MAHLE Clevite Inc. (www.mahleclevite.com) presents an exciting new challenge for the teams of 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-cubic-inch 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.
Hughes says the Showdown represents the strong industry ties between MAHLE Clevite and NASCAR. Another visible sign of ongoing MAHLE Clevite support for NASCAR is their sponsorship of all three National Series racing programs. MAHLE Clevite is also expanding their NASCAR sponsorship role to include all of the NASCAR regional levels.
"Every NASCAR race team uses Clevite bearings for their race engines and you can easily spot the MAHLE sponsorship decal on the front fender of the NASCAR race cars,” says Hughes, adding this year MAHLE Clevite has replaced their familiar Clevite decal in favor of a white decal featuring their classic MAHLE logo in blue.
MAHLE Clevite also remains a strong supporter of NHRA and IHRA races. Among the NHRA race teams MAHLE Clevite sponsors are World Champion Top Fuel Dragster of Tony Shumacher and Funny Car Champ Tony Pedregon, Hillary Will of Kalitta Motorsports and J.R. Todd of Tuttle Motorsports are among others also sponsored.
MAHLE Clevite Inc. is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pistons, valve train parts, engine bearings, piston rings, and engine gaskets. MAHLE Clevite brands include MAHLE Original pistons, assemblies, valves, cylinder liners, Clevite engine bearings and engine parts, Victor Reinz gaskets and Perfect Circle piston rings. In addition, Clevite, Victor Reinz and Perfect Circle are official NASCAR Performance Products. The Internet address for MAHLE Clevite is www.mahleclevite.com.