Where can you find an automotive festival that's dedicated to celebrating autocross, drag racing and–most importantly–low-buck ingenuity? That's right, the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by Tire Rack.
For 2022 we once again pitted the fastest machines built for less than $2000 against one another at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida–but we also added a twist this year: For the first time ever, we allowed cars to enter the fray that cost more than $2000 to build to find out if more money really does equal more speed.
To better accommodate these new entries, we divided up the field into classes:
- Great Tire Narrow (GTN): For cars equipped with 200tw rated or higher tires with a labeled tire width less than or equal to 225mm.
- Great Tire Wide (GTW): For cars equipped with 200tw rated or higher tires with a labeled tire width less than or equal to 285mm.
- Great Tire Unlimited (GTU): For cars equipped with all other tires (including slicks, etc.)
- Cars competing with budget limitations are denoted by the suffix "$"
So, who had the fastest low-buck machine? That honor goes to Daniel Cummings–better known in these parts as nocones–and his LMP360 in first overall, followed by Wreck Racing and their Acura V6-powered Chevrolet S10 in second and Steve Stafford and his 1985 Chevrolet Corvette in third.
Photography Credit: David S. Wallens
The full field of $2000 Challenge winners are as follows:
- GTN$ Winner - $250 Summit Racing gift card: Daniel Cummings, 1968 Subaru LMP360
- GTW$ Winner - $250 Summit Racing gift card: Katie Ortengren, 2013 Ford Taurus
- GTU$ Winner - $250 Summit Racing gift card: Wreck Racing, 1999 Chevrolet S10
- Autocross
- GTN
- 1st Place - $500 Tire Rack gift card: Jeremy Randolph, 2022 Subaru BRZ Limited
- 2nd Place - $200 RockAuto gift card from ACI Automotive: Ryan Dutra, 2001 Honda Insight
- GTW
- 1st Place - $500 Tire Rack gift card: Robert Palmblad, 2008 Mazda MX-5
- 2nd Place - $200 CravenSpeed gift card: Michael Simmons, 2021 Tesla M3P
- GTU
- 1st Place - $500 Tire Rack gift card: Lou Hudyman, 2020 Porsche GT4
- GTN$
- 1st Place - $500 Tire Rack gift card: Daniel Cummings, 1968 Subaru LMP360
- 2nd Place - Trakkrats Stringstick: Tucker Ryals, 2005 Volkswagen GTI
- 3rd Place - $100 Lamin-X Gift Certificate: Zachary Gnabah, 1986 Pontiac Fiero
- GTW$
- 1st Place - $500 Tire Rack gift card: Robbie Cutcliffe, 2003 BMW 325xi
- 2nd Place - CRC SmartWasher BenchtopPRO Kit from CRC Industries: Katie Ortengren, 2013 Ford Taurus
- GTU$
- 1st Place - $500 Tire Rack gift card: Andrew Surprenant, 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder
- Drag Racing
- GTN winner: Mitchell Maulfair, 2002 Mazda Miata
- GTW winner: Michael Simmons, 2021 Tesla M3P
- GTU winner: Jonathan Whitaker, 2001 Ford Mustang GT
- Fastest car not competing in a budget-limited class - Millermatic® 211 MIG Welder from Miller: Jonathan Whitaker, Problematic Racing
- GTN$
- 1st Place - $250 Summit Racing gift card: Zachary Gnabah, 1986 Pontiac Fiero
- 2nd Place - $200 Summit Racing gift card: Daniel Cummings, 1968 Subaru LMP360
- 3rd Place - $50 Summit Racing gift card: Tucker Ryals, 2005 Volkswagen GTI
- GTW$
- 1st Place - $250 Summit Racing gift card: Katie Ortengren, 2013 Ford Taurus
- 2nd Place - $200 Summit Racing gift card: Robbie Cutcliffe, 2003 BMW 325xi
- 3rd Place - $50 Summit Racing gift card: Anthony Vallancourt, 1993 Nissan 240SX
- GTU$
- 1st Place - $250 Summit Racing gift card: Steve Stafford, 1985 Chevrolet Corvette
- 2nd Place - $200 Summit Racing gift card: Dale Wagner, 1996 BMW E36
- 3rd Place - $50 Summit Racing gift card: Jonathan Breidenbach, 1970 Pontiac Firebird
- Concours
- GTN$
- 1st Place - CRC SmartWasher BenchtopPRO Kit from CRC Industries: Daniel Cummings, 1968 Subaru LMP360
- 2nd Place - $100 Gas Card from CRC Industries: Zachary Gnabah, 1986 Pontiac Fiero
- 3rd Place - A case of assorted products from CRC Industries: Tucker Ryals, 2005 Volkswagen GTI
- GTW$
- 1st Place - CRC SmartWasher BenchtopPRO Kit from CRC Industries: Katie Ortengren, 2013 Ford Taurus
- 2nd Place - $100 Gas Card from CRC Industries: Michael Stamps, 1965 Ford Mustang
- 3rd Place - A case of assorted products from CRC Industries: Robbie Cutcliffe, 2003 BMW 325xi
- GTU$
- 1st Place - CRC SmartWasher BenchtopPRO Kit from CRC Industries: Cedarville University, 1957 Nash Metropolitan
- 2nd Place - $100 Gas Card from CRC Industries: Wreck Racing, 1999 Chevrolet S10
- 3rd Place - A case of assorted products from CRC Industries: Steve Stafford, 1985 Chevrolet Corvette
- Special Prizes
- Challenger’s Choice - $500 Tire Rack gift card: Daniel Cummings, 1968 Subaru LMP360
- Fastest Dynamic Time - $250 Summit Racing gift card: Michael Simmons, 2021 Tesla M3P
- Highest Scoring $1000 Budget Car - Trophy and $250 GRM Store Gift Card: Blair Warner, 2001 Acura Integra GS-R
Photography Credit: Dave Green
Photography Credit: Dave Green
Photography Credit: Dave Green
Photography Credit: David S. Wallens
Photography Credit: David S. Wallens
Photography Credit: Dave Green
Photography Credit: David S. Wallens
Photography Credit: David S. Wallens
Photography Credit: David S. Wallens
Photography Credit: David S. Wallens
Catch up on all the action at the $2000 Challenge Live Thread and Look for full coverage of the $2000 Challenge in an upcoming issue of Grassroots Motorsports. Visit 2000challenge.com for future updates.
The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge is presented by Tire Rack in association with CRC Industries, Summit Racing and Miller Electric, with trophies from Lamin-X, Trakkrats, CravenSpeed and ACI Automotive.
Comments
I must have missed something because I don't understand the classes.
Is there a class list to decipher all the acronyms?
Jerry
PowerDork
10/24/22 8:39 a.m.
N - Narrow tire. Under 225 I believe?
W - 235-285 tire, I think
U - everything above 285 (or whatever the cutoff for W was)
$ - under $2000
Bit of a hairy moment at the beginning of Auto-x where nocones had a rod-end decide to be a rod-float, but he got it replaced and I don't think there were any other significant issues the rest of the weekend.
Results are now live:
https://2000challenge.com/results
And you can see a class breakdown at the top of the rules here:
https://2000challenge.com/rules
In reply to Tom Suddard :
Thank you!
In reply to dean1484 :
the 3rd paragraph?
DaleCarter said:
In reply to dean1484 :
the 3rd paragraph?
Was not there when Dean posted.
In reply to Mr_Asa :
That is correct. I updated the item earlier this morning that better explains the classes.
Spectated the Autocross Saturday with my younger son, had a great time. Needed to be in Bradenton that evening, so I missed the drag racing. Hope to be there with a car or truck next year. Congratulations to the winners: with the level of enthusiasm I saw that may well be every one who was there!
Displaying 1-10 of 34 commentsView all comments on the GRM forums
You'll need to log in to post.
Photography Credit: Dave Green
