#FastFriday: Is the Corvette E-Ray the easy button to win races?

For every competitor that enters our Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports, we ask a question: What makes your car the Ultimate Track Car?

Most entrants use their time on the soapbox to boast about race wins or detail how much effort has gone into the build.

Dallas Reed, however, kept his answer short and sweet: “It’s the easy button.” And by “easy button,” he’s referring to a 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray.

The car is almost entirely stock, according to Dallas, with the only modifications noted being a staggered set of Apex wheels, Vitour P1 tires, Verus V1X wing and “a few stickers.” The E-Ray is still capable of producing over 650 horsepower in stock trim, however, and all that power is sent to the road through all four wheels.

What, exactly, is the Ultimate Track Car Challenge? In line with keeping the answers simple, it’s our annual search for the fastest track machine on four wheels.

All that’s required to compete is that both car and driver pass a safety inspection. If you can do that, then enter your car today.

For 2025, the UTCC takes place September 18-21 at Pitt Race, once again alongside the SCCA Time Trials Nationals.

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports and fueled by Sunoco, in association with Wilwood, Vitour Tire, CRC Industries, XS Power, AMT Motorsport, Vbox Motorsport and Red Line Oil, with trophies from CalltoGrid, BimmerWorld, Falken Tire, Miller Electric, Vorshlag and Hoosier Tire.

#FastFriday: This Tesla Model S Plaid is a One Lap veteran

Looking for a more electrifying entry to compete in our Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports? You’ll want to talk to Andrew DeKoning and his track weapon of choice, a heavily modified Tesla Model S Plaid.

If Andrew’s name sounds familiar, that's because he’s a frequent flyer in the Tire Rack One Lap of America, most recently placing 2nd overall in this year’s event.

But back to the car, the Tesla has virtually had the entire Mountain Pass Performance catalog thrown at it, from upper control arms to brake rotors and pretty much everything in between.

Likewise, the air suspension has been deleted, replaced with a setup comprised of KW Suspension components, and a specially programmed Motec race computer helps “enhance” the Plaid’s already impressive performance.

While this Model S has the upgrades and chops to find success on track, only time will tell just how competitive it will be when it takes on the rest of the Ultimate Track Car Challenge challengers this September.

What is the Ultimate Track Car Challenge? It’s our annual search for the fastest track machine on four wheels.

Can you and your car pass a safety inspection? If the answer is yes, that means you’re eligible to compete, so enter your car today.

For 2025, the UTCC takes place September 18-21 at Pitt Race, once again alongside the SCCA Time Trials Nationals.

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports and fueled by Sunoco, in association with Wilwood, Vitour Tire, CRC Industries, XS Power, AMT Motorsport, Vbox Motorsport and Red Line Oil, with trophies from CalltoGrid, BimmerWorld, Falken Tire, Miller Electric, Vorshlag and Hoosier Tire.

#FastFriday: Compete against an Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4

A race car that can go the distance? Try this Aston Martin V8 Vantage–because, you know, it’s an endurance race car and all.

More specifically, the Vantage is a 400-horsepower, GT4-spec race car built by Prodrive that also comes fitted with the “Grand Am endurance racing package,” which includes magnesium wheels, (even) larger Brembo brakes, a larger fuel tank and more aggressive aero components.

The driver, Emre Kayaalp (who you may know better as LanEvo here on the GRM forum), describes the Aston Martin as “the ultimate gentleman's racer,” though he is quick to add that “the driver is neither of those things, but hope springs eternal.”

It never hurts to have hope, especially when you’re competing in our annual search for the fastest machine on four wheels, the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports.

If you think you have the Ultimate Track Car, and both you and your car can pass a safety inspection, you’re eligible to compete–so enter your car today.

For 2025, the UTCC takes place September 18-21 at Pitt Race, once again alongside the SCCA Time Trials Nationals.

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports and fueled by Sunoco, in association with Wilwood, Vitour Tire, CRC Industries, XS Power, AMT Motorsport, Vbox Motorsport and Red Line Oil, with trophies from CalltoGrid, BimmerWorld, Falken Tire, Miller Electric, Vorshlag and Hoosier Tire.

#FastFriday: A home-brewed, LS2-powered Porsche Cayman

Like so many others during Covid, Mike Murphy started a project to keep himself occupied. While others may have taken up painting or building birdhouses, Mike instead built an LS-powered Porsche Cayman.

“I built every nut and bolt of this car myself,” Mike explains. “Almost all parts are used or hand-me-downs from friends, so I've spent less than $30k in total.”

Starting with an $800 rolling chassis, Mike sourced an LS2 V8 from Facebook Marketplace and bolted it to a stock Porsche Cayman six-speed gearbox. Noting that he “didn’t want it to sound like a V8,” Mike then fit the engine with an 8-to-1 header.

Good for some 450 horsepower, Mike says the Cayman is about as quick as a Porsche 911 Cup Car.

Yeah, that sounds fast, but is it fast enough to win our Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports?

We’ll find out on September 18, when some of the fastest cars in the country will descend upon Pitt Race to vie for the title of Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car.

The goal of the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is simple: To find the fastest track machine on four wheels. All that’s required to compete is that both car and driver pass a safety inspection. If you can do that, then enter your car today.

This year’s UTCC takes place at Pitt Race, September 18-21, alongside the SCCA Time Trials Nationals.

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports and fueled by Sunoco, in association with Wilwood, Vitour Tire, CRC Industries, XS Power, AMT Motorsport, Vbox Motorsport and Red Line Oil, with trophies from CalltoGrid, BimmerWorld, Falken Tire, Miller Electric, Vorshlag and Hoosier Tire.

#FastFriday: Ultimate Track Car Challenge less than 100 days away

Photograph by Tradd’s Photos

In less than 100 days, the fastest track machines around will descend on Pitt Race to battle it out for the title of Ultimate Track Car.

Think your car has what it takes to claim the title? Enter your car today.

Our annual Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports welcomes virtually everyone–new or old, built or bought.

The only requirement he have is that both the car and the driver pass a safety inspection.

Our UTCC takes place alongside the SCCA Time Trials Nationals, September 18-21.

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports and fueled by Sunoco, in association with Wilwood, Vitour Tire, CRC Industries, XS Power, AMT Motorsport, Vbox Motorsport and Red Line Oil, with trophies from CalltoGrid, BimmerWorld, Falken Tire, Miller Electric, Vorshlag and Hoosier Tire.

#FastFriday: Here’s your chance to compete against an LMP3 race car

If you’ve ever wanted to find out if your track car is faster than an LMP3 prototype, here’s your chance.

Ghais Khaleghi, a previous winner of our Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports, is bringing a Duqueine D08, an LMP3-class prototype race car.

Power comes from a Nissan-sourced VK56 V8 that’s good for over 450 horsepower, and the total weight–with driver included–is listed at just 2200 pounds.

What is the Ultimate Track Car Challenge? It’s our annual search for the fastest track machine on four wheels, whether it be home-brewed, professionally built or something else entirely.

All that’s required to compete is that both car and driver pass a safety inspection. If you can do that, then enter your car today.

This year’s UTCC takes place at Pitt Race, September 18-21, alongside the SCCA Time Trials Nationals.

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports and fueled by Sunoco, in association with Wilwood, Vitour Tire, CRC Industries, XS Power, AMT Motorsport, Vbox Motorsport and Red Line Oil, with trophies from CalltoGrid, BimmerWorld, Falken Tire, Miller Electric, Vorshlag and Hoosier Tire.

An Audi TT RS with over 20K track miles under its belt | #FastFriday

This Audi TT RS has gone the distance–literally: 20,000 hard-driven track miles and counting.

“My Audi TT RS proves that performance, durability, and balance can coexist in a single platform,” explains driver Lan Truong. “Despite countless heat cycles, apex hunts, and high-speed laps, it continues to run strong, proof that this machine isn’t just fast, it's engineered for endurance.”

That durability should come in handy when the TT RS competes in our annual search for the fastest machine on four wheels, the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge.

Starting with the powerplant, the car’s turbocharged, 2.5-liter inline-five produces over 550 horsepower thanks to an APR Stage 1 ECU tune as well as an upgraded intake, turbocharger and intercooler.

For improved handling, Truong has fit the Audi with 19x11-inch Apex wheels wrapped in Falken tires, Girodisc floating brake rotors, EBC brake pads and the “complete 034[Motorsport] suspension catalog.”

Helping fund the car? Just a single sponsor is listed: “Personal 401k.”

This year's Ultimate Track Car Challenge will be held September 18-21 at Pitt Race, once again alongside the SCCA Time Trials Nationals.

What's eligible to compete in our Ultimate Track Car Challenge?  All cars–and their drivers–must pass a safety inspection. If you can do that, enter your car today.

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports and fueled by Sunoco, in association with Wilwood, Vitour Tire, CRC Industries, XS Power, AMT Motorsport, Vbox Motorsport and Red Line Oil, with trophies from CalltoGrid, BimmerWorld, Falken Tire, Miller Electric, Vorshlag and Hoosier Tire.

A carbon fiber-bodied BMW Z4 coupe from TC Kline | #FastFriday

Love carbon fiber? You’re going to enjoy this BMW Z4 coupe entered into our Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports, our annual search for the fastest track car on four wheels.

As driver TC Kline–owner of TC Kline Racing–explains, every body panel on the BMW, including the roof and inner fenders, is constructed out of carbon fiber.

Total weight, including the driver? Just 2550 pounds, compared to the 3000+ pound curb weight of the road-going hardtop Z4s.

A torquey N55 motivates the car, which also sports TC Kline double-adjustable coil-overs, Hoosier R7 tires and a track widened by some 4 inches over stock.

What's eligible to compete in our Ultimate Track Car Challenge? All cars–and their drivers–must pass a safety inspection, that's all. If you can do that, enter your car today.

The UTCC will once again be held in conjunction with the SCCA Time Trials Nationals, this year on September 18-21, at a new location, the Pittsburgh International Race Complex, aka Pitt Race.

#FastFriday: How competitive is a hillclimber without a hill?

Photograph by Ron Moreck/Facebook

What do you have when you take a prototype-style racer normally competing in hillclimbs, but take away the hillclimb?

That’s right, an equally potent track machine.

Normally configured to compete in the hillclimbs sanctioned by the Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association, Ron Moreck’s Norma M20 features a 383-horsepower Honda engine and curb weight under 1500 pounds.

But can this hillclimber find success racing on a circuit instead of climbing a mountain? We’ll find out at the 2025 Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports  when it takes to Pitt Race September 18-21, once again joined by the Tire Rack SCCA Time Trials Nationals Powered by Hagerty.

What sort of race cars are welcome to compete? Pretty much anything is free game, from the latest factory-built track specials to ingenuously home-built machines and virtually everything in between. All that’s required is that both the car and driver pass a safety inspection.

Enter your car today.

#FastFriday: Two-time UTCC champion Brian Faessler seeks third win

Brian Faessler and his 800-horsepower Mustang racer are no strangers to the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports, winning our annual search for the fastest track machine on four wheels twice before–in 2020 and 2022.

With recent improvements made to the Mustang, and even more experience at Pitt Race than at UTCC's former venue VIR, Brian is confident he can compete for a third win in 2025.

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports takes place at Pitt Race for 2025 and will once again join the Tire Rack SCCA Time Trials Nationals Powered by Hagerty, September 18-21.

What sort of race cars are welcome to compete? Pretty much anything is free game, from the latest factory-built track specials to ingenuously home-built machines and virtually everything in between. All that’s required is that both the car and driver pass a safety inspection.

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.