Grassroots Motorsports Challenge presented by Tire Rack

Grassroots Motorsports Challenge presented by Tire Rack An automotive festival celebrating autocross, drag racing and ingenuity at Gainesville Raceway. Formerly known as the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge.

Simpler is better, and we're applying that approach to the Grassroots Motorsports Challenge presented by Tire Rack, Powe...
08/12/2026

Simpler is better, and we're applying that approach to the Grassroots Motorsports Challenge presented by Tire Rack, Powered by AutoBidMaster and Built by Carlyle Tools.

A new name, streamlined rules and the new $5000 class are the highlights of the changes coming to our event in 2027.

The $5000 class returns our Grassroots Motorsports Challenge to its basic premise: an automotive festival that celebrates penny-pinching, ingenuity and extreme speed through autocross, drag racing and concours judging.

Outside of safety items such as four tires, it's a $5000 cap on expenditures, with no recouping costs by selling parts. $5000 is $5000.

In regards to tires, $5000 competitors must run on four tires with a minimum treadwear of 200. Entrants may use drag racing slicks or other alternative tires for drag racing only, but those additional tires count against the $5000 budget cap.

The $5000 class will run with the current $2000 classes and compete for overall prizes.

Over-budget entries are still welcome to enter, too, in autocross and drag racing, but will not be eligible for concours judging and overall prizes.

Our Grassroots Motorsports Challenge returns to Gainesville Raceway, in Gainesville, Florida, April 17-18, 2027.

Sign up today to reserve your spot in the Grassroots Motorsports Challenge, and keep an eye on the Grassroots Motorsports Challenge website for future updates.

📷️ Dave Green

Things that are often linear? Engineering, math, science. Not linear? The careers in which they are applied–just ask Ram...
08/11/2026

Things that are often linear? Engineering, math, science. Not linear? The careers in which they are applied–just ask Rami Edirisinghe, a Systems Simulation Engineer at one of Formula 1’s most historically significant teams, Williams F1.

It all started during his time at Georgia Tech, where he found his way into the school’s Georgia Tech Wreck Racing team, a longtime competitor in our annual Grassroots Motorsports Challenge.

Rami recently told his story to Autoweek.

Having just $2000 to spend to build a competitive race car, Rami, along with the rest of the team, fielded an NA Miata powered by a Lexus 1UZ-FE V8 in the 2010 event, placing first overall. In following years, Wreck Racing entered a 1JZ-powered MG Midget that, sadly, suffered a mechanical failure that dashed any hopes of a top score–though it didn’t slow Rami’s upward trajectory.

After graduating from Georgia Tech, and a voluntary stint handling aerodynamics for Jager Racing, Rami applied to Williams as an aerodynamicist. Williams, however, found him a more suitable role focusing on powertrain cooling and mechanical systems. Now, Rami gets paid to work at the cutting edge of motorsports–and, to think, it all started by helping stuff a V8 into a Miata.

For what it's worth, Rami still has to work around budget constraints, just now with a few more zeros at the end.

📷️ Grassroots Motorsports Archives

Race cars built for less than $2000? Race cars built for more? Find them both competing in our Grassroots Motorsports $2...
04/29/2026

Race cars built for less than $2000? Race cars built for more? Find them both competing in our Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by Tire Rack, Powered by AutoBidMaster and Built by Carlyle Tools, which returns–get your calendars ready–April 17-18, 2027.

Gainesville Raceway, in Gainesville, Florida, will again host our annual motorsports competition that celebrates penny-pinching, extreme speed and ingenuity.

Already have a plan for next year’s build? Want to get your entry confirmed as soon as possible? Good news: Registration for the 2027 event is now open as well.

Learn more at the link in the comments.

The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge is presented by Tire Rack, powered by Autobidmaster and built by Carlyle Tools, in Association with CRC Industries, Knight's Automotive and BendPak.

📷️ Dave Green

Proof that the kids are alright? Look no further than the student teams that entered to compete in our Grassroots Motors...
04/22/2026

Proof that the kids are alright? Look no further than the student teams that entered to compete in our Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack, Powered by AutoBidMaster and Built by Carlyle Tools.

This year’s event saw six student teams arrive to race: Georgia Tech Wreck Racing, Bearcat Motorsports, Night Owl Racing KSU and Motorsports Club at UAH entered under-budget cars, while ERAU Motorsports and North Florida’s Osprey Racing raced their respective FSAE cars.

The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge is presented by Tire Rack, powered by Autobidmaster and built by Carlyle Tools, in Association with CRC Industries, Knight's Automotive and BendPak.

📷️ Dave Green

The $2000 Challenge thrills may be over for this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t relive the low-dollar thrills.Our...
04/20/2026

The $2000 Challenge thrills may be over for this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t relive the low-dollar thrills.

Our official photographer, Dave Green, has made all of his photos from our Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack, Powered by AutoBidMaster and Built by Carlyle Tools available on his website at a discount.

Learn more at the link in the comments.

📷️ Dave Green

Go as fast as possible without spending more than $2000. Impossible? No, but it is a challenge–a $2000 Challenge, to be ...
04/19/2026

Go as fast as possible without spending more than $2000. Impossible? No, but it is a challenge–a $2000 Challenge, to be exact.

Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida, once again hosted our Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by Tire Rack, Powered by AutoBidMaster and Built by Carlyle Tools, which saw teams race their low-dollar creations in autocross and drag racing sessions, as well as attempt to impress our judges in a concours-style judged show.

And the entrant that out-autocrossed, out-drag raced and out-concoursed the competition? Derek Penner, who returned with an improved version of an already-wild Mazda Miata wearing a Volkswagen Beetle as a hat.

For his efforts, Derek Penner won our biggest trophy and a $1000 gift card from Tire Rack.

View complete results at the link in the comments.

The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge is presented by Tire Rack, powered by Autobidmaster and built by Carlyle Tools, in Association with CRC Industries, Knight's Automotive and BendPak.

The late nights, the bruised knuckles, the piles of horded parts, the questionable design choices–they all come down to ...
04/17/2026

The late nights, the bruised knuckles, the piles of horded parts, the questionable design choices–they all come down to this: the arrival of our Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack, Powered by AutoBidMaster and Built by Carlyle Tools.

Every year, we put out the call to anyone who thinks they can build the fastest car while spending as little as possible, and every year, several heed the call and arrive en masse, with their wild racers, all built for no more than $2000, in tow.

In order to win, competitors will have to be the fastest in autocross and drag racing, plus wow our judges the most during a concours-style judged show.

The more the merrier, right? That’s why we’ve opened up the event to cars built–or bought–for more than $2000 to compete in the autocross or drag racing sessions, or both.

The action kicks off in fewer than 24 hours, April 18-19, at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida.

And, speaking of hours, you have just a few left to enter: Registration remains open until 9:00 pm Eastern tonight, April 17–so consider this your last chance to register at the link in the comments.

Spectators are welcome, too, with tickets just $10 in advance, or $15 at the gate.

The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge is presented by Tire Rack, powered by Autobidmaster and built by Carlyle Tools, in Association with CRC Industries, Knight's Automotive and BendPak.

This weekend: All cars welcome to compete in our $2000 ChallengeAutocrossers and drag racers, listen up: this weekend, w...
04/14/2026

This weekend: All cars welcome to compete in our $2000 Challenge

Autocrossers and drag racers, listen up: this weekend, we’re hosting our famed Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack, Powered by AutoBidMaster and Built by Carlyle Tools, and you’re invited.

More specifically, you’re invited to participate in the event’s autocross or drag racing sessions–or even both.

As the name suggests, our annual $2000 Challenge tasks teams with building a race car for no more than $2000 and then using it to compete in autocross and drag racing, plus a concours-style judged show.

Under- or over-budget, they’ll all compete at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida, April 18-19. Registration remains open until April 17 at 11:59 pm Eastern. Sign up now at the link in the comments.

The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge is presented by Tire Rack, powered by Autobidmaster and built by Carlyle Tools, in Association with CRC Industries, Knight's Automotive and BendPak.

📷️ Dave Green

Who can build the fastest race car without spending more than $2000? We’ll find out in less than 10 days at our Grassroo...
04/09/2026

Who can build the fastest race car without spending more than $2000? We’ll find out in less than 10 days at our Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack, Powered by AutoBidMaster and Built by Carlyle Tools.

The official 2026 Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge T-shirt? You have two ways to get your hands on it: Either buy it today from the GRM store at the link in the comments, or, for the people who like to buy the band shirts at the concert, we’ll also have some available to purchase at our pop-up GRM store on-site at the $2000 Challenge.

The $2000 Challenge takes place at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida, April 18-19. Have a car built or bought for more? Over-budget cars are welcome to compete, too. Enter now to reserve your spot.

(Note: As the official 2026 event T-shirt is made for you as soon as you order it from the GRM store, we cannot ensure it will arrive in time for the $2000 Challenge.)

The build budgets might be low, but you’ll still find thrills at our Grassroots Motorsports $2000 presented by Tire Rack...
04/06/2026

The build budgets might be low, but you’ll still find thrills at our Grassroots Motorsports $2000 presented by Tire Rack, Powered by AutoBidMaster and Built by Carlyle Tools.

In less than two weeks, April 18-19, our annual motorsports festival celebrating penny-pinching, extreme speed and ingenuity kicks off at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida.

The challenge is in the name: you have just $2000 to spend building the fastest car possible, and it’ll have to compete in autocross and drag racing, plus a concours-style judged show.

Easy? Not entirely. Entertaining to watch? Definitely.

Cars built or bought for more than $2000 are welcome to compete, too, in either the autocross or drag racing sessions, or even both.

It’s not too late to sign up, either, as registration remains open until April 17 at 11:59 pm Eastern.

The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge is presented by Tire Rack, powered by Autobidmaster and built by Carlyle Tools, in Association with CRC Industries, Knight's Automotive and BendPak.

📷️ Dave Green

Address

11211 N County Road 225
Gainesville, FL
32609

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