Dennis Borem and Darrell Hoffman from Pro Motor Engines made history recently capturing their record third straight MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown in the closest finish in the 10-year history of the competition.
In a fierce neck-and-neck battle, the Pro Motor Engines team built a complete Chevrolet R07 race engine and successfully ran it for one minute in an incredible 19 minutes, 27 seconds, edging out the Roush Yates Engines team of Mike Kasch and Jim Snyder by a mere 17 seconds (19 minutes, 44 seconds).
In what looked like a rematch of the 2008 final, the Roush Yates team seemed to be on their way to victory, completing the build and firing their engine first. However, while it was running during the mandatory one minute, a fuel line disconnected and the engine became silent. Meanwhile, Pro Motor Engines started their engine just as Roush Yates Engines attended to the disconnect fuel line. Roush Yates reconnected the fuel line and re-fired their engine, but it was too late.
"It was pretty intense, no question about it," said Borem referring to the MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown, which took place as part of ‘NASCAR Rev’d Up,’ a kick-off event for All Star Race Week in Uptown Charlotte, N.C. "We are thrilled to win it again and want to say thanks to MAHLE for continuing to host this competition."
"We’re happy," said Kasch of the runner-up team. "We feel pretty good right now even though we lost. We gave it our best."
Former crew chiefs Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds hosted the MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown, which is a tiered, three-round competition designed to recognize the knowledge, skill and speed of professional engine builders who assemble special performance engines for NASCAR teams.
A total of eight teams competed. Joining Pro Motor Engines and Roush Yates Engines were: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Penske Racing Engines, Richard Petty Motorsports, and Triad Racing Technologies.
"This year’s MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown will go down in history as one of the best ever, especially the finale," said Bill McKnight, team leader – Training for MAHLE Clevite. "The two teams were neck-and-neck the entire time and we never knew who was going to win until the last few seconds. Darrrell and Dennis have been incredible the last four years, making it to the final round in their first attempt, and then capturing three straight titles. They have something to be proud of. We are proud of all eight teams who competed this year."
As 2009 MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown champions, Borem and Hoffman took home a cash prize for their efforts and will have their name again engraved on the prestigious Randy Dorton Memorial Trophy.