Nine new track records at the 2023 GRM Ultimate Track Car Challenge

Track Records Tumble

The 2023 Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge presented by Grassroots Motorsports was held this past weekend Sat/Sun Oct 14/15 2023 at the National Corvette Museum (NCM) in Bowling Green, KY. Thur. and Fri. were test days. This year the event was held in conjunction with the SCCA Time Trials Nationals. Car count was great with 171 entrants competing to have the fastest lap at the SCCA Time Trials Nationals.

The event saw nine new track records across classes.

It was announced at the awards ceremony that contracts were signed to have this event at NCM for the next several years.

We handed out the prize for Fastest Production Car ($250 cold hard cash plus a one time $100 promo code for use on our site). This award for Unlimited 1 went to Steve Luca driving a 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. His time came in a blistering 2:02.759. This beats the previous track record held by Andy Pilgrim (GM factory driver) driving a 2019 McClaren Senna. Link to full article on that lap is here. Steve also took home a $1000 Gift Certificate from Tire Rack.

Steve Luca (center), with Devan Keeling (left) and Phillip Glass-Hess (right). Photo by Chris Tropea. Photo courtesy of https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/

Second overall was Justin Peachey competing in Max 1 (limited to 200 treadwear tires) in his 2007 Chevrolet Corvette with a time of 2:04.362.

Here’s the complete list of NCM track records:

• Unlimited 1: Steve Luca, 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, 2:02.759
• Unlimited 2: James Rauck, 1999 Honda Civic, 2:11.571
• Max 1: Justin Peachey, 2007 Chevrolet Corvette, 2:04.362
• Max 2: David Marcus, 2020 Toyota Supra, 2:09.629
• Max 4: Josh Owens, 1995 Mazda Miata, 2:13.930
• Max 5: Nicholas Johnston, 2001 Mazda Miata, 2:19.369
• Tuner 2: Mark Sarcevicz, 2002 Chevrolet Corvette, 2:13.106
• Tuner 3: Lyle Zyra, 2022 Toyota GR86, 2:16.966
• Sport 4: Derek Secord, 2007 Honda S2000, 2:22.674

Link to Grassroots Motorsports article on the event with full breakdown.

We were proud to partner with GRM for the 2023 UTCC

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is a no-holds-barred track competition held annually to find the ultimate track car. The rules are brief: Car and driver must just pass a safety inspection. Period. Run any tire and any suspension type, add seven turbos plus two superchargers, and re-engineer the chassis to your heart’s content. Concentrate on speed, not excuses. Wings are cool. So are box flares, giant intercoolers and sequential shifters.

Call to Grid was created to serve the grassroots racer! We offer only the most premier brands for the driver, car, and shop to help keep you safe, looking good and on the podium! We develop original content to help you and the car find speed! We know why you race; it’s the desire, discipline and determination required to do something well. It’s the camaraderie you experience at the track with people who share this passion of motorsports! Join us at Call to Grid to join the community of passionate drivers like yourself today!

Grassroots Motorsports is built for the true sports car enthusiast, Grassroots Motorsports has one mission: Be your personal guide to the sports car world.

Whether its online, in print, or in person, the car nerds at Grassroots Motorsports take you behind the scenes and show you how to make your car better. Along the way, they’ll give you a taste of everything else this hobby has to offer, from 1000-horsepower track monsters to cool street cars built in driveways. They also maintain a collection of staff-built project cars, because hands-on technical articles aren’t typed behind a desk–they’re scribbled down in the garage.

Follow along on our website, through the print and digital versions of Grassroots Motorsports magazine, and in person at our events, including the Grassroots Motorsports Experience at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge, and the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge. Don’t just be a car enthusiast: Be a fan of Grassroots Motorsports.

Tire Rack has been “in love” with tires since 1979 helping people find the right tires, wheels and other performance parts for every situation. They have over 2.7 million square feet of distribution center space across the country packed with inventory from 26 major tire and 60 wheel brands ready to deliver by the next day in most cases. Our prices are competitive and our expertise is unmatched.

The SCCA was formed in 1944 as an enthusiast group. The mission of the SCCA is to fuel a safe, fun and exciting motorsports experience for auto enthusiasts. Our Vision is to be the preferred motorsports community in the U.S., built on fun, shared passion and access to an exhilarating motorsports experience.

In all its activities, the SCCA seeks to foster an atmosphere that encourages living the Values of the SCCA:

• Excellence – The Spirit of a Competitor
• Service – The Heart of a Volunteer
• Passion – The Attitude of an Enthusiast
• Team – The Art of Working Together
• Experience – The Act of Wowing our Community
• Stewardship – The Mindset of an Owner