$2000 CHALLENGE UPDATES
Tube-frame Beetle with turbo Miata Power wins $2000 Challenge
How fast can you go for less than $2000? That's the whole idea behind our annual Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by Tire Rack and powered by AutoBidMaster.
Whether teams built a car for less than $2000, entered their over-budget build, or both: They all battled against each other across autocross, drag racing and concours sessions at Gainesville Raceway to see if money really equals speed.
So, who had the fastest low-buck machine? That honor goes to Derek Penner and his tube-frame, Mazda Miata wearing a Volkswagen Beetle hat.
In second place was Material Girls Racing and their Ford Ranger-bodied Ford Taurus, followed by Identity Crisis and their Triumph Spitfire/Pontiac Solstice mashup.
For their efforts, each team won a big trophy and a gift card from Tire Rack: $1000 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place.
The full field of $2000 Challenge winners are as follows:
Overall:
1st Overall - Biggest trophy and a $1000 Tire Rack gift card: Derek Penner, 1967 Volkswagen Beetle
2nd Overall - Bigger trophy and a $500 Tire Rack gift card: Material Girls Racing, 1985 Ford Ranger
3rd Overall - Big trophy and $250 Tire Rack gift card: Identity Crisis, 2006 Pontiac Solstice
GTN$ Winner - Trophy and a $250 Grassroots Motorsports Store gift card: Night Owl Racing, 1989 Ford Festiva
GTW$ Winner - Trophy and a $250 Grassroots Motorsports Store gift card: Material Girls Racing, 1985 Ford Ranger
GTU$ Winner - Trophy and a $250 Grassroots Motorsports Store gift card: Derek Penner, 1967 Volkswagen Beetle
Autocross:
GTN
1st Place - $500 Tire Rack gift card: HomePro Racing, 2013 Mazda MX-5
2nd Place – Trophy: Short Road Racing, 2020 Mazda Miata
3rd Place – Trophy: Ethan Swindel's Sugar Daddy, 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata
GTN$
1st Place - $500 Tire Rack gift card: Rob Rabenstein, 2004 Mazda RX-8
2nd Place – Trophy: Night Owl Racing, 1989 Ford Festiva
3rd Place – Trophy: More Tools Than Sense Racing, 1991 Mazda Mionnette
GTW
1st Place - $500 Tire Rack gift card: Miata Is Always The Answer - Racing team, 2008 Mazda Miata
2nd Place – Trophy: Kip Mitchell, 2023 Subaru BRZ
3rd Place – Trophy: Blueline Motorsports, 2001 Porsche Boxster S
GTW$
1st Place - $500 Tire Rack gift card: Tucker Ryals, BMW 535i
2nd Place – Trophy: Material Girls Racing, 1985 Ford Ranger
3rd Place – Trophy: Identity Crisis, 2006 Nissan Altima
GTU
1st Place - $500 Tire Rack gift card: Nick Dunlap, 1999 Mazda Miata
2nd Place – Trophy: Eight Two Racing, 1995 Acura Integra
3rd Place – Trophy: Tint World Ocala, 2022 Chevrolet C8 Corvette
GTU$
1st Place - $500 Tire Rack gift card: Derek Penner, 1967 Volkswagen Beetle
2nd Place – Trophy: Identity Crisis, 2006 Pontiac Solstice
3rd Place – Trophy: Wreck Racing, 1987 Chrysler Conquest TSI
Drag Racing:
GTN
1st Place - Trophy plus a Hat and Shirt from A&A Manufacturing: FiDK, 2014 Ford Fiesta ST
GTW
1st Place - Trophy plus a Hat and Shirt from A&A Manufacturing: Holy Cats Garage, 1985 Buick Regal
GTU
1st Place - Trophy plus a Hat and Shirt from A&A Manufacturing: Wingin It Garage, 2021 Ford Mustang GT500
GTN$
1st Place - Trophy and a Tab Kit from A&A Manufacturing: The Blockbusters, 1985 Mercury Cougar
2nd Place – Trophy: Night Owl Racing, 1989 Ford Festiva
3rd Place – Trophy: Travis Turner, 1995 Toyota Camry
GTW$
1st Place – Trophy and a Dzus Tab Kit from A&A Manufacturing: Material Girls Racing, 1985 Ford Ranger
2nd Place – Trophy: Tucker Ryals, BMW 535i
3rd Place – Trophy: Man Bun Racing, Chrysler Crossfire
GTU$
1st Place - Trophy and a Aluminum Body Washer Kit from A&A Manufacturing: Trigonia Racing, 2001 Ford Mustang
2nd Place – Trophy: Knights Automotive, 1994 Ford Ranger
3rd Place – Trophy: Identity Crisis, 2006 Pontiac Solstice
Drag Racing Special Awards:
The quickest car competing in an over-budget class – trophy: Wingin It Garage, 2021 Ford Mustang GT500
The quickest car competing in a budget-limited class – QuickJack from BendPak: Trigonia Racing, 2001 Ford Mustang
Concours:
GTN$
1st Place - Trophy and a CRC SmartWasher BenchtopPRO Kit from CRC Industries: Night Owl Racing, 1989 Ford Festiva
2nd Place - Trophy and a $100 Gas Card from CRC Industries: More Tools Than Sense Racing, 1991 Mazda Mionnette
3rd Place - Trophy and a case of assorted products from CRC Industries: Barely Functional Racing, 1964 Volvo P1800
GTW$
1st Place - Trophy and a CRC SmartWasher BenchtopPRO Kit from CRC Industries: Material Girls Racing, 1985 Ford Ranger
2nd Place - Trophy and a $100 Gas Card from CRC Industries: Identity Crisis, 2006 Nissan Altima
3rd Place - Trophy and a case of assorted products from CRC Industries: TIE | Tucker Ryals, BMW 535i/Evan Fountain, 2010 Ford Crown Victoria
GTU$
1st Place - Trophy and a CRC SmartWasher BenchtopPRO Kit from CRC Industries: Wreck Racing, 1987 Chrysler Conquest TSI
2nd Place - Trophy and a $100 Gas Card from CRC Industries: Derek Penner, 1967 Volkswagen Beetle
3rd Place - Trophy and a case of assorted products from CRC Industries: Identity Crisis, 2006 Pontiac Solstice
Special Awards:
Challenger’s Choice - Trophy and a $500 Tire Rack gift card: Derek Penner, 1967 Volkswagen Beetle
Fastest Dynamic Time - Trophy and a Tier 1 Membership from AutoBidMaster: Derek Penner, 1967 Volkswagen Beetle
Highest Scoring $1000 Budget Car - Trophy and $250 Grassroots Motorsports Store Gift Card: Barely Functional Racing, 1964 Volvo P1800
Editor’s Choice - Trophy and a $250 Grassroots Motorsports Store gift card: More Tools Than Sense Racing, 1991 Mazda Mionnette
Highest Finishing School Team (non-FSAE) – CRC product pack: Material Girls Racing, 1985 Ford Ranger
Highest Finishing FSAE – CRC Product Pack: Embry Riddle ERAU Motorsports, 2025 FSAE ER-09
Look for full coverage of the $2000 Challenge in an upcoming issue of Grassroots Motorsports.
The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge is Presented by Tire Rack and Powered by AutoBidMaster, in Association with HPX Show, CRC Industries, A&A Manufacturing and BendPak.
Join us and Randy Pobst at the GRM Track Day at The FIRM on March 31
Looking for a ton of track time with less traffic than other track days? Looking to mingle with us and two-time Rolex 24 At Daytona class winner Randy Pobst? Looking for something to do after The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack and Powered by AutoBidMaster? Then, we got something for you: The Grassroots Motorsports Track Day at The FIRM on March 31.
The Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park in Starke, Florida, serves as the official track for our car tests and sorting our project cars. It’s located less than 30 minutes east from the site of the $2000 Challenge at Gainesville Raceway.
The GRM Track Day at The FIRM is just $250 if you preregister. Food is included, too.
Want to add the $2000 Challenge, too, held on March 29-30 at Gainesville Raceway? Register your ride (even those built or bought for more than $2000) now.
Have a pro–like Randy Pobst–drive your entry
Thinking about entering the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack on March 29-30, but question your autocross ability? No worries, we got pros on hand that can do a run (or more) through the cones for you, at no extra cost.
Who will be available? Three pro drivers. Multi-time SCCA Solo national champ Dave Marcus. Multi-time SCCA Solo national champ Alan McCrispin. And automotive high performance expert Randy Pobst, who has four World Challenge championships and two Rolex 24 At Daytona class wins, yet has deep roots to autocross.
While the pros can’t help you for the concours portion of the $2000 Challenge, we’ll have four seasoned judges doing the scoring. They include longtime $2000 Challenge participants Patrick Caherty (aka AngryCorvair) and Grand Marshal Bill Cuttitta, as well as Randy Pobst and GRM Editorial Director David S. Wallens.
$2000 Challenge now less than two weeks away
Photograph by Dave Green
Procrastinators, late bloomers and those living under rocks unite: Our annual low-buck motorsports competition, the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack, is less than two weeks away, March 29-30.
The goal? To find out who can build the fastest car without spending more than $2000. Have a car that’s been built–or bought–for more than that? You’re welcome to compete as well.
Under- and over-budget entries will compete in autocross and drag sessions, followed by a concours-style judging segment for under-budget cars.
And yes, we have several prizes and trophies to give away.
Open staging for drag racing
Photograph by Dave Green
The $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack offers open staging during Saturday’s drag racing session, from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday.
This means that all competitors, both those with budget and overbudget rides, will have unlimited runs during that session to set the fastest time possible–and improve their chances of securing bragging rights over their friends.
Budget competitors can’t put all their eggs in one basket, though, as they’ll also need to perform well in Saturday’s autocross and Sunday’s concours to win our annual low-buck competition.
Formula SAE teams welcome to compete
Unlimited track time, testing data for days, all before competition? Sounds like every Formula SAE student’s dream, right? Well, that dream is a reality at our Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack.
While the $2000 Challenge has always been open to every make and model of car, we are officially welcoming all Formula SAE teams.
As our way of supporting future generations, enjoy the $2000 Challenge with free entry. All we ask is for a few of your best corner workers.
Meet other teams and fellow car enthusiasts, and, of course, test to your heart’s content.
To receive your discount code and learn more about FSAE participation, email paris@grassrootsmotorsports.com.
Volunteer course workers get $50, lunch and more
How does a check, a t-shirt and lunch on us sound? That's what's in store for those who volunteers for course work during our Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by Tire Rack.
That’s right, for this year’s $2000 Challenge, we’re not requiring participants to complete a course worker shift. Instead, we’re asking for volunteers to handle the course work.
Each half-day shift will pay $50, and course workers will also receive a free T-shirt, free lunch and free spectator access to the evening’s drag racing.
Sign up today to secure your desired shift and see who’s already signed up to volunteer.
Celebrate 20 years of thrills with Wreck Racing
Photography by Mark Langello (background), courtesy Wreck Racing (merch)
For 20 years–and counting–Georgia Tech’s Wreck Racing has been a mainstay at our annual Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by Tire Rack.
To mark the occasion, a 20th Anniversary T-shirt and Hoodie that feature all of the team’s unique $2000 Challenge entries are now available for preorder.
What will the team show up with at this year’s event? We’ll find out soon enough as the $2000 Challenge is less than 40 days away, March 29-30, 2025.
From the archives: A Miata ran by a future Indy 500 tech specialist
Photography Credit: Tony Neste
Entrant: Gracie Hackenberg, Aly de Silva and Jess Wert
Event year: 2017
Budget spent: $1725.23
From the $2000 Challenge to the Indy 500? Yep. Gracie Hackenberg (in front of the car) and her Smith College Racing crew–Aly de Silva and Jess Wert formed the team’s nucleus–joined us in 2017 with a salvage-title 1999 Miata. They kept the build simple–mostly sticky tires, upgraded suspension and the spoiler–but still finished seventh overall.
Why the strong finish? A terrific story. When their school didn’t offer the team a dedicated workspace, they built their own roll cage out on a loading dock.
Since then Gracie has been working in motorsports, with stints at Lux Performance, Peerless Pattern Works and Donovan Motorcar Service. She now works as a damper specialist for Arrow McLaren SP and went over the wall as a tire changer for Juan Pablo Montoya at the Indy 500.
The day after the $2000 Challenge? A track day at The FIRM.
Now, our Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack already stands as two days of jammed-packed fun, but what if we told you the fun didn’t have to end here?
On Monday, March 31, join us once again for Grassroots Motorsports Open Track Day at our official test track, the Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park.
Get more seat time and experience less traffic than other track days on the same track as that we use for new car tests and to sort our project cars.
Register now and save, with a day’s worth of track time for just $250.
Randy Pobst to serve as Special Guest at the $2000 Challenge
Photograph Courtesy Randy Pobst
What’s set to make this year’s Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack even more memorable? Special Guest Randy Pobst, pro driver and automotive high performance expert.
Pobst, who writes columns here at Grassroots Motorsports, has quite the racing résumé. Four World Challenge championships. More than 90 pro victories. Two Rolex 24 At Daytona class wins. However, his roots go back to autocross, which is one part of the $2000 Challenge.
The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack takes place on March 29-30 at Gainesville Raceway in Florida. The event welcomes cars of all budgets (with classing for $2000 entries and overbudget ones), and consists of autocross, drag racing and a concours ($2000 competitors only). Plus, there’s a Hagerty Cars & Coffee, a swap meet and more.
And if two days at the $2000 Challenge isn’t enough, you can also register for a track day the day after the $2000 Challenge, on Monday, March 31.
Hotel Reservations Now Open for the 2025 $2000 Challenge
The moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived: our host hotel, the Best Western Gateway Grand in Gainesville, has opened up reservations for next year’s $2000 Challenge at our special group rate of $139/night.
As a reminder, this hotel is where the Parking Lot Build will take place, along with all kinds of other extracurricular shenanigans you’ll just have to be there to experience.
The Best Western Gateway Grand also features free WiFi for guests, a pool, a fitness center, an on-site restaurant and daily hot breakfast in the lobby for your convenience.
To book your room, click the button below or call 352-331-3336 and ask for the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge rate.
$2000 Challenge Registration for 2025 Now Open
Photography Credit: Dave Green
Lovers of cheap speed, rejoice: Registration for the 2025 Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by Tire Rack is now open.
The name of the game is still to build the fastest car possible for less than $2000, ensuring your creation can outperform everyone else in autocross, drag racing and concours judging.
As with previous years, cars built–or bought–for more than $2000 are eligible to compete in their own dedicated classes, and spectators are welcome to join in on the fun, too.
Whether you build a car for less than $2000, enter your over-budget build–or both–the thrills all take place March 29-30 at Gainesville Raceway in Florida.
The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge is presented by Tire Rack, in association with CRC Industries, High Performance Expo, Miller Electric and BendPak.
INTRODUCING THE NEW AND IMPROVED $2000 CHALLENGE WEBSITE!
We’ve made some changes - hopefully you like them! This updates page will still be your source for updates on the upcoming $2000 Challenge, so be sure to subscribe to email updates to get notified every month of what’s been posted here!
Speaking of changes, we’d like to introduce another new factor for the 2025 $2000 Challenge: Grand Marshal Bill Cuttitta! He’ll be our official man-about-town spreading the good word about the $2000 Challenge to anybody who will listen.