Holley NHRA Factory X: Muscle and Hustle

05/09/2024

Holley NHRA Factory X: Muscle and Hustle

05/09/2024

One of the NHRA’s newest classes, Holley EFI Factory X, represents a thrilling fusion of supercharged engines, manual transmissions, and lightweight factory-appearing modern muscle cars. Drawing parallels to the popular FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown, Factory X engines share similarities with their counterparts but are paired with significantly lighter chassis, manual transmissions, and larger rear tires.

After nearly three years of development, Factory X has finally hit the track for its first full season, showcasing performances that are rapidly approaching the six-second zone with speeds exceeding 200 mph. Reserved exclusively for 2019-model-year and newer cars like the Chevrolet COPO Camaro, Dodge Challenger Drag Pak, and Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, Holley EFI Factory X represents a new era of door-slammer racing.

The rulebook for Holley EFI Factory X leaves little room for deviation, mandating factory-stock dimensions for all bodywork, steel construction for the roof and quarter panels, and a tube chassis adhering to stringent SFI 25.1, 25.2, and 25.3 specifications. Furthermore, the rule set mandates that doors must adhere to OEM dimensions and be operable from both inside and outside the vehicle, while the body maintains a stock appearance down to the smallest detail, including bumper covers, grilles, headlights, and taillights consistent with the claimed make, model, and year of the car.

Each car in the class is required to be equipped with a five-speed manual transmission featuring eight-inch clutches, all driven by boosted factory-supplied powerplants such as the COPO Camaro's Magnuson-supercharged 350-cubic-inch LS engine, the Mustang Cobra Jet’s 302-inch Whipple-blown V8, and the Dodge Challenger Drag Pak's Whipple-supercharged 354-inch Gen III Hemi. This is true throwback racing – no trans brakes, no automatic transmissions.

Holley EFI Factory X cars produce in the neighborhood of 1,500 horsepower and boast a minimum weight of 2,650 pounds, making them nearly 1,000 pounds lighter than those used in Factory Stock. This substantial weight reduction, combined with the utilization of wider 33x10.5-inch tires, signifies a substantial leap in performance potential, promising an exhilarating spectacle on the strip.

Geoff Turk and the Blackbird X team threw down the gauntlet on September 30, 2023 at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis, Missouri. The new class made its debut with 2012 NHRA Pro Stock world champion Allen Johnson taking the win in the Blackbird X Dodge Challenger. The car and driver set the fastest E.T. of the event with a blistering 7.046 at 198 mph in the final round of qualifying and then busted the 200-mph barrier with a 202.55 mph terminal velocity on their second qualifying run.

After running a limited schedule of four exhibition events in 2023, it was time for the class to step into the limelight in 2024. The historic debut was at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas on April 14 of this year, where Greg Stanfield, five-time Super Stock world champion and accomplished engine builder, powershifted his Rod Shop Camaro to the win, setting low elapsed time of the weekend in the final with a 7.121. “This whole class is pretty cool, and I’m happy to be a part of it,” said Stanfield. “It took a lot of work to get here and I have to thank the Rod Shop, the Janac Brothers, and everyone else who helped us get to this point. Today was only the beginning. This whole year is going to be really good.”

Alex Laughlin was runner up right on the heels of Stanfield with a 7.370 in his first appearance behind the wheel of Turk’s Blackbird X Dodge Challenger.

On April 26-28, the Holley EFI Factory X pack made its second appearance at another wild four-lane event, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina. Aaron Stanfield, Greg’s son, pulled his Janac Bothers Racing 2024 Chevy Camaro into the winner’s circle after blasting a 7.086 at 193.85 mph. The three-time FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown champion and 23-time national event winner in Super Stock, Top Dragster, Factory Stock, and Pro Stock beat out Jesse Alexandra who only managed a 7.450 at 186.07 mph.

This class has all the ingredients for fantastic racing. The cars are relatable. And with two main-event competitions in the books, the Holley EFI Factory X class is delivering on its promise of nail-biting action. The rest of 2024 looks to continue that trend. The class will be contested at select venues and the season champion will be crowned after the final race at Las Vegas, on November 3.