NASCAR Engine Built in 16 Minutes!

Engine builders Darrell Hoffman (L) and Dennis Borem of Pro Motor Engines, assembled a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup engine in a record 16 minutes and 25 seconds to win the MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown.

Imagine putting together an engine for a NASCAR race car in just 16 minutes. Pistons, bearings, crankshaft and other engine parts flying into a bare engine block.

That is exactly what you’ll see on Horsepower TV’s coverage of the 2007 MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown held recently. PowerBlock’s “Horsepower TV” airs on the cable TV channel Spike.

The MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown features competing teams, each with two engine builders, who build engines for the top NASCAR NEXTEL(R) Cup races. The contest involves completely assembling and running a NEXTEL(R) Cup 357-cubic- inch engine in the shortest time possible.

The Showdown is an annual event sponsored by MAHLE Clevite Inc., a leading supplier of performance engine parts to racers and engine builders. (www.mahleclevite.com)

“This year’s competition was one of the most exciting ever,” said Ted Hughes, brand and communications manager for MAHLE Clevite. “Our 2007 champions, Dennis Borem and Darrell Hoffman of Pro Motor Engines broke the all-time record with an engine-build time of 16 minutes and 25 seconds, which included 60 seconds of actual running time, and no penalties. That was one minute and 22 seconds ahead of the competing Hendrick Motorsports team. It was a remarkable, nail-biting finish.”

This year’s winner received the Randy Dorton Memorial Trophy plus a cash prize of $26,000. Runners-up Kevin Webber and Scott Vester of Hendrick Motorsports received $9,000.

In all, 19 teams competed this year, representing other NASCAR(R) teams like Dale Earnhardt Inc., Roush Yates Racing, Penske Racing and Bill Davis Racing.