Photo by Tradd's Photos/Racing for ALS
The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge came down to a battle between two different Radical prototypes and two young and up-and-coming drivers. Raiden Nicol in an SR10 and Nicholas d’Orlando in an SR3.
Nicholas d'Orlando. Photo credit: Tradd's Photos/Racing for ALS
D’Orlando, 21, was crowned the 2024 Radical Cup North America vice champion and earned rookie of the year honors. The SR3 he uses is powered by a Hayabusa-based 1500cc engine. The car weighs just 1367 pounds and the engine puts out 229 horses.
“They are just a blast,” said d’Orlando. “They weigh nothing. They have a decent amount of horsepower for their weight. Lots of downforce. No power steering. The car may not be as fast in a straight line [as a sports car], but in the corner you can pull over 2 Gs.”
Raiden Nicol. Photo credit: J.A. Ackley.
Nicol, 17, started out in Spec Miata and moved into the 185-horsepower Radical SR1 at age 14. He owns two SARRC championships. His SR10 uses a 2.3-liter Ford EcoBoost engine. The car weighs 1598 pounds and puts out 419 horses. Combine the added power with the additional weight of the engine, and the car becomes a potent machine, but one that requires a driver to wrestle that potential out of the car.
“It’s pretty dang fast for what it is,” said Nicol. “With this car having so much power, it’s a handful. No power steering. It’s super physical.”
Nicol wheeled his Radical SR10 to what’s believed to be a track record, a 1:54.253 lap. D’Orlando turned a 1:57.496 time.
Ghais Khaleghi. Photo credit: Tradd's Photos/Racing for ALS
Last year’s winner, Ghais Khaleghi, brought a newer Stohr prototype, and improved on his 2023 fastest lap to break the 2-minute mark, with a 1:59.146 lap.
Steve Luca. Photo credit: Tradd's Photos/Racing for ALS
The record holder for the fastest production-based car at NCM Motorsports Park broke his record. Steve Luca moved that milestone to a 2:01.983 time.
For 2025, The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports moves in date and time–September 18-21, 2025, at Pitt Race, Pittsburgh International Race Complex–and will once again be held in conjunction with the Tire Rack SCCA Time Trials Nationals.
2024 Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports
NCM Motorsports Park, Bowling Green, Ky.
October 24-25, 2024
1. Raiden Nicol, 2024 Radical SR10 XXR, 1:54.253
Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car presented by Tire Rack: $1000 Tire Rack gift certificate, a Sunoco fuel jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race fuel.
2. Nicholas d’Orlando, 2023 Radical SR3 1500 XXR, 1:57.496
Second Place presented by Tire Rack: $1000 Tire Rack gift certificate, a Sunoco fuel jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race fuel
3. Ghais Khaleghi “G.K.,” 2012 Stohr WF1, 1:59.146
Third Place presented by Tire Rack: $1000 Tire Rack gift certificate, a Sunoco fuel jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race fuel.
4. Dakota Dickerson, 2024 Sebeco SPX, 2:00.603
Fourth Place presented by XS Power: XS Power battery, a Sunoco fuel jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race fuel.
5. Steve Luca, 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, 2:01.983
Fifth Place presented by XS Power: XS Power battery, a Sunoco fuel jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race fuel.
6. Heikki Rinta-Koski, 2013 Radical SR8, 2:03.628
Sixth Place presented by Wilwood: Wilwood gift certificate, a Sunoco fuel jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race fuel.
7. Jimmy Rauck, 1999 Honda Civic, 2:04.782
Seventh Place presented by Wilwood: Wilwood gift certificate, a Sunoco fuel jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race fuel.
8. Kenny Naill, 2023 Radical SR3, 2:08.851
Eighth Place presented by CRC Industries: CRC prize pack, a Sunoco fuel jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race fuel.
9. Kyle McKiou, 2022 Toyota GR Supra, 2:09.175
10. Andrew Brownfield, 2021 Toyota GR Supra, 2:10.098
11. Terry Fair, 2018 LS-swapped Ford Mustang “Trigger,” 2:11.884
12. Dallas Reed, 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, 2:12.845
13. Nick Hendrix, 2013 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, 2:13.476
14. Michael Young, 2024 Chevrolet Corvette Z06/Z07, 2:15.069
15. Ryan Harness, 2020 Ford Mustang, 2:16.109
16. Mark Kilgore, 2015 BMW M4, 2:16.324
17. Rob Wilmoth, 2018 Audi RS3, 2:17.400
18. Justin Slaughter, 2006 Chevrolet Corvette, 2:17.471
19. Jerami Bailey, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2:19.358
20. Monte Klein, 1999 Honda Civic, 2:19.147
21. Phillip Jue, 2003 LS-swapped Nissan 350Z, 2:20.118
22. J.G. Pasterjak, 2015 BMW 435i 2:22.027
Special Awards
Ultimate Production Car presented by CallToGrid (fastest production car with substantially unmodified firewall and floor plan running DOT-approved tired): $500 cash from CallToGrid, a Sunoco fuel jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race fuel: Jimmy Rauck, 1999 Honda Civic
Ultimate Road Car presented by Vorshlag (fastest production car with substantially unmodified firewall and fuel pan running 200tw or higher tires): Vorshlag $250 gift certificate, Sunoco fuel jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race fuel: Kyle McKiou, 2022 Toyota Supra.
Fastest on Hoosier A7 Tires presented by Hoosier: Hoosier gift certificate for four free tires: Jimmy Rauck, 1999 Honda Civic.
Fastest on Hoosiers presented by Hoosier: Hoosier gift certificate for four free tires: Ghais Khaleghi, 2012 Stohr WF1.
Fastest on Falkens presented by Falken Tire: A set of Falken RT660s: Nick Hendrix, 2013 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport.
Fastest BMW presented by BimmerWorld: $250 BimmerWorld gift certificate: Mark Kilgore, 2015 BMW M4.
Editors’ Choice: A Miller Electric Folding Arc Station Table, a Sunoco fuel jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race fuel: Terry Fair, 2018 Ford Mustang
Longest Tow: A Sunoco fuel jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race fuel: Terry Fair, 2018 Ford Mustang
The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports and Sunoco, the official fuel of the UTCC, in association with Wilwood Engineering, CRC Industries, HMS Motorsport, XS Power and AMT Motorsport, with trophies from Miller Electric, Vorshlag, Hoosier Racing Tire, Call to Grid, BimmerWorld and Falken Tire.
Congrats to Raiden and the Primal Racing team. Exceptional driver in an exceptional car. I was testing at Road Atlanta a few weeks ago in my Radical SR1 putting down 1:34's at somewhere near race pace, and he was passing me in that SR10 like I was standing still. I'm used to being out there with SR3's that usually have a 3-4 sec. advantage, but the SR10 is a whole different beast. It was pretty incredible to see.
Bump for the Monday morning crowd.
Good hustle, everyone, good hustle. :)
ShinnyGroove (Forum Supporter) said:Congrats to Raiden and the Primal Racing team. Exceptional driver in an exceptional car. I was testing at Road Atlanta a few weeks ago in my Radical SR1 putting down 1:34's at somewhere near race pace, and he was passing me in that SR10 like I was standing still. I'm used to being out there with SR3's that usually have a 3-4 sec. advantage, but the SR10 is a whole different beast. It was pretty incredible to see.
Raiden certainly knows how to hustle a race car. He also has a great attitude outside of it. Looking forward to seeing him hopefully do a full year in the Radical Cup next year.
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