The Optima Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational is an exclusive competition designed to exhibit and test the performance, durability and styling of fifty of the best street machines in the world. The event is held immediately following the SEMA show at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada. Optima held a dozen qualifying events in 2011 for the open forty plus slots. The last ten are chosen at SEMA.

This year’s competition came down to the wire, with Danny Popp edging out Mark Stielow (2010 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational Champion) through a tie-breaker. The official tiebreaker ruling designates that the winner is determined by the fastest lap of the BFGoodrich Hot Lap Challenge. Popp’s fellow Corvette competitor Peter Callaway, saved the day for Popp by giving him the master cylinder off of his 2008 Callaway Corvette SC652 so Popp could compete in his final event, the Wilwood Disc Brakes Speed Stop Challenge. Without this act of sportsmanship and camaraderie, Popp would have been eliminated.

The day began with clear skies at 7:00 am with breakfast and the drivers meeting. At 9:00 am the Ridetech Autocross & BFGoodrich Hot Lap Challenge began. Danny Popp and his ’06 Chevy Corvette led the way in both the BF Goodrich Hot Lap Challenge and Ridetech Autocross. Danny posted the best time in the autocross with a time of 00:38.251. Mary Pozzi was the runner-up with a time of 00:39.414 in her ’72 Chevy Camaro. Danny posted a new lap record of 1:42.208. Gary Rubio captured the Wilwood Disc Brakes Speed Stop Challenge with a time of 00:06.541. Phil Gerber’s Innovator Nova captured the Raybestos Performance Design Challenge. Brian Hobaugh, Gary Rubio and Mary Pozzi, rounded out the top-five finishers.

Overall OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car
1st – Danny Popp, 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2nd – Mark Stielow, 1969 Camaro

Raybestos Performance Design Competition
1st – Phil Gerber, 1967 Chevy Nova
2nd – Curt Ukasic, 1962 Nova Runt

BFGoodrich Hot Lap Challenge
1st – Danny Popp, 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (Fastest time 01:42.208)
2nd – Pete Callaway, 2008 Callaway Corvette SC652 (Fastest time 01:44.749)

Ridetech Street Challenge Autocross Competition
1st – Danny Popp, 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (Fastest time 00:38.251)
2nd – Mary Pozzi, 1973 Chevrolet Camaro RS (Fastest time 00:39.414)

Wilwood Disc Brakes Speed Stop Challenge
1st – Gary Rubio, 2009 Nissan GTR (Fastest time 00:06.541)
2nd – Mark Stielow, 1969 Camaro (Fastest time 00:07.096)

Another great event comes to a close, we look forward to next years event. We would like to thank Optima and its staff for our invitation to the event and all the sponsors who make this possible.

~ Sunday Slacker

^ Adrienne Janic – AJ from Overhaulin

^ Custom 1959 Imperial Speedster

^ Phil Gerber’s Innovator Nova

^ Dan’s 68 Road Runner

^ Jonathan Ward, ’52 Chevy – Derelict II

^ Danny Popp, ’06 Chevy Corvette (2011 Champion)

Photos by: Gabe and Nikki Garcia

(2011 qualified participants)
Albert Melchior, ’70 Pontiac Formula
Allan Miller, ’10 Chevy Camaro
Andrew Herold, ’72 Chevy Camaro
Amber Alberta, ’07 Mustang
Bret Voelkel, ’67 Chevy Camaro
Brad Twiss, Toyota Supra 600HP
Bret Barrett, ’10 Challenger
Brian Finch, ’72 Chevy Camaro
Brian Moat, ’70 Pontiac Firebird
Bruce Scherman, ’68 Ranchero
Carlos Monterrubio, ’73 Nissan 240Z
Carmine Dell Aquila,’10 Nissan GTR
Casey Scranton, ’11 Camaro
Chris Jacobs, ’66 Chevelle
Claus Ettensberger, C63 Mercedes AMG
Curt Ukasic, ’62 Nova Runt
Dan Oliver, ’10 Ford Mustang
Dan Livezey, ’69 Chevy Corvette
Danny Popp, ’06 Chevy Corvette
Dan Weishaar, ’69 Road Runner
Erik Cederberg, ’10 Chevy Camaro
Filip Trojanek, ’66 Ford Mustang
Jason Childress, ’69 Ford Mustang
Jay Reynolds, ’78 Volvo
JF Launier, ’57 Chevy
Joe Shown, ’90 Corvette ZR1
Jonathan Ward, ’52 Chevy
Kyle Tucker, ’70 Chevy Camaro
Kurt Grimes, ’98 Tahoe
Mark Wetterau, ’69 Chevy Camaro
Mary Pozzi, ’72 Chevy Camaro
Mark Stielow (2010 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational Champion),’69 Chevy Camaro
Marty Sokulski, ’68 Dodge Charger
Matt Farah, ’98 C5 Chevy Corvette
Matt Harber, Cadillac CTS-V
Mike Copeland, ’11 Chevy Camaro
Mike Langford, ’01 PT Cruiser
Mike Musto, ’69 Dodge Daytona
Mitch Greenblatt, ’08 Mercedes CLK63
Pete Callaway, ’08 Corvette Z06
Phil Gerber, ’66 Chevy II
Randy Johnson, ’69 AMX
Rob Ferreti, ’01 Chevy Corvette
Ryan Venturine, ’67 Mustang
Scott Hoag, ’11 Ford Mustang
Stacy Tucker, ’69 Chevy Camaro
Terry Neuville, ’68 Chevy Camaro
Vinnie Allegretta, ’69 Chevy Camaro
Wanda Goldberg, ’70 Pontiac Trans Am
Zeke Peterson, Volkswagen Bug