Ghais Khaleghi wins the 2023 Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports came down to this: 1000 horsepower versus less than 1000 pounds of weight. Steve Luca brought the former, with a 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Ghais Khaleghi came with the latter with a Stohr prototype.

Luca set a blazing lap time of 2:02.759 around NCM Motorsports Park. That broke the production car record at the facility, a 2:02.860 lap set in 2020 by Andy Pilgrim in a McLaren Senna.

However, Khaleghi’s car, with a Suzuki 1000 engine putting out around 175 horsepower, went even faster, with a 2:00.091 lap.

The battle for first may have captured the spotlight, but that was just the tip of the iceberg of the battles during our annual Ultimate Track Car Challenge. Fastest FWD? Fastest AWD? Fastest car on 200tw tires? Read on for the complete list of award winners.

Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports Full Results

NCM Motorsports Park
Bowling Green, Kentucky
October 14-15, 2023

1. Ghais Khaleghi, 2004 Stohr 01D, 2:00.901

2. Steve Luca, 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, 2:02.759

3. Justin Peachey, 2007 Chevrolet Corvette, 2:04.362

4. Ryan Mathews, 2002 Chevrolet Corvette, 2:06.410

5. Devan Keeling, 1996 Ford Mustang GT, 2:09.353

6. Stan Whitney, 2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, 2:11.508

7. James Rauck, 1999 Honda Civic, 2:11.571

8. Phillip Glass-Hess, 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata, 2:11.853

9. Josh Owens, 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata, 2:12.325

10. Jackie Ding, 2023 BMW M2, 2:12.447

11. Mark Sarcevicz, 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 2:13.106

12. Tom Reynolds, 2021 Toyota Supra, 2:13.727

13. Robert Ellsworth, 1970 Dodge Challenger, 2:13.948

14. Jacob Besemer, 2017 Chevrolet Camaro, 2:13.954

15. Robert Wilmoth, 2018 Audi RS3, 2:14.501

16. Nicholas Hendrix, 2013 Chevrolet Corvette GS, 2:15.177

17. Dallas Reed, 2023 Chevrolet Corvette, 2:15.228

18. David Entz, 2016 Porsche Cayman, 2:15.441

19. Timothy Lonergan, 2007 Chevrolet Corvette, 2:15.533

20. Zachary Grant, 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata, 2:16.276

21. Nicolas Hammann, 1984 Porsche 944, 2:16.333

22. John Roeder, 2021 BMW M2, 2:16.348

23. Michael Kubiak, 2003 Chevrolet Corvette, 2:16.407

24. Michael W. Barnes, 2018 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, 2:16.416

25. Jeff Tucker, 2018 Chevrolet Camaro, 2:16.786

26. Lyle Zyra, 2022 Toyota GR86, 2:16.966

27. Casey Henry, 2004 Chevrolet Corvette, 2:17.123

28. James L. Currie, 2016 BMW M4, 2:17.523

29. Mark Kilgore, 2015 BMW M4, 2:17.788

30. Lawrence Shue, 2003 BMW M3, 2:19.199

31. Tracy Gaudu, 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 2:19.636

32. Chris Russell, 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, 2:22.258

33. Daniel Cummings, 1968 Subaru 360, 2:22.378

34. Ryan Cheek, 2006 Ford Mustang GT, 2:22.798

35. Marty Rogan, 2001 Ford Mustang GT, 2:25.777

36. Terrence Singh, 2019 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, 2:27.500

37. Alek Paterson, 1991 BMW 325i, 2:28.625

• Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car presented by Tire Rack ($1000 Tire Rack gift certificate): Ghais Khaleghi Ghais, 2004 Stohr 01D

• Fastest RWD, Open Tire Presented by Miller Electric (Millermatic 142 and Honor Infinity Series Helmet): Ghais Khaleghi Ghais, 2004 Stohr 01D

• Fastest on Hoosiers Presented by Hoosier (Gift certificate for four Hoosier tires): Ghais Khaleghi Ghais, 2004 Stohr 01D

• Fastest Car on DOT-Approved Tires Presented by Tire Rack ($1000 Tire Rack gift certificate): Steve Luca, 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

• Fastest Production Car Presented by Call To Grid ($250): Steve Luca, 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

• Fastest Car on 200tw Tires Presented by Tire Rack ($1000 Tire Track gift certificate): Justin Peachey, 2007 Chevrolet Corvette

• Fastest RWD on 200tw Tires Presented by XS Power (XS Power battery): Justin Peachey, 2007 Chevrolet Corvette

• Fastest FWD Presented by Ampere EV (3 AMP karting sessions and 1 Taste of AMP ticket): James Rauck, 1999 Honda Civic

• Fastest FWD, 200tw Tire Presented by XS Power (XS power battery): James Rauck, 1999 Honda Civic

• Fastest AWD, Open Tire, Presented by CRC (CRC SmartWasher BenchtopPRO kit): Robert Wilmoth, 2018 Audi RS3

• Fastest AWD, 200tw Tire Presented by Sunoco (3 Sunoco fuel jugs): Robert Wilmoth, 2018 Audi RS3

• Fastest BMW Presented by Bimmerworld ($250 BimmerWorld gift certificate): Jackie Ding, 2023 BMW M2

• Safety Award Presented by SPA Technique (SPA Technique gift certificate): Devan Keeling, 1996 Ford Mustang GT

• Editor’s Choice ($250 off $500 purchase from Wilwood): Robert Ellsworth, 1970 Dodge Challenger

• Longest Tow Presented by Wilwood ($250 off $500 purchase from Wilwood): Awarded during presentation.

Thank you to the support of Tire Rack, Sunoco, CRC Industries, Wilwood Engineering, SPA Technique, Ampere EV LLC, Miller Electric and of course the SCCA for sanctioning the UTCC. 

Corvette or Shelby? Two Takes on Modified American Muscle Enter the Ultimate Track Car Challenge

Comparing a C6 Corvette Z06 to a S550 Mustang GT350 might be like comparing apples to oranges, but consider this: Both pack some serious American muscle from the factory and both are represented in our growing field for the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports.

In one corner is Brian Collins’ 2017 Ford Mustang GT350 (lead photo). Instead of going for a more powerful engine, Brian simply found a way to force in more air via a larger Whipple supercharger. In total, the Mustang is good for 798 horsepower.

In the other corner, we have Tracy Gaudu’s 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. The standout modification on the list? A built LS7 powerplant from Lingenfelter that puts down a healthy 550 horsepower. Other mods include a front splitter, rear wing, adjustable shocks and–new for this year–bigger brakes.

View these cars, along with the rest of the field, on the accepted entries page.

If you think you have what it takes to win, enter your car here.

The 2022 UTCC returns to Virginia International Raceway May 13-14 in the center of NASA’s HyperFest weekend.

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports in association with Wilwood Engineering, CRC Industries, DeatschWerks, HP Tuners, SPA Technique and Volkswagen, with trophies from BimmerWorld, XS Power Batteries, Sensor Connection, Track Advantage and Stifflers.