Flyin’ High at PRI

Mopar® garnered much attention at the 2007 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show

Words: Darren Jacobs

The annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., on December 6–8, is the world’s largest racing trade show, attracting approximately 42,000 racing industry members worldwide from over 40 countries. And Mopar®, one of the major players in the motorsports world, had its usual high-profile at the must-attend event.

Mopar unveiled a new attraction for 2007 PRI Show attendees. The Mopar Virtual “Duel in The Dirt” sprint simulator contest, sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC), featured a line-up of 48 PRI Show attendees and motorsports stars battling for a $1,000 first-place prize. The contest was a popular hit at the show, judging by the standing-room only crowds that packed the area near the Mopar Image Center Stage. Fans had the chance to match their skills against those of their favorite motorsports stars in a sprint car simulator. As an added bonus, RaceFanRadio staged a live broadcast of the event, providing commentary on the simulator racing and also interviewing Team Mopar stars such as NHRA POWERade champion Gary Scelzi and Formula Drift team owner Shaun Carlson.

Team Mopar driver Kevin Swindell, one of eight pro drivers to compete in the contest, took the pole and the event win in the A-Main finale. Team Mopar drivers Allen Johnson, Gary Scelzi, Ron Capps and Darrin Bolton also jumped behind the wheel of dirt track simulators, with NHRA Funny Car star Capps emerging as the only other professional driver to qualify for the A-Main. Jason Wilkey, a PRI Show attendee from Batesville, Ark., finished second and took home the $500 runner-up award, while Curt Barnett, hailing from El Paso, Texas, earned the $250 “Hard Charger” award after starting in the first H-Main Feature and advancing all the way up to the D-Main.

“This was awesome,” said runner-up Wilkey. “This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen, much less had the chance to take part in. It’s great that Mopar does this, trying to get the fans involved in dirt racing.”

The Mopar Speedshop exhibit at the PRI Show headlined cutting edge new products on display for the first time ever. The Mopar Performance 572 Large Valve HEMI® engine prototype, packed with a whopping 800-plus estimated horsepower, 750-plus lb-ft of estimated torque, Mopar Big Valve cylinder heads and a Ray Barton rocker system, was unveiled for show attendees. Also making its debut at PRI was the prototype of the Mopar Performance Big Port, Big-Valve HEMI heads.

The Mopar brand’s product displays attracted swarms of motorsports enthusiasts like proverbial bees to honey. And the show cars in the Mopar exhibit weren’t exactly slouches, either. Don Garlits’ 392 HEMI® “Swamp Rat” Dragster was the scene-stealer of the show, with “Big Daddy” himself drawing huge crowds in an autograph session near the vehicle. Another Mopar-powered gem on display at the show was Matt Delaney’s 1970 Challenger, powered by a Viper engine.

When attendees tired of walking the exhibit floor, they could recharge their batteries by taking in racing, Mopar-style. On Thursday, Dec. 6, Funny Car driver Capps represented Mopar in the Snap-On All-Stars Karting Classic, staged outside the Orange County Convention Center. Although accustomed to straight line drag racing, Capps finished a fine 14th against a line-up of drivers with far more road course experience than the NHRA star.

Race fans also had the opportunity to see a few of the Mopar products on display at the PRI show in actual racing action in the 3rd annual Mopar/PRI Sprint & Midget Classic, held at Orlando Speedworld on Friday Dec. 7. The Team Mopar circle track drivers didn’t disappoint, putting on a clinic that exhibited the dominance of Mopar-power.

In the sprint portion of the event Brian Gingras set fast time in his Mopar-powered Ram Motorsports sprinter, edging Bryan Clauson and giving Mopar-power the top-two qualifying spots. At the end of the 40-lap feature, Mopar driver Darren Hagen clocked in at second, with Clauson third. And in the midget portion of the night’s lineup, 16-year-old phenom Dakoda Armstrong, who competed regularly with Mopar power throughout the 2007 season, powered his way to the biggest win of his young career.

It’s just plain simple: Mopar’s overwhelming presence at the 2007 PRI Show—from the show floor to the race track—reinforced the brand’s position as a leader in the realm of racing.