The 10th Annual MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown hosted by NASCAR FOX/Speed television analysts Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds will be held in Charlotte, NC, on Wednesday, May 13 at 5:30 p.m. The event will take place during “NASCAR Rev’d Up,” a kick-off event for NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race Week, on the side stage between 3rd and Mint Streets in uptown Charlotte.
The MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown is a tiered, three-round competition designed to recognize the knowledge, skills and speed of professional engine builders who assemble special performance engines for NASCAR teams. Former NASCAR crew chiefs Hammond and McReynolds will be right at home calling the action as both have extensive engine building knowledge.
For the past nine years, NASCAR’s top engine builders have participated to build a Sprint Cup 357-cubic inch Ford racing engine. This year, for the first time since the MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown’s inception, engine builders will race against the clock to build a complete Chevrolet R07 race engine in the fastest time and successfully run it for one minute.
The first two elimination rounds will take place at Hendrick Motorsports on Monday and Tuesday, May 11-12. The two fastest teams participate in a face-off at “NASCAR Rev’d Up” Wednesday to win the Showdown’s grand prize – the prestigious Randy Dorton Memorial Trophy and a cash award.
Last year, Dennis Borem and Darrell Hoffman of Pro Motor Engines broke the all-time Showdown record for a second year in a row with an engine-build time of 15 minutes and 59 seconds. The two-time winners defeated runners-up Mike Kasch and Jim Snyder of Roush Yates Racing.
“The MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown is always an exceptional event to watch,” said Bill McKnight, team leader – training for MAHLE Clevite. “And this year it will be interesting to see if the Pro Motor Engines team can beat their record for a third year in a row, or if another team will step in to win it.”
This year, the 2009 MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown will share the spotlight with “NASCAR Rev’d Up,” a kick-off event to NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Week. The six-hour event beginning on Wednesday, May 13 from 4 – 10 p.m. in uptown Charlotte features driver appearances, NASCAR show cars and interactive displays, and a free admission concert by recording group O.A.R.
“This is a very exciting time to be having the 10th Annual MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown since there is already so much excitement surrounding the activities leading up to the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race,” said Ted Hughes, marketing, team leader – program development for MAHLE Clevite. “And while the “NASCAR Rev’d Up” event is getting NASCAR fans excited for NASCAR Sprint All-Star week, we’ll be doing our part to recognize the professional engine builders of NASCAR teams.”