Pro Stock exhibition in Chicago this season. Other notable drivers in the category include reigning Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders, sponsored by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage, as well as John DeFlorian and John Montecalvo.

Freeman expressed his appreciation for the Mountain Motor Pro Stock class. 

 “They’re fast, they’ve got hood scoops, and at the end of the day, it’s a totally different deal than Pro Stock,” Freeman said. “It’s a neat process, and I love driving these Mountain Motor Pro Stock cars. All the competitors are really good people and it’s great to have a place for them to race the quarter-mile. We’ve done a really good job building interest in Pro Stock, and I think we can do the same here with this class.”