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Clevite Engine Builder Showdown

In March of 2000, Clevite Engine Parts transformed the Challenge Series into the Clevite Engine Builder Showdown - a structured and tiered competition with a total prize package worth more than $50,000.

Every year, 16 of NASCAR's top engine builders participate in this exceptional and unique event. In years past, a panel of expert judges chose the "Sweet 16" based on their reputation for being the finest engine builders within NASCAR. Starting in 2005, the "Sweet 16" participants were selected from race teams based on their standings in the previous year's Clevite's Engine Builder of the Year Program.

Round 1

Round 1 of the Clevite Engine Builder Showdown has kicked off at several popular racing-related events, including the Circle Track Race Expo in Daytona, Florida, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Preview in Winston/Salem, North Carolina, and even some of NASCAR's premier race shops, including Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing. Each participating engine builder receives a check and a commemorative plaque. Each first round winner also receives a cash award of $1,000 and advances to the second round of competition.

From 2000 to 2003, a single-elimination type of competition determined the first round winner. A slight change was been made to the program for 2004 and beyond. Even though the Showdown mainly features NASCAR builders, a Drag Racing format was adopted where the first round became a qualifying round. The top eight teams were then seeded and moved on to the following rounds. The winners of the remaining rounds advance as they did in previous years, where the winner of that round advances to the subsequent round.

Rounds 2 and 3

For several years, both Rounds 2 and 3 have been held in and around the Charlotte area. It has been held at Central Piedmont Community College and the prestigious NASCAR Technical Institute. The winners of Round 2 receive cash awards of $1,500 and proceed to Round 3, which awards $2,000 to each winning engine builder.

Round 4

Round 4 has been held at several high-end NASCAR facilities including Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and the new NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, North Carolina. The final round's first runner-up receives a cash award of $5,000. The first-place winner receives a cash award of $20,000 and has his name inscribed on the coveted Randy Dorton Memorial Trophy and he is crowned the Clevite Engine Builder Showdown Champion.

Race fans and engine building enthusiasts are able to check the results of the various rounds by going to the Clevite Engine Parts Web site under the NASCAR section in motorheadheaven.com. They are also able to view highlights of competition on popular television programs like Fox Sports Net's NASCAR Performance and the SPEED Channel.