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If drag racing is your thing, you may have heard of the NMRA‘s “Coyote Stock” class, that pits drag racers using identical factory Mustang engines against each other, with limitations on the car model and suspension design intended to keep the class (relatively) inexpensive and competitive.
If drag racing is your thing, but Fords in general, and over-complicated DOHC engines in particular aren’t, there’s some good news today from the NMRA’s sister drag racing sanction, the NMCA. Starting with the Ohio event in August, LS Stock will feature a similar format as Coyote Stock does in the all-Ford series, but with Chevrolet Performance‘s DR525 crate engine as the rules-mandated powerplant. Here’s how the NMCA describes the class:
LS Stock is a naturally aspirated heads-up class designed for 1955-and-later vehicles and is designed as a low-cost, entry-level heads-up class. All entries must compete on accepted suspensions and at the same base weight: 3,300 pounds.
Additionally, all entries are required to read and sign a racer’s contract to prevent class participants from tampering with and/or altering the factory-sealed Chevrolet Performance DR525 crate engine and requisite engine control system.
The class is an all-run, heads-up field using a .400 Pro Tree start. More information and complete class rules will soon available.
DR525 Specifications
- 525 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 489 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm
- Production-based, lightweight aluminum cylinder block with six-bolt, cross-bolted main caps
- High-flow, rectangular-port cylinder heads assembled with 2.165/1.590 valves and high-rpm-capable beehive valve springs
- 10.7:1 compression ratio
- Chevrolet Performance ASA hydraulic roller camshaft with 0.525/0.525-inch lift and 226/236 degrees duration
- Lightweight composite intake manifold with a 90mm throttle body
- Two tamper-proof bolts incorporated on the intake manifold, as well as a tamper-proof bolt on the front cover and the oil pan
- Assembly includes production-type cast iron exhaust manifolds; fuel rail and injectors; coil packs, wires and spark plugs; LS3 water pump and damper
- A front accessory drive with alternator, drive belt and more is available separately (part number 19329418).
“The all-new DR525 engine in the LS Stock class signals an important advancement for drag racing, delivering exciting heads-up racing at a lower cost than custom-built engines,” said Jim Campbell, General Motors U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “It’s an approach we’ve implemented in a number of circle track racing series for more than a decade, providing racers a high-performance engine at a great value.”
That engine, which retails for $9,750, is available with oil pans for either muscle car or 4th Gen F-Body applications, and will require a spec, tamper proof ECU from Chevrolet Performance for class legality as well (retail price: $1,312.50).
While spending upwards of $11k for the engine and controller might seem a bit steep to the casual racer, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the costs involved in building a competitive powerplant for most any other heads-up drag racing class, whether “entry level” or not.
For more information and complete rules when they become available, check out the NMCA’s website.
