$2000 Challenge Improvements Announced

The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by CRC Industries is already one of our best events of the year, but new changes just announced promise to make this year's running even better. Among other things, here's what you can expect to be different at the $2000 Challenge in October:

Some Challenge competitors run dedicated drag-racing tires, while others stick to street rubber. In the past, lane selection has been a free-for-all, with competitors picking whichever drag racing lane they feel will work best. This year, we're removing that dilemma: cars running drag tires will use the left lane at Gainesville Raceway, while cars running street or autocross tires will use the right lane. Additionally, both lanes will be prepped more often. What's the point? Street tires are very abusive to a prepped drag strip, so this should keep the track faster (and safer) for all competitors.

The numerous competitors that have already registered are already familiar with this, but this year we're taking requests for preferred numbers. Number choice is not guaranteed, and we'll let you know if your first choice isn't available. The easiest way to get your preferred number is to register early.

Yeah, we know–our number panels were huge. We figured the big, visible panels would help everybody save some money on paintwork, but the reality was different: Competitors with smaller cars had trouble fitting them, and everybody struggled to apply them on a windy day. We're moving to new, higher-quality number panels that are a few inches smaller than they have been in the past. New ones are 14x14 inches.

A contest of engineering is always a tricky place to implement a judged event, but the concours is one thing that sets the $2000 Challenge apart. To help competitors better plan their time with the judges, we'll be publishing a list of standard questions that the judges will ask at each car. These aren't the only thing you will talk about, of course, and you can always take your presentation in a different direction if you'd like, but these questions should help everybody make sure they're not forgetting anything important.

Okay, this isn't technically new, but rather a continuation of last year's upgrade: The autocross will again be approximately twice as large as it was in years past, consuming almost all of Gainesville Raceway's paved parking area.

Always a $2000 Challenge tradition, we'll be bringing a new and improved valve cover racing track donated by the estate of Mark Lasota, a man who embodied the best parts of the $2000 Challenge.

Like what you see? Stop bench racing and start building: Registration for the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by CRC Industries is open right now. Head on over to the $2000 Challenge website to register your car now, and then get crackin'. Whether you intend to bring some manner of quarter mile terror or autocross dominator, we’d like to see you there! While registering, be sure to check out the rest of the helpful information we have on the site, including rules and lodging.

And to sweeten the deal this year, the winner of this year’s $$2000 Challenge presented by CRC Industries will not only win the adoration of their fellow racers and trophies provided by Copart and White Pony, but also a Millermatic® 211 MIG Welder from Miller.

Comments