Call it inevitable change in the Pro Stock world or the withering of the global economy, the fact of the matter is that the NHRA’s factory hot rod category isn’t quite that it used to be. But despite the lack of direct involvement from the folks at General Motors – who were the dominant force in Pro Stock for the last two decades – there will be some new lifeblood pumped into the stalemated category in 2012 with the introduction of the new Chevrolet Camaro SS body.

The NHRA Technical Department this week approved the Camaro body design for use in NHRA competition, thus delivering a new body to the category to replace the aging Chevrolet Cobalt and the now extinct Pontiac GXP.

Although no longer directly involved in Pro Stock in terms of financial and/or research and development support of the race teams flying its banner, Chevrolet did supply a production Camaro SS to Five Star Bodies for creation of the molds for the new Pro Stock body, and also graciously allowed time to be spent in their wind tunnel.

The Camaro SS body is tentatively schedule to make its official debut in Pro Stock at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. March 8-11. One of the teams that will be fielding the new Camaro this season are Ken Black Racing teammates Greg Anderson and reigning series champion Jason Line in their Summit Racing Equipment machines.

“We’re very thrilled with the opportunity to race muscle cars again in Pro Stock,” said Anderson. “It goes back to what that they ran when Pro Stock first started. We’re sure that the fans will be excited as well.”