The MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown is a tiered, four-round competition that highlights the knowledge, skills and, most of all, speed of professional engine builders who assemble performance engines for NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams.

Each year, a selection of top NASCAR engine builders are invited to participate in this unique event to see who can assemble, fire and run their Sprint Cup 357 c.i.d. Ford racing engine the fastest.

This year, a record 23 teams participated for prize money and bragging rights. The final round was held May 20, 2008 at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, NC.

2007 Champions Dennis Borem and Darrell Hoffman from Pro Motor Engines, returned to defend their crown and their record. Borem and Hoffman were runners up in 2006 and, since then, have been unbeatable. Borem has been with PME for 23 years and has 26 years experience building engines. Hoffman has been with PME for 6 years and has built engines for 25 years.

Jim Snyder and Mike Kasch from Roush Yates Engines are no strangers to the Mahle Engine Builder Showdown. In fact, Kasch was part of the team that won the first Showdown 9 years ago. Snyder has 25 years of engine building experience including 5 years with Roush Yates. Kasch has built engines for more than 30 years including 16 years with Roush Yates. He as also served as a crew chief or chief mechanic in multiple CORR off-road racing Pro-2 championships with Scott Taylor Racing.

The competition lived up to expectations, as both teams kept a blistering pace. However, at the end, The Pro Motor Engine team was able to build, start and run their engine in 15 minutes and 59 seconds, the first time a sub-16 minute build was recorded. The time for Snyder and Kasch was 17:14.

For more information, visit www.mahleclevite.com.

Also see Bottom End blog video highlights of the event here.