Posted on 04/10/2026 6:52:28 AM PDT by WhiteHatBobby0701
NHRA has announced changes to the Pro Stock class for the 2027 season, including the return of hood scoops and the switch to two top-mounted 4-barrel style throttle bodies, as it continues its efforts to increase parity and participation and reduce overall long-term costs for teams.
Hood scoops will return to Pro Stock bodies beginning in the 2027 season, along with removing the single forward-facing throttle body and replacing it with two top-mounted 4-barrel style throttle bodies. This comes from the NHRA Technical Department’s continued effort to add more parity, continue to increase participation, and reduce overall long-term costs for teams.
This announcement comes a decade after the Pro Stock category transitioned from two carburetors and hood scoops to electronic fuel injection (EFI) and flat hoods in 2016.
EFI will remain for 2027, but hood scoops will return to the popular category, which has seen strong participation in recent seasons. After extensive discussion with teams, racers, engine builders, and crew chiefs, the strong majority were in favor of adding a hood scoop air entry back to Pro Stock cars, starting next season.
By adding the hood scoop back, along with the new dual-throttle-body EFI setup, the consensus is that it will provide a more beneficial and efficient way to tune the cars, with less variation from car to car.
“The general feeling among competitors and stakeholders is the current low/front air-entry setup makes the engines more difficult to tune and creates more variation from car to car than it should,” NHRA Director of Engineering Clinton Snead said. “By adding the hood scoop and top-mounted/dual throttle bodies, it should eliminate those issues, which should help all teams, but especially the smaller and lower-budget teams.
“We’re excited about the return of hood scoops and the addition of dual throttle bodies in Pro Stock. There was considerable momentum from teams, racers, and engine builders to make this move, and we believe this should draw added interest from fans as well, returning to more of the classic look fans have associated with the category.
“The class is in a strong place as far as overall participation, and we’re confident this move will only continue to add to the depth and interest in Pro Stock.”
Along with the strong visual element of hood scoops, the addition was made with an eye on increased e.t. performance.
Hood scoops will only be required to meet a limited number of measurement rules, similar to previous guidelines. The 2027 rules package for Pro Stock will also include loosened rules on throttle bodies, manifolds, and air inlets.
The new top-mounted dual throttle body rules will be based on dimensional requirements, allowing teams to build their own units or work with outside companies. The manifold rules will also be opened up to allow for increased innovation and performance.
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Reminds me of Mad Max’s V8 Interceptor
When did they stop calling them “carburetors”????
Throttle body injection was added to Pro Stock in 2016.
While a carburetor (from carburet; "to combine with carbon") mixes air and fuel inside, some fuel-injection systems add fuel directly to the cylinders instead of mixing them before entering the cylinder.
“When did they stop calling them “carburetors”????”
They still call them carburetors.
Pro stock change back to hood scoops good deal NHRA made Pro Stock lab rats for Detroit now ban the forced use of 4-barrel style throttle bodies and the 10,000 RPM limit and go back to the 11.000 + RPM range.
The are race cars not lab rats
When they switched to EFI.
When did they stop calling them “carburetors”????
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My lawnmower has a carburetor
That car looks kinda funny.
I think John Deere’s new X series garden tractors have EFI. Kawasaki engines.
That’s not a Funny Car....it’s Pro Stock.
Pro-Stock has always been my favorite class. Fond memories of going into the pits as a kid and being able to see the cars up close. Bought t-shirts directly from Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins and “Dyno” Nicholson out of their trailers.
Me, too. I worked for Pat Musi when he ran pro stock.
I worked as a handicap starter and later as track EMT at an NHRA dragstrip back in the late 1960s early 1970s and saw a lot of the old time Pro Stock champs. For a time NHRA ran a AA gas dragster category with the dragsters using pump gasoline instead of the nitromethane. This class evolved into two engine behemoths which were amazing to see. I was amazed how they could get to engines to run in sync back before electronic engine controls.
I think part of my affection stems from it being a huge deal when they’d come to our small strip in SD. Was lucky enough to take in the NHRA Nationals at Brainerd MN.
I think John Deere’s new X series garden tractors have EFI. Kawasaki engines.
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Would not surprise me.
My 2015 Harley has digital port injection.
My lawnmower is a little push job, not even self-propelled.
My Traverse is the first GDI car I’ve ever owned. I’ve had throttle-body injection, port injection, and now direct injection.
Drag queen Erica Enders (6-time Pro Stock champion, two carburetors, 4 EFI) has that trademark of eyelashes on her headlights.
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