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2025 Holley MoParty – Event Coverage

09/12/2025

2025 Holley MoParty – Event Coverage

09/12/2025

From Elephant to Hellephant, the sixth annual Holley MoParty has hardcore Mopar enthusiasts covered. Beech Bend Raceway Park once again roared to life as fans gathered to celebrate all things Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, and AMC during three action-packed days in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Fans had their senses hit from every angle with nonstop high-octane excitement—drag racing, autocross, burnouts, and one of the most vibrant Mopar car shows anywhere. More than just an event, MoParty has become a pilgrimage for the faithful—where nostalgia, horsepower, and community collide in one unforgettable weekend. You’d be Plum Crazy not to attend!



MoParty 2025: Dodge Thrill Rides; Like a BBQ Drift Party


Spectators line up for the chance to ride shotgun in brand-new Hellcat Challengers and Chargers as professional drivers turned Beech Bend Raceway’s autocross course into their personal drift playground.


These aren’t polite parade laps. For passengers, it’s the ultimate sensory overload. The supercharger whine builds as the driver buries the pedal, dancing the car right at the edge of control. Forget clipping cones—this is about linking the entire course sideways, from the first corner to the stop box, with a cloud of smoke following every move.

Few things match the sight of a 4,500-pound Charger power-sliding around the course, brushing cones but never killing one, and then rocketing down the straight like a Top Fuel burnout.


MoParty is about celebrating Mopar power in every form—drag racing, car shows, burnouts, and more.

MoParty Feature Vehicle: Paul Kaufman's HEMI-Powered 1976 Plymouth Arrow


Low, loud, and unapologetically purpose-built, Paul Kaufman's 1976 Plymouth Arrow is a street-going time capsule of '80s outlaw street racing, brought into the modern era with Holley EFI.


Paul first fell for the Arrow in 1986 at the Mopar Nationals when he saw a blown HEMI Arrow called Suicide. "Here I am 40-some-odd years later, and I finally have my '76 Plymouth Arrow Street Demon," he said with a grin. The car's history reads like a well-traveled passport with twelve years of work, four different states, and one very committed owner to get it finished and on display at MoParty.



Underneath the bright paint is a full tube chassis, NHRA-legal for 9-second passes, and stuffed with a 604ci HEMI. The engine lays down 845 horsepower at the flywheel, sending power through a TorqueFlite transmission built by Pat Barrett. Outback is a Dana rear end with 4.10 gears. You can't miss the 33x22-inch tires.


And yes, it's Holley EFI-controlled, but Paul opted for a little old-school flavor. Look closely and you'll see vintage-style hard fuel lines on the hat. "They do nothing," he laughed. "They just look cool—and I've always wanted that look."



Despite the race-car hardware, Paul insists this is a street car first. It runs on 93-octane pump gas, making it as usable as it is intimidating. The 12-gallon cell means he can "pass anyone except the gas station," as he jokes. And while the car can hook hard on slicks, this weekend it was in full street mode, right down to the wheelie bars set eight inches off the ground.


"If the wheelie bars are two inches from the ground," Paul said, "I'm coming for you."

Day Two - Vandemonium at MoParty – Chaos, Kids, and Circle-Track Carnage

This year's Vandemonium is presented by RaceQuip and Renegade Racing.



Vice Grip Garage's Derek Bieri and a hand-picked crew of influencers are behind the wheel of some questionable vans, battling for bragging rights and glory as the champion of the inaugural Vandemonium at MoParty!


The Drivers

This year's Vandemonium roster is stacked:


  1. Derek Bieri (Vice Grip Garage) – the mastermind of this madness.
  2. Thomas West – ready to turn vans into victims.
  3. Jason Ailstock – proving hoopty to hero can happen in one lap.
  4. Dylan McCool is cool under pressure, even when the vans overheat.
  5. David Kruk – bringing the "kruk-n-roll" chaos.
  6. Tommy Boshers – on a mission to bosh the doors off.
  7. Tyler Speer – trading waves for walls, still full throttle.
  8. Darrell Reese – Mopar or no car… even if it's a beater van.
  9. Tom Bailey – the guy who can make anything run like it's on Drag Week.
  10. Carrie Strange – bringing Strange style and pint-sized chaos.

What to Expect


Expect smoke, laughter, and some light body damage. This isn't a clean-and-clear race—this is all about holding it wide, hanging the tail out, and keeping the van alive for one more lap. Whether you're trackside or following along online, Vandemonium is MoParty's ultimate spectacle of speed, chaos, and good humor.

Moparty Feature Vehicle: Dan Baker's V8-Powered PT Cruiser


You expect to see muscle cars, classic Mopars, and maybe a few pro-touring builds at MoParty—but a PT Cruiser? Not like this one.


At 80 years old, Dan Baker, a retired Chrysler field engineer, is still raising eyebrows. He took what many would call a grocery-getter and turned it into a corner-carving, GEN-III HEMI-powered sleeper.



Underneath the retro wagon body sits a full tube chassis, C5 Corvette suspension up front, a Dana 44 rear end, and C6 rear suspension. Power comes from a 6.4L 392 crate engine, warmed over to about 585 horsepower. Behind the HEMI is a GM 4L80E transmission. Engine and transmission management is thanks to a Terminator X Max ECU.


Dan didn't build this to win shows—he built it to have fun. "Mostly I street drive it and scare people with it," he laughed. "They hear it, but just see a PT and say, 'What the heck is going on there?"



The car started as a rolling chassis project that someone in Florida abandoned. Dan bought it on eBay, finished the frame-up build, and has been putting a few hundred miles a year on it ever since. At 80 years old, he's still proving that retirement is the perfect time to build something wild.


Custom billet wheels, a center-exit exhaust, and that unmistakable HEMI rumble mean this PT gets plenty of attention wherever it goes—and Dan wouldn't have it any other way.

MoParty might be known for its Challengers and Chargers, but Dan's creation is proof that you can bring just about anything to the party—as long as it's fast, loud, and built with passion.

MoParty 2025: Swap Meet Treasure Hunt

If you're looking for that last piece to finish your build—or just an excuse to drag home another project—MoParty's Swap Meet is the place to be this weekend.



The gates opened at 7 a.m., and by mid-morning the aisles were packed with rows of intakes, crate motors, carburetors, wheels, and every Mopar trinket you didn't know you needed until you saw it.


Bring cash, bring a wagon, and be ready to dig—you never know what's hiding under the next table.

Moparty Car Show

The Holley MoParty car show brought together an incredible mix of classic and modern Mopars, spanning everything from stock survivors to heavily modified builds. With 18 awards up for grabs, the competition recognized standout cars, trucks, and SUVs across A-, B-, and E-Body platforms. The event highlighted the passion and creativity of Mopar enthusiasts while celebrating the brand’s legendary performance heritage.

MoParty Burnout Results

The MoParty burnout contest delivered smoke, noise, and nonstop excitement as drivers put their Mopars to the test in front of a roaring crowd. Competitors lit up the tires with massive burnouts, showing off both raw power and driver control. It was a fan-favorite spectacle that perfectly captured the wild, high-energy spirit of MoParty.

Vice Grip Garage Vandemonium Presented By RaceQuip


MoParty’s Vandemonium is a motorsports showcase dedicated entirely to vintage Dodge and Plymouth minivans. Why? We’ll get back to you on that. The event features equally worn out Mopar-spec minivans from the ‘80s and ‘90s bravely piloted by some of the most popular influencers on the interwebs today. The field of wide-eyed, white-knuckling drivers included:


  • Derek Bieri (Vice Grip Garage) – the mastermind of this madness.
  • Thomas West – ready to turn vans into victims.
  • Jason Ailstock – proving hoopty to hero can happen in one lap.
  • Dylan McCool is cool under pressure, even when the vans overheat.
  • David Kruk – bringing the "kruk-n-roll" chaos.
  • Tommy Boshers – on a mission to bosh the doors off.
  • Tyler Speer – trading waves for walls, still full throttle.
  • Darrell Reese – Mopar or no car… even if it's a beater van.
  • Tom Bailey – the guy who can make anything run like it's on Drag Week.
  • Carrie Strange – bringing Strange style and pint-sized chaos.



Dylan McCool took the checkered flag. Dylan is a YouTube mechanic and Mopar enthusiast recognized for restoring classic cars while blending modern performance with vintage style. Among his most notable projects is a 1969 Dodge Charger, which he acquired after a 1,500-mile round trip from Tennessee to Oklahoma to pick up the non-running classic among classics.

Day Three - 3S Challenge at MoParty: Speed, Stop, and Steering

The 3S Challenge is an exciting—and unforgiving—segment of the MoParty weekend. "3S" stands for Speed, Stop, and Steering, and participants need all three to climb the leaderboard.


The format is simple: two cars launch side-by-side down a mirrored course, dive into a 180-degree turnaround, and hammer the brakes coming to a complete stop within the stop box. Drivers must run both the left and right sides cleanly, with their times combined for a final score. Hit a cone or miss the stop box, and it's an automatic DNF.


The 3S Challenge is included in both the Autocross and Grand Champion competition packages, meaning the runs count toward overall points for those battling for Grand Champion glory.

What's on the Line

Bragging rights aren't the only reward. The top three drivers will take home:


  • 1st Place: $250 payout, an OPTIMA Battery, and a product certificate
  • 2nd Place: Product certificate
  • 3rd Place: Product certificate


It's one of the most fun events for spectators to watch—big power launches, quick transitions, and dramatic last-second stops make for plenty of action. Scroll through the gallery to see the tire smoke, sideways entries, and who's pushing hardest for that top spot.

MoParty 2025: Grand Champion Recap

The Grand Champion competition at Holley MoParty has always been about finding the ultimate all-around Mopar machine. The straight-line speed is great, but can it be cornered? Can it stop? Can the driver string together clean and fast run across three days? That's the question Grand Champion is built to answer—and 2025 did not disappoint.


Grand Champion competitors must bring a car (or truck) that can truly do it all. The weekend kicked off Friday with autocross, continued Saturday with more tight-turn fun, and wrapped up Sunday morning with the 3S Challenge—a side-by-side, down-and-back course combining a 180-degree turnaround, slalom, and stop box.


On top of the handling events, competitors also make passes during the Grand Champion drag racing sessions at Beech Bend Raceway on Friday and Saturday. These aren't grudge races—they're timed runs, where the fastest E/T counts toward overall points (reaction time doesn't matter). Don't forget, you must keep the same set of street-legal tires for all racing, too!


Classes and Awards


Competition is divided into three classes:

  • Late Model Class: 1990 and newer cars
  • Vintage Class: 1989 and older cars
  • Truck Class: All trucks, regardless of model year


The winners of each class take home a $1,000 payout, a trophy, and bragging rights as the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center MoParty Grand Champion.


This Year's Showdown


This year's field was one of the most competitive we've seen yet. The attendance of Grand Champion cars doubled from last year. The autocross was tight from the start, with lap times separated by tenths of a second. The drag sessions added drama, as several competitors laid down personal bests. By Sunday morning, it all came down to the 3S Challenge, where precision braking and driver focus decided the podium.


Results:

MoParty 2025: Holley EFI Training Seminars Bring Tech to Life

MoParty isn't just about burnouts, drag racing, and tire smoke—it's also about learning. Tucked inside the event schedule are technical seminars designed to give enthusiasts the tools to get more out of their builds.



Sniper EFI:

The day kicked off with a Sniper EFI seminar, aimed squarely at those who might be more comfortable with a flathead screwdriver than a laptop. Holley's instructors broke down the basics of EFI conversion—fuel requirements, wiring, and setup—making it clear how simple it can be to swap from a carburetor to a self-learning Sniper unit.


The seminar walked through common pitfalls like poor grounds, overlooked return lines, and fuel pressure issues. Attendees also got tips on how to use the handheld wizard for initial setup, plus how to step into the laptop tuning software once they're ready to dig deeper.



Terminator X:

Later in the day, the crowd shifted to a more advanced course: Terminator X training. Here, the Holley team dove into installation and configuration for everything from LS swaps to HEMI and Coyote setups. They demonstrated how to build a base tune, configure I/O, and even set up boost control or progressive nitrous through the ECU.


Troubleshooting was a big part of the session. Attendees saw real-world examples of what to do when the engine won't start—how to use datalogs to find missing signals, read sensor data, and identify misfires or fuel delivery issues.


Meet the Instructors

Both sessions were led by Holley's training masterminds: Harrison Alford, Technical Training Specialist, and Tom Kise, Corporate Technical Training Manager. Between them, they've helped thousands of builders—from first-time EFI users to professional shops—get their cars running stronger and more reliably.

MoParty Drag Racing

Drag racing at MoParty packs the strip with high-horsepower Mopars, pitting classics and modern muscle in heads-up battles. From bracket racing to grudge matches, the action showcases just how quick these cars can be. The mix of nostalgia and raw horsepower makes it one of the event’s most crowd-pleasing highlights.

King Of Street (No-Time)

Winner: Michael Judd, Beattyville KY, 1973 Plymouth Duster Runner-up: Josh Schwartz, Smyrna DE, 2016 Hellcat

Rumble

Winner: Mark Dudley, Winston Salem NC, 1974 Plymouth Duster, (dial 10.00), .034, 9.981 at 122.89 mph Runner-up: Clay King, Brooksville KY, 1973 Plymouth Barracuda, (dial 11.00) .045, 10.972 at 120.00 mph

Street King

Winner: Michael Clifford, Daytona Beach FL, 1966 Plymouth Barracuda, (dial 10.75), .049, 10.774 at 116.91mph

Runner-up: Edward Glanz, Eagle MI, 1973 Dodge Dart Sport, (dial 9.75), .093, 9.780 at 136.86 mph


Vintage SS

Winner: Mark Philpot, Somerset KY, 1973 Plymouth Barracuda, (dial 6.50) .075, 6.503 at 100.43 mph

Runner-up: Whit Starks, Jasper GA, 1964 330 (dial 6.70), .111, 6.701 at 98.21 mph


Nostalgia Super Stock

Winner: David Grove, Louisville KY, 1967 Belvedere .057 (dial 12.25) 10.344 at 128.18 mph

Rocco Addesa, Ekron KY, 1968 Plymouth Barracuda, foul, DNF


Jeff Smith 1320 Shootout

Winner: Shaun Hillard, Johnston City IL, 2019 Dodge Challenger, (dial 11.38) .045, 11.502 at 121.23 mph

Runner-up: Alan Scanlan, Spring TX, 2019 Dodge Challenger, (dial 12.00) .092, 11.974 at 110.29 mph


Texas Speed & Performance HRDS

Winner: Jonathan Alstatt, Newburgh IN, 2019 Dodge Challenger, (dial 9.50), .199, 9.510 at 144.89 mph

Runner-up: John Govenettio, Hamburg NY, 2016 Hellcat, (dial 11.00), .058, 10.871 at 125.42 mph


Pro

Winner: Rodney Payne, Mt. Vernon KY, 1970 Plymouth Duster, (dial 6.31), .018, 6.344 at 105.49 mph

Runner-up: Mike Barnett, Columbia MS, 1972 Plymouth Duster, (dial 6.25), .038, 6.275 at 107.60 mph


Super Pro

Winner: Stan Sinack, Lilburn GA, 1969 Dodge Dart (dial 6.42), 018, 6.432 at 95.96 mph

Runner up: Brian Walker, Madisonville TN, 1971 Plymouth Duster (dial 6.30), (foul -.012), 6.29 at 106.34 mph


Street Bandit (12.00 dial in)

Winner: Michael England, Morgantown NC, 2021 Hellcat,.141, 12.055, at 99.83 mph

Runner-up: Alan Scanlan, Spring TX, 2019 Dodge Challenger,.149, 12.085 at 114.47 mph


Street Warrior (10.10 dial in)

Winner: Dillon Derby, Winder GA, 2011 Ram, .274 10.225 at 103.18 mph

Runner-up: Rob Rohe, Adrian MI, 2000 dodge Dakota R/T, .178, 10.392 at 126.91 mph


Street Race (8.60 dial in)

Winner: Michael Brice, Mt. holly NC, 2015 Drag Pack, .224, 8.647 at 106.75 mph

Runner-up Jim Schmittinger, West Bend WI, 2016 Hellcat Demon, .278, 8.536 at 158.02 mph



The (Mo)-Party’s Over

MoParty 2025 roared to a close after a weekend packed with everything Mopar fans could dream of—burnouts, drag racing, autocross, and the always-popular car show. From Vandemonium’s abuse of the minivan to the smoke-filled burnout pit and the high-speed thrills on track, the event showcased the full spectrum of Mopar performance and creativity. Enthusiasts from across the country brought their A-, B-, and E-Bodies, late-model muscle, trucks, and SUVs to celebrate the brand’s past and future, leaving fans already looking forward to 2026.

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