NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Bo Butner, near lane, defeated Kevin Skinner in the final round of the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown at the 2015 Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.

The School of Automotive Machinists & Technology has signed a multiyear agreement to sponsor the four popular NHRA Factory Stock Showdown events beginning this season. The first School of Automotive Machinists & Technology NHRA Factory Stock Showdown of the year will take place at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Florida’s Gainesville Raceway, March 17-20.

“In the five-year history of the School of Automotive Machinists & Technology NHRA Factory Showdown, it has quickly become a favorite of the drag racing community,” said Graham Light, NHRA senior vice president-racing operations. “The School of Automotive Machinists & Technology is a leader in motorsports education, and their graduates can be found among many NHRA teams.”

New to the program is a special Quick 8 eliminator showcasing the quickest eight Factory Stock race cars in a heads-up competition to be contested on Saturday and Sunday. At each of the four School of Automotive Machinists & Technology NHRA Factory Stock Showdown events, competitors will qualify within Stock eliminator and compete in FS/X and FS/XX class eliminations. The quickest eight Factory Stock race cars following qualifying will advance to the Quick 8 eliminator. The competitors who did not qualify for the Quick 8 eliminator will remain in Stock eliminator.

The School of Automotive Machinists & Technology NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Quick 8 will be competing for national championship points, an NHRA Wally, the event champion’s jacket, and an event purse.

Factory Stock Showdown participants will receive a provisional entry in the Englishtown, Norwalk, and Indy events where the SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown will be contested. For Gainesville, the quota will be adjusted, based on projected entries. Each Factory Stock participant must have at least one grade point and will need to contact NHRA's competition department for an entry form. All entries must be submitted by Monday, noon (PT), of race week. NHRA will adjust the quotas in Stock eliminator for these events by increasing the number of entries based on projected Factory Stock entries. NHRA will create a program logo, decals for competitors, and will conduct winner’s circle activities at the conclusion of each School of Automotive Machinists & Technology NHRA Factory Stock Showdown.

“The School of Automotive Machinists & Technology is proud to be the title sponsor of the Factory Stock Showdown,” said Brian Massingill, director of student motorsports for the School of Automotive Machinists & Technology. Massingill added, “We have been a part of the COPO Program since the beginning, and to see the number of professional teams getting involved as well as having Chevrolet, Ford, and Chrysler’s full support at the Sportsman level shows just how serious the Showdown is.” The NHRA Factory Stock Showdown was designed to showcase the NHRA Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, Dodge Mopar Challenger Drag Pak, and Chevrolet COPO Camaro.

The second School of Automotive Machinists & Technology NHRA Factory Stock Showdown event will take place at the NHRA Summernationals in Englishtown, June 9-12, and the third Factory Stock Showdown event of the season will take place at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, in Norwalk, June 23-25. The season will conclude at the birthplace of the event, the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31-Sept. 5.

Since 1985, the School of Automotive Machinists & Technology, based in Houston, has provided the motorsports industry with well-trained graduates. The realization of the need for qualified performance engine builders originated with founders and owners Judson and Linda Massingill. SAM Tech offers five programs to qualify students to become engine machinists. The programs are comprised of block, head, and CNC machining as well as EFI tuning and associate degree programs. The School of Automotive Machinists & Technology has placed graduates with top race teams in NASCAR, NHRA, IndyCar, and other series. The School campaigns a COPO in NHRA Stock eliminator, crewed by SAM Tech students. For more information, visit www.samtech.edu.