Part Subaru 360, part Le Mans Prototype, 100 percent winner | $2000 Challenge Results

Colin
By Colin Wood
Oct 24, 2022 | $2000 Challenge, Autocross, drag racing, Low-Buck Tech, Tire Rack, Gainesville Raceway

Photography Credit: Dave Green

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 IndustriesSummit Racing and Miller Electric, with trophies from Lamin-XTrakkratsCravenSpeed and ACI Automotive.

Join Free Join our community to easily find more $2000 Challenge, Autocross, drag racing, Low-Buck Tech, Tire Rack and Gainesville Raceway news.
Comments
Jerry From LA
Jerry From LA SuperDork
10/24/22 1:30 a.m.

I must have missed something because I don't understand the classes.

dean1484
dean1484 GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/24/22 8:35 a.m.

Is there a class list to decipher all the acronyms?  

Jerry
Jerry PowerDork
10/24/22 8:39 a.m.

$ equals >$2000?

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa UltimaDork
10/24/22 8:44 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.

Tom Suddard
Tom Suddard GRM+ Memberand Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
10/24/22 9:07 a.m.

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

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ UltimaDork
10/24/22 9:14 a.m.

In reply to Tom Suddard :

Thank you!

DaleCarter
DaleCarter GRM+ Memberand New Reader
10/24/22 9:47 a.m.

In reply to dean1484 :

the 3rd paragraph?

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa UltimaDork
10/24/22 10:20 a.m.
DaleCarter said:

In reply to dean1484 :

the 3rd paragraph?

Was not there when Dean posted. 

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
10/24/22 10:37 a.m.

In reply to Mr_Asa :

That is correct. I updated the item earlier this morning that better explains the classes.

madmrak351
madmrak351 Reader
10/24/22 10:51 a.m.

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!

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