The American Federation of Drivers of Pro Mods (AFDPM) announced today, April 1, 2026, its proposal for a new “Flat Hood Flat Rate” weight penalty of 410 pounds. As the name suggests, any Pro Modified entry with a flat hood shall be subject to a weight penalty of 410 pounds.
Effective immediately, any Pro Mod entry competing with a flat hood configuration—regardless of whether the vehicle is powered by a centrifugal supercharger (including ProCharger and Harts Charger combinations) or turbochargers—will be assessed a mandatory 410-pound weight penalty.
AFDPM officials cited an “alarming rise in flat-hooded race cars” as the primary motivation behind the ruling.
“At some point, you have to draw a line,” said an AFDPM spokesperson who requested anonymity but was clearly standing near a stack of spare overdrive pulleys. “Fans come to see Pro Mods. They expect blower hats that could barely pass under a railroad bridge. They expect hood scoops that could swallow a bear. Increasingly, they’re seeing… smooth, uninterrupted hood lines. We felt it was time to act.”
The organization emphasized that the rule is not intended to target any specific power-adder combination, though it acknowledged that the majority of affected entries currently utilize centrifugal superchargers or turbocharger setups.
“This isn’t about boost,” added another spokesperson, who was evidently shoveling expired pistons into a trash can while the “pssshhh” of a nitrous purge could be heard in the background. “This is about shape. Silhouette matters.”
Under the new guideline, any hood lacking a visible intake opening, scoop, or protrusion meeting minimum “aggression standards” will automatically trigger the 410-pound addition. The AFDPM clarified that traditional configurations featuring screw superchargers, roots-style blowers, or nitrous-assisted combinations—many of which naturally incorporate prominent hood openings—are “unlikely to be impacted.”
To ensure clarity and consistency across all levels of competition, the AFDPM confirmed the penalty will be applied as a true flat rate—no calculations, no scaling, no exceptions.
If your hood is flat, you add 410 pounds. Period.
“We didn’t want racers breaking out calculators or calling their crew chief’s cousin who’s good at math,” the spokesperson said. “This is simple. Flat hood equals flat rate.”
AFDPM proposes the policy be applied universally across all major Pro Modified-style competition, including NHRA Pro Mod, PDRA Pro Boost, Drag Illustrated Winter Series competition, FIA European Pro Mod, and Top Doorslammer in Australia, ensuring what the AFDPM describes as “global visual continuity.”
Additionally, the rule would remain in effect regardless of racing distance—whether competing in the eighth-mile, quarter-mile, or “whatever they’re calling it in meters overseas.”
“We’re not getting into conversions,” the spokesperson added. “If it’s 660 feet, 1,320 feet, or 201.168 meters or 402.336 meters—we don’t care. The weight still goes on.”
The aggressive but reasonable 410-pound number was determined not through a complicated formula, but as a reference to today’s date, April Fool’s Day, April 1st, 2026.
This story was originally published on April 1, 2026. 
