2/13/2008
Engine Builders To Tackle Chevy RO7 Engines in 2008 MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown
MAHLE
Clevite has announced an exciting new challenge for NASCAR engine
builders competing in this year’s MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown held in
May at the NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI). After eight years of using
NASCAR Sprint Cup 357 cid Ford engines, MAHLE Clevite is switching to
Chevy RO7 engines for the event. Showdown teams race to build and
successfully run their engines in the shortest time possible.
“All
of the contestants are top engine builders who are widely respected for
their work in NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide Cup and Craftsman Truck
series races,’’ says Ted Hughes, brand and communications manager for
MAHLE Clevite. “Many of them have participated in our previous
Showdowns and it’s amazing to see how incredibly fast they can build a
working race engine. This year’s Showdown will be more exciting than
ever because for the first time in nine years the teams will be
tackling a completely different race engine. Instead of Ford engines,
they’ll be building Chevy RO7 engines.’’
The MAHLE
Engine Builder Showdown is a tiered four-round competition. There are
three rounds of preliminary and semi-final eliminations. The
spectacular final round features the two fastest teams in a face-off to
win the Showdown’s grand prize — the prestigious Randy Dorton Memorial
Trophy, plus a cash prize of $26,000. Showdown runners-up receive
$9,000. Overall, the competition awards a total prize package of over
$50,000. MAHLE Clevite is again holding all four rounds of the Showdown
at the NASCAR Technical Institute, Mooresville, NC. The final round of
the competition takes place on May 20, also at NTI.
The
Showdown is a major automotive event that captures the attention of
engine builders and enthusiasts nationwide. Last year Horsepower TV
covered the thrilling final round in which Dennis Borem and Darrell
Hoffman of Pro Motor Engineering walked away with the top prize after
breaking the all-time Showdown record with an engine-build time of 16
minutes and 25 seconds, including 60 seconds of actual hot running
time. Horsepower TV’s special half-hour program on the Showdown aired
four times in 2007 on cable television’s SPIKE TV network.