Horsepower Wars $10K Shootout: Drama and Tacos

We're only three episodes in on Power Automedia's $10K Drag Shootout and whoo boy, have we got some drama. Oh, and tacos.

You should know the Shootout drill by now-four teams got $3,000 to buy a car, a $7,000 Summit Racing parts budget, and 10 days to build that car. When the cars are finished, the teams will face off for all the marbles at the 'Shakedown at the Summit' event, September 13-16 at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

Here's the scoop on the latest episodes:

Episode 2: The Teardown
With each team issued its car, it was time to get them stripped down and ready for transformation into race cars. Each team also revealed their engine and transmission choices:
* Team Boddie, 1984 Buick Regal: big block Chevy
* Team Bigun, 1986 Mustang GT: turbocharged LS
* Team Stinky Pinky, third-gen Camaro: big block Chevy with 8-71 supercharger
* Dream Team, 1990 Mustang GT: turbocharged LS

The drama commenced almost immediately. Shenanigans were called on Team Boddie's cylinder heads, which were supposed to be as-cast but came with some 'mystery' CNC porting. Team Stinky Pinky's $300 Craigslist aftermarket GM 12-bolt rear axle also came under scrutiny. Both teams put on their Sunday school-innocent faces and claimed everything was on the up and up. Racers creatively interpreting the rules? Say it ain't so.

Episode 3: Building Begins
The drama continues with judgements handed down to Team Boddie and Team Stinky Pinky.

Team Boddie got to keep their cylinder heads, but had to pay the upcharge for the CNC-port work and take a 50 pound weight penalty. That's a lot of pain to endure for some extra airflow.

Team Stinky Pinky had to pay an extra $250 for their bargain rear axle, but were not assessed a weight penalty. Hopefully the built 12-bolt will be worth the lost parts money.

Other highlights include a taco-eating contest (the winner got a complete NOS nitrous kit), a trip to a desert salvage yard for some parts shopping, and a disturbance in The Force as the Dream Team encountered some ego-clashing. 

Of course there is a lot of hard work going on as the four teams put noses to grindstones in the quest to win $10K Drag Shootout glory. Visit HorsepowerWars.com to see it all!