Competition Corner: More March Madness With ChampCar, BITD, Ultra4, and More

February 28, 2020November 21, 2023 Bruce Lindermann 0 Comments Best in the Desert, ChampCar Endurance Series, Competition Corner, DiabloSport, Goodguys, Ken Block, Mecum Auctions, MetalCloak Stampede, NASCAR, Rally, SCORE, SCORE San Felipe 250, Stock Car Racing, SVRA, Ultra4

How much is there to look forward to in March? Enough to leave us pumping out a second Competition Corner, plus another list of upcoming auto shows. (Tis the season, after all!) So, let that hair down and get ready to burn some rubber (or kick up some dirt) because we’re hitting you with ChampCar racing, Horsepower Wars, Best in the Desert, Ultra 4, and more. That’s right, March 2020 is gonna be a hot one!

Mecum Glendale

I know it, you know it, and even our brothers and sisters in the sunny south know it: March is the worst month of the year. You start believing you’re out of the winter woods and then—BAM—six feet of snow piles up on your car out of nowhere. (Okay, maybe not that much, but even a thin layer is enough to throw a wrench right in the spokes of your first outing.)

So, what do you do? You snuggle up in your favorite blankie, whisper “I’m still a man’s man” while sipping some hot chocolate, and tune into Mecum. That’s right, Mecum hits Glendale, Arizona from March 11-14 and is sure to keep you from losing your mind! Click here for the details.

Keep an eye out for this 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda with only 2,800 miles since new! It will be a main attraction at Mecum Glendale. *Photo: Mecum Auctions*

BITD: 2020 Jagged X National Desert Cup

Alright, so you’re not about to sit on that couch any longer and that’s understandable. But you’re definitely not looking to freeze your pants off either. So, what should you do? Head out to Laughlin, Nevada March 20-22 for a little Best In The Desert action. The Jagged X National Desert Cup is an epic race for BITD, exclusive to UTVs, Quads, and Motorcycles. Formerly called the U.S. Desert Scrambles, this event is sporting a new sponsor, new name, and new format for 2020. Click here to stay up-to-date on new info.

Best in the Desert U.S. Desert Scramble — “A Desert Race in a Class of Its Own” *Photo: Las Vegas Events, Facebook*

100 Acre Wood Rally

Everyone talks a big game until they’re talking to rally drivers. Sure, there are risks associated with any kind of racing, but these guys and gals have a few more screws loose than the others. With that in mind, their nerves of steel produce one helluva show. The 100 Acre Wood Rally passes through Salem, Potosi, and Steelville, Missouri March 20-21 and gives you the perfect chance to get a firsthand feel for how nuts these folks really are.

Ultra 4 Western Series MetalCloak Stampede

Competition Corner simply feels incomplete without an Ultra 4 mention. Likewise, if we’re going to talk about racers with “loose screws,” then we’re going to talk about Ultra 4. All winter long you’ve been drooling over the madness that is an Ultra 4 car—culminating with some jaw-dropping performances at this year’s King of the Hammers. But this is it. The hitting of the reset button. The Metalcloak Stampede, running March 20-21, marks the first regional race of 2020. The gloves are coming off after a short winter and you’d better be sitting trackside to watch it all go down!

Muddy Ultra 4 Car at Metalcloak Stampede — A 2-mile lap, completely visible to spectators, throws up dirt, rocks, twists, turns, and plenty of mud. *Photo: Intrepid Off Road Motorsports Photography*

ChampCar: NCM Motorsports Park

Speaking of routinely mentioned events, it’s time to talk about ChampCar. These events hit me right in the part of my heart where my childhood dreams used to live. While we all love auto racing, we all know that rules, regulations, and high prices work together to make it very difficult to get involved in the sport. Well, that’s what the ChampCar Endurance series works to make better, by enabling anyone to get out and drive on world class tracks. And March 21-22 the series will give drivers the opportunity to tear it up at the NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This is your shot, so why miss out?

SCORE San Felipe 250

Who says we’re uncultured swine? We aren’t confined to our borders here at The Engine Block. That’s right, we show sophistication from time to time. Like right now, we’re talking about SCORE San Felipe 250. Listen, you bought a passport for a reason and this is that very reason. When you take trophy trucks, motorcycles, UTVs and everything in between and send them to the Mexican desert you get something as beautiful as the San Felipe 250.

Plus, while your friends are sitting around bragging about wine tasting in Rome, you can tell them about how you ate dust for dinner and raw fun for dessert. That should shut ‘em up for good, eh? It all goes down March 25-29—get your details here.

SVRA Road Atlanta Grand Prix

Auto racing will always be amazing, but when you compare modern vehicles and drivers to yesterday’s heroes and their rides—something is just missing. Maybe it was the lack of safety; maybe it was the fact that the drivers’ abilities often surpassed the cars’ abilities; or maybe it was the mind power that went into making these machines match the skill level. Whatever the reason, you’ve been searching for an event that has that level of finesse.

Well, that’s exactly what Road Atlanta is. This SVRA Grand Prix, running March 26-29, features sweeping turns, tight corners, and top speed straights which will put those vintage horses to the test. Whether you’re looking to drive or spectate, this is the place to be to feel the warmth of that classic fire.

Horsepower Wars 2020

If you’re familiar with Horsepower Wars and already love it, boy, do we have some news for you. For 2018/2019 this competition was a dyno shootout that gave builders the chance to go out and see who could make the most horsepower. And while this proved that a builder had a big stick, the question remained: “Can they swing it?” Well, for 2020, DiabloSport is happy to find out. That’s right, Horsepower Wars is hitting the track. So, if you want to see who’s got the best handle on their horsepower, head to Orlando Speedworld on Saturday, March 28.

Goodguys All American Get-Together

There are a lot of things that make Goodguys events as special as they are. You can say it’s the autocross; you can say it’s the swap meets; and you can definitely say it’s the standard these guys set for classic car shows. But you can’t forget the sheer abundance of these events! These shows go down all over the country virtually all year round. That said, if you’re looking to finally get out and see all of the things that make these shows what they are, the 38th All American Get-Together in Pleasanton, California March 28-29 is the perfect place to start!

O’Reilly Auto Parts 500

This is America, so how can we talk about auto events without so much as hinting at stock car racing? Uh, we can’t. And seeing as NASCAR is the king of stock car racing, we just can’t leave it out! Now there’s nothing I can tell you about this series that you don’t already know. So, think of this as a friendly reminder. (I mean we all tend to lose track of things while we’re working and wrenching.) March 29, the NASCAR Cup Series roars into Fort Worth, Texas for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway! In fact, all three series will make a stop, ensuring a weekend packed with racing excitement. Don’t forget it—because there’s no start to spring that can top that legendary rumble! Get details here.