Participation in the eighth annual Clevite Engine Builder Showdown — now MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown — presented by MAHLE Clevite Inc., is the highest since the competition was first held in 2000. Nineteen teams from 10 NASCAR engine shops will compete in building and successfully running a NEXTEL Cup 357-cubic-inch Ford engine in the shortest time possible.

The winning team receives the prestigious Randy Dorton Memorial Trophy plus a total cash prize of $26,000. The runners-up receive a total of $9,000. Overall, the competition awards a total prize package of over $50,000.

Competing at this year’s Showdown:

• Penske Racing: Kelley Thacker and Chris Moroch;
• Ganassi Racing: Mike Lanci and Jesse Hardee; and Brad Thrower and Todd Hamm;
• Dale Earnhardt, Inc.: Joe London and Mark Purvis; and Bill Brunker and Shawn Redwine;
• Bill Davis Racing: Robert Scott and Matt Flogel;
• Toyota Racing Development: Mike DiMascio and Ben Morris;
• Arrington Manufacturing: Chris Seidle and Chris Martin;
• Roush Yates Engines: Randy Ping and Mike Kasch; David Hamm and Kent Mashburn; Jim Snyder and Mike Robinson; and Trey Davis and Mike Buttrick;
• Pro Motor Engineering: Dennis Borem and Darrell Hoffmann;
• Hendrick Motorsports: Mike Maiwald and Shane Parsnow; Kevin Webber and Scott Vester; and Jay Wiles and Jason Ingle; and
• Richard Childress Racing: Greg Gunnell and Wes Adams; Ken Swanson and Timmy Petty; and Freddie Turza and Cameron Brown.

The MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown is a tiered, four-round competition that highlights the knowledge, skills, but most of all speed — of professional engine builders who assemble the special performance engines for NASCAR teams. In each round of the competition, the goal is to build a successfully running engine in the shortest time possible.

The first round of the Showdown is a timed elimination round in which each team builds against the clock in order to qualify for the quarter-finals. During the quarter, semi-finals and finals, the qualifying teams face each other in a head-to-head competition with the fastest team advancing to the next round.

Defending Champions, Shane Parsnow and Mike Maiwald of Hendrick Motorsports posted a phenomenal build time of 16 minutes, 54 seconds — setting a new engine build record. The team of Parsnow and Maiwald return to defend their title in this year’s Clevite Engine Builder Showdown.

The elimination rounds for the 2007 event are scheduled for May 1-3 and the semi-finals on May 22. The final round is on May 23. All rounds are hosted by the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, NC.

"Looking at our roster of contestants, this year’s Showdown promises to be especially exciting," said Bill McKnight, who is responsible for brand development at MAHLE Clevite Inc. "We will have the unique opportunity to see in action many of the most accomplished engine builder teams from NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck series as they battle for the top prize."

In building the Showdown engines, the NASCAR teams use such MAHLE Clevite engine parts as Clevite bearings, Perfect Circle piston rings and Victor Reinz gaskets — all of which are official NASCAR Performance Products.

MAHLE Clevite’s McKnight said, "Our work for NASCAR plays a significant role in determining the design, engineering and quality of our performance engine parts for enthusiasts."

MAHLE Clevite’s Internet address is www.engineparts.com.