CONCORD, N.C. – On Wednesday, Nov. 9, and Thursday, Nov. 10, the Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown presented by Valvoline will take place on the campus of Hendrick Motorsports.
The event pairs 12 Hendrick Certified Master Technicians from all across the country at Hendrick Automotive Group with 12 Hendrick Motorsports engine department team members. The competition, which first began in 2002, brings together team members from both sides of the company for a common goal.
Each two-person team is matched up against another duo. The two teams assemble 358-cubic-inch Chevrolet engines with 243 parts, similar to the fuel-injected engines that run each NASCAR Cup Series race weekend. The builders assemble their engines on their own stage platform as they race against the clock and the opposing team to post the fastest time. Winners are determined by the quickest time with the least number of errors. The top-two teams face off in the championship round.
The event serves as a tribute to Randy Dorton. Dorton’s launch of the engine program as the director of engine operations and his leadership had a tremendous impact on Hendrick Motorsports – both in the organization’s rise to prominence as the team to beat in the Cup Series ranks and in its innovation.
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It all gets underway at 9:15 a.m. ET on Wednesday and runs until 5 p.m. ET. On Thursday, engine builds will continue starting at 9 a.m. ET with the two championship finalists tentatively set to square off at approximately 2:15 p.m. ET.
Last year, John Boydston of Hendrick Motorsports and Dave Frey of Hendrick Automotive Group (Hendrick BMW, Charlotte, North Carolina) win the showdown with a time of 23 minutes, 39 seconds. The fastest time ever in this competition came in 2014 at 21 minutes, 40 seconds.
To be able to watch all of the engine builds, check out the live stream here as well as on Racing America. To learn more about those competing in the event, click here.