The LS Fest Drift Cruise: Racecars Take Over Downtown Bowling Green

Drifting may have started in Japan, but it has firmly rooted itself in the American performance scene—and nowhere is that more evident than at Holley LS Fest. The Drift Challenge is the only engine-specific drift competition in the world, bringing together a wide mix of drivers, teams, and cars from across North America.

But before the tire smoke clouds the air at Beech Bend Raceway Park, there’s one tradition that sets the tone for the entire weekend: the Thursday Night Drift Cruise.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Bowling Green police led a rowdy mix of drift cars, Burnout Wars competitors, and Ultra4 off-road monsters into historic Fountain Square Park. Crowds lined the streets, phones out, waiting for the unmistakable sound of turbo spools, open exhausts, and the occasional cammed idle loping into town.

“It’s a chance for everyone downtown to get up close and personal with the cars and the drivers, outside the fences and away from the track,” said LS Fest event director Nick Swann.

The cruise transforms downtown Bowling Green into a festival of horsepower. From 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., Fountain Square was packed with locals and enthusiasts snapping photos, grabbing autographs, and checking out the machines before they hit the track.

Fountain Square Comes Alive

Downtown Bowling Green businesses joined the party, with themed ice cream and promotions. Exclusive Thursday Night Cruise T-shirts and posters were hot sellers, each shirt doubling as a ticket into LS Fest.

The event was free for the public, and locals turned out in force, mingling with drivers and snapping photos with their favorite cars.

Looking forward to the on-track action of the three-day event, weather reports have been a touch concerning, with precipitation percentages climbing heading into Saturday. But this event is weatherproof. Look no further than last year when intermittent showers did nothing to dissuade the attendance and enthusiasm at the event… a testament to the hardcore nature of the region’s LS fanbase.

Day One – LS Fest East

Racers were up with the roosters on Friday as the pilgrimage to Beech Bend was in full swing two hours before the gates opened to spectators. At first they came in ones and twos then waves, then the lines formed.

LS Fest East – Stories Behind The Smoke

Beyond the on-track action, we will be capturing the passion of the people behind the wheel of some of these small-block supercars via mini-feature articles.

Mark Mathews’ 1965 AMC Rambler American – Maiden Voyage

Bringing a new build to the track can be a high-anxiety event. Usually there’s a pre-amble… plenty of prep, quick hits on the street, and shakedown runs, for Mark Mathews his first test run would be at LS Fest East in front of the crowd not down a back road in front of birds and butterflies.

Mark (pictured with fiancée Alissa), who hails from Indianapolis, Indiana, bought the 1965 AMC Rambler American a few years ago off the Internet. “This is my third Rambler, I’ve always liked outsider type of cars and wanted something that was pretty close to ready to go down the track, but ...of course... I elected to upgrade the engine, turbo, and tranny."

The old AMC is powered by an internally fortified 427 LSR aluminum block built by Mike Lough Race Engines. The small block is backed by a Powerglide transmission from RPM Transmissions. Boost is generated by a Forced Inductions 94/104 turbo, and the combination runs on E85 with no intercooler. A Holley Dominator ECU tuned by Rick Trunkett of Big 3 Racing oversees the proceedings. On the dyno Mark says, “the engine made 1,100 horsepower to the tires on low boost and low timing. I'm just mainly looking to run the 5.30 index classes, so we didn't try to make max power, plus it’s non intercooled and we wanted to keep it safe.”

The maiden run was not a tale of triumph but the beginning of a tale of tenacity. “We had issues with transmission shifting so that's where we're at right now. We’re going to look at the data logging, plug in the Holley, figure out why, and fix the problem… May even manually shift the gearbox for the next session.” - Update: Mark got his triumph. He manually shifted the gearbox and recorded 5.45, 5.26 and a best effort of 5.21 at 132 mph.

John Terry's Gen-V–Swapped BRZ – LT in a Lightweight

Subaru's BRZ is known for balance, precision, sensibility, and economy. GM's Gen-V LT V8 is known for torque, modern electronics, and brute power! Put the two together and you get something that sounds improbable—but John Terry of Marietta, Georgia, pulled it off with his 2015 BRZ LT swap.

But, how do you make Subaru and GM speak the same language? They both use CAN bus, but that has its own "language" between manufacturers. Luckily, the aftermarket has the solution. "The stock Subaru ECU is replaced with a CANbus translator built by a guy in Australia," Terry explained. "It uses the pedal voltage and everything from the Subaru and sends it to the GM ECU, then back again." So traction control, ABS, power steering, and even the speedometer still work like factory. That makes this BRZ rare: a V8 swap that drives like it came that way.

Terry started with a widebody shell in Audi-inspired Nardo Gray. The stance is modern OEM-plus, accented by symmetrical 4-inch side pipes he fabricated himself. "It's not perfect, but it's good enough for autocross—and I think it's unique," he said. But to be fair, we didn't see any imperfections in the pipes.

The drivetrain came from a totaled 2016 Camaro. It's been rebuilt, but a stock bottom-end LT with ported heads and a Texas Speed cam. Factory direct injection is retained, paired with a Katech throttle body and an MSD Atomic AirForce intake manifold.

Of course, the BRZ was never intended for a pushrod V8, so packaging was a challenge. The radiator is mounted in the trunk with an electric water pump. The only accessories are a stock-mounted alternator.

Looking forward, a stroker LT with a custom-ground BTR cam is already waiting for the next evolution.

This was Terry's first LS Fest as a competitor. He ran autocross laps at NCM Motorsports Park, sorting out gremlins and learning the car. "Not too great [on times]," he laughed, "but I haven't autocrossed it that much. I'm just working out kinks. I'm having a great time, which is the most important part."

"I didn't build it to be super competitive. I just built it because I thought it was cool—and I like racing cars."

Day one went out with wafting smoke and the smell of burnt rubber tinged with hint of raw alcohol. Weather willing Saturday’s coverage will have more competition action as drag, drive, autocross, off-road, and Burnout Wars move from test & tune and qualifying to the elimination rounds. Stay tuned.

Day Two – LS Fest East

We were greeted with threatening skies Saturday morning. The strip roared to life at 9:00 but only a dozen or so pairs ran before the sprinkles started falling. Ever vigilant, the track crew kept running their machinery over the racing surface to ensure a quick return to action once the clouds lifted.

Fighting Through the Night

Not every Grand Champion story is about smooth passes and fast times—sometimes it’s about grit in the pits. Competitor Nikki Khan rolled into Friday’s autocross only to have her LS-swapped 2010 Genesis Coupe erupt in a cloud of white smoke. A blown head gasket sidelined her second run, but instead of packing up, Nikki and her crew dug in.

“We’ve got the head gasket, valve cover, and intake gaskets ready—we’re doing it all tonight so we can get back out there tomorrow,” she explained as coolant tests confirmed the failure. She made it back to the grid Saturday morning.

Lee Stumph’s Twin-Turbo ’69 Nova; 20 Years in the Making

Some cars arrive fully formed. Others take the scenic route. Lee Stumph’s 1969 Chevy Nova started as a modest 307 car, became a bracket racer in the late ’90s, and then sat while life took priority—house, garage, family.

Two decades later, it’s back, now LS-powered, twin-turbocharged, and finally stretching its legs in Drag & Drive competition at Holley LS Fest East. “This weekend’s quarter-mile hits are basically my sixth pass ever on the car,” said Lee.

Plans initially leaned toward a big-block, but a friend’s well-sorted LS convinced Stumph to go modern. The result is a 408ci LS with a Callies crank and rods, ported 243 heads, and a BTR cam. Up top is a Holley Hi-Ram intake manifold paired with a Tick Performance intercooler force-fed by twin VS Racing 69/73mm turbos.

Air-to-water intercooling is handled by a trunk-mounted six-gallon ice tank, critical for controlling intake temps during hot laps and road legs. Fueling comes via E85, giving the Nova reliability on the street and forgiveness on long pulls.

Backing the LS is a TH400 with a Circle D torque converter and an air shifter into the Holley Terminator X with the addition of an I/O module. Out back is a Quick Performance 9-inch with 275 drag radials putting the power down. It’s a straightforward recipe: strong parts, easy serviceability, and enough cushion to run all weekend without fear.

“We built the car to drive,” Lee explained. “Car shows, our local track, and this event. It’s not a trailer queen—it’s a driver.”

Most of Lee’s testing came on the local eighth-mile track—five passes total. LS Fest marked the Nova’s first quarter-mile competition. “We’re just getting familiar with it here,” he said. “But that’s the fun.”

UPDATE: There was a lot more than fun going on at LS Fest as Lee really impressed winning the Drag & Drive 9-Second Class. His old Bow-Tie laid down 9.159-, 9.279-, and 9.375-second quart miles for an average of 9.271 which was quick enough for the win. Congrats Lee.

LS Fest East Car Show

The car show is the least-taxing, most-relaxing competition at LS Fest East. It’s easy… idle and rev to the car show corral, find a spot, pull out the cooler and lawn chairs, crack open the adult beverages, and watch the world walk by. Show-goers enjoy the car show because they can wander the pavilion at their leisure and eyeball a wild collection of customs, muscle cars, trucks, decked out to the nines.

Here are some of the more celebrated rides from Bowling Green.

Best of Show – Philip Hackbarth and Josh Dennis, who call Clarksville, Tennessee, home won the big trophy, claiming Best of Show honors with his 1968, Chevrolet Chevelle.

Representing the first year of the second generation of the Chevelle, Philip’s ride is a combination of show and go with a decidedly Pro Touring slant. It sports a murdered-out look with black paint, bumpers, and wheels, which gives the car’s red-hued headlights a more sinister look.

LS Fest East Autocross Shootout

An exciting element of LS Fest is the Top 5 Shootout, taking the five fastest from the Beech Bend autocross track in a winner-takes-all shootout. Racers must complete three back-to-back runs. No cones or misses, and no breaks in between. It's a tight competition that makes for exciting racing for the packed stands.

Veteran LS Fest winner, Danny Popp, took home the win with a 2025 Corvette E-Ray, and it wasn't even his car. He met Chad Sage at last year's LS Fest. "I've done this stuff and won this event many times, so he trusted me to get it done," said Danny. "He trusted me to develop it and set it up, and it's been doing tremendously well."

Rob Unser, hot off his success as Vintage Class Grand Champion winner from LS Fest West, was runner-up in his Speedway Motors Cobra kit car. A gnarly machine, piloted by a talented driver.

Garry Walsh's performance wasn't quite enough to clinch a higher spot. He took home third in his 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

Christopher Jensen, a home-built hero at LS Fest, in his LS-swapped 1986 Mazda RX7. The aerodynamic package consists of parts you can find at the local home improvement store. He snagged a third-place finish, as he’s also competing for the Vintage-class title in Grand Champion competition.

Ryan Mathews is another veteran of LS Fest, a former NASCAR driver and owner of After Dark Speed, where he develops Corvette components and customer cars. He narrowly took home 5th with tight competition. Ryan's 2006 Corvette delivered three impressive consecutive 38-second laps.

LS Fest East Drift Challenge

After two days of brutal battles, the Holley Drift Challenge came down to two final combatants—Taylor Hull and his Dale Earnhardt tribute G-Body and Brian Hoplamazian and his deep red S13 240SX.

Like sharks circling their prey, the cars whipped tight circle eights to heat up their tires as the announcers set the scene. In the first heat Brian led and Taylor closed to tight quarters in the first turn, remained in parallel position mimicking the 240SX through the sweeping second turn and nailed the transition into the final turn, crossing over the tail of Brian’s Nissan masterfully and tucking back into formation with his nose poised right in Brian’s door for the run through the final corner and on to the finish.

With Taylor taking the lead, the two cars came close to touching heading into the initiation zone. Taylor tossed his G-Body wide into the first turn, Brian stayed close but lost his angle transition into the second turn. The deal was sealed in the tight left-hander before the sprint to the finish when Brian fell out of drift, straightened, and pulled alongside of Taylor the front of the fenders touching, which sent Taylor wide, but he maintained angle and smoked his tires all the way to the line… and victory.

Drift Challenge Top 3

1 - Taylor Hull, Dale Earnhardt Tribute G-Body

2 - Brian Hoplamazian, Nissan S13 240SX

3 - Dirk Stratton, Chevrolet Corvette

Ultra4 Monster Energy Beech Bend Melee Presented By Holley Off-Road

The off-road portion of LS Fest East was a big hit this year. The evolution of the track continued as the hill sections were extended, there were fewer jumps and, based on driver feedback from the 2024 edition racing was run clockwise rather than counterclockwise as in previous years. The stands were positioned so fans had a sweeping view of the entire track.

Burnout Wars Lights Up LS Fest East

If you felt the ground shake during golden hour, that was Burnout Wars making its LS Fest East debut—and the scene did not disappoint. Almost forty burnout cars piled into the pad with a mix of local hitters and a travel-heavy crew that included half a dozen Australian drivers. The result: a smoky, rowdy showdown that felt as much like a cultural exchange as a competition.

If you felt the ground shake during golden hour, that was Burnout Wars making its LS Fest East debut—and the scene did not disappoint. Almost forty burnout cars piled into the pad with a mix of local hitters and a travel-heavy crew that included half a dozen Australian drivers. The result: a smoky, rowdy showdown that felt as much like a cultural exchange as a competition.

Co-founder Zach Pennock kept the format simple and savage: competitors must tip-in hard, use the pad, pop both tires, and drive off the pad—all inside a two-minute window, with tire pops happening after one minute but before two. Miss the box, baby the throttle, or time out, and you’re off the pace. Judging was handled on-site by Texas Speed & Performance, keeping the pressure squarely on execution, not theatrics.

For a first swing at East, the vibe was all victory. “Rods are still in it, tires were off, and nothing caught fire—so we’ll call that a win,” Pennock joked between rounds, grinning like a proud instigator surveying a perfectly chaotic party. The Burnout Wars crew also confirmed they’re eyeing more U.S. dates—Atlanta is next on their calendar—with talk of a broader series format in the future. For now, the formula works because it’s pure: short clock, big stakes, and zero hiding places.

First place receives $1,000 cash and a Holley gift card, second place snags $500 and matching Holley gift card, and third place, which was a three-way tie this year, each received $500 Holley gift cards.

Burnout Wars Results:

1. Kyle Douglas
2. Ricky Bass
3. Craig Bailey - Seth Ritter - Kevin Smith (tie)

Burnout pads are where bravado meets mechanical sympathy, and LS Fest East just got a taste of the world tour. If you’re the type who believes a limiter is a suggestion and a tire is a promise, consider this your official invitation for next year. Burnout Wars didn’t just visit—they planted a flag.

LS Fest East Day Three

Sunday dawned with blue skies and high hopes. The battle on the strip would be settled and a 3S champion would be crowned.

Tanner Burris’ 1988 GMC S-15

A cherished member of the family for three generations, Tanner Burris’ 1988 GMC S-15 has come a long way from its humble four-cylinder, five-speed begins. Interestingly, the pickup took an unconventional course on its hand-me-down journey through the last five decades. The truck was bought new by Tanner’s stepfather then passed up to his step granddad Before transitioning downstream to Tanner.

The truck’s evolution into strip terror happened under Tanner’s ownership from his hometown of Glasgow, Kentucky. The GMC is motivated by a turbocharged 6.0-liter LS that’s been punched out to 6.4 liters. Tanner is pretty hands-on. “I did all the work on the truck except for the machine work on the short block. For me the biggest challenge on the build is the fabrication for the turbo system, also figuring out all the wiring because I learned all that myself from zero … so that's has been the hardest thing. Other than that, figuring out how to make the suspension work was the next big job—getting a truck to hook up is unique. It’s all about making incremental changes and charting the truck’s 60-foot times. I've got a logbook so I can remember my changes from one run or track session to the next.”

Tanner’s combination has been dyno tested to the tune of 906 horsepower at 15 psi but the engine is currently tuned to run 24 psi which Tanner estimates to be north of 1,000 horsepower.

The GMC competes in the Truck & SUV class at LS Fest East. We asked Tanner what’s like wrestling four-digit power down the strip in a compact pickup. “For sure I try to keep myself calm and keep down nerves down but once I hit the burnout box the focus takes over. From there I just need to make sure it's back in first gear, lined up straight, a pre-staged.”

Once the truck jumps off the line tanner says his senses are bombarded. “The feeling starts with the sound, and it runs through your body. I love that it’s not smooth at all, and the g-factor out to the 60-foot makes the run all the more intense.”

Tanner posted a 5.59 at 132 mph at the event.

LS Fest East Grand Champion: The One-Car Gauntlet

Grand Champion is where myths are made at LS Fest East. It isn’t about a single hero pass—it’s about bringing one car that can accelerate, rotate, and stop, with confidence. Competitors stack times across multiple segments, and the highest combined total takes the crown.

How It Works

Grand Champion blends Autocross, the 3S Challenge (speed, stop, steer), and a ¼-mile Drag Race into one score. Three classes keep the field spicy: Late Model (’90-up), Vintage (’89-down), and Truck. The field is capped at 250 entries, split between Beech Bend Raceway Park and NCM Motorsports Park, swapping venues per the weekend schedule. Only drivers who run all segments are eligible for the overall title.

What You’ll See on Track

• Autocross: Tight, technical, and unforgiving—fractions of a second decide bragging rights. Two very different courses reward precision as much as power.
• 3S Challenge: Launch hard, change direction cleanly, and stop inside the box. Knock a cone or slide past the stop, and you’ll feel it on the clock.
• Drag Race (GC-only): Fastest E/T wins; reaction time doesn’t count. GC drag runs happen in a defined window (one hour or three passes, whichever comes first), and GC drivers can’t run any other drag class. Street-tire technique matters—no swapping for sticky specials.

This is a street-tire fight: DOT, treaded, 200-tw or higher only. One set of tires for the entire event (marked in tech), so manage wear like a pro. Snell SA2015/SA2020 helmets required for drivers and passengers. Cones moved, stop box overshot, or off-course excursions trigger penalties. Runs go rain or shine at the organizer’s discretion, and every car must pass tech (brakes, belts, battery securement, loose items out, etc.).

More On 3S Challenge

The format is simple: two cars launch side-by-side down a mirrored course, dive into opposed 180-degree turnarounds, race back, and hammer the brakes into a stop box. The trick? Competitors have to run both the left and right side, with combined times making up the score. Mess up one run, and the clock doesn’t forgive you.

LS Fest East 3S Grand Champion Results

Overall Grand Champion

3S Grand Champion – Late Model – Danny Popp, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2025 Chevrolet Corvette

3S Grand Champion – Truck – Duke Roddy, Gonzales, Louisiana, 1965 Chevrolet C10

3S Grand Champion – Vintage – Robby Unser, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1967 Ford Cobra

3S Autocross

Winner – Christopher Jensen, Paducah, Kentucky, 1986 Mazda RX-7

Second – Ryan Mathews, Mooresville, North Carolina, 2002 Chevrolet Corvette

Third – Garry Walsh, Franklin, Tennessee, 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

3S Drag Racing

Winner – Nicholas Barnett, Blue Grass, Iowa, 1972 Chevrolet Nova

Second – Randall Farless, Manchester, Tennessee, 1996 Nissan 240SX

Third – Danny Popp, Danny Popp, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2025 Chevrolet Corvette

3S Challenge Results

Winner – Danny Popp, Danny Popp, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2025 Chevrolet Corvette

Second – Robby Unser, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1967 Ford Cobra

Third – Dallas Reed, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2024 Chevrolet E-Ray

LS Fest East Drag Racing Competition

The results are listed by name, hometown, vehicle, reaction time, and ET & mph.

10K No-Time Shootout

Created to emulate a street race showdown, the 10K No-Time Shootout is a no-holds-barred, “run what ya brung and hope it was enough” heads-up 1/8th-mile no-prep throwdown battle. The spotlight was on 275/10.5 door slammers, with limited spots available—first come, first served! The $10K Shootout class had two test sessions on Friday and one more Saturday morning before eliminations kicked off in the afternoon.

Winner – Anthony Manna, Elk Grove Village, IL, 1998 Chevrolet Camaro

Runner-up – Kane Martin, Alvaton KY, 1988 Ford Mustang

Quick 16

LS Fest East has always been about bring the fans the quickest machines on the drag strip—and that’s why we created the Quick 16! The Quick 16 Shootout brings together the fastest, loudest, and wildest rides, showcasing extreme Door Cars, Dragsters, and Altereds in one action-packed class. Featuring Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, and Altered entries, the qualified field battles it out in a dial-in ET format. Racing goes down on the 1/8th mile with a .500 sportsman tree and scoreboards lit.

Winner - Rodney Payne, Mount Vernon KY, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, .037, 6.357 at 101.25 mph

Runner-up - Joe Davis, Mount Juliet TN, 1998 Chevrolet S10, .424, 5.932 at 115.45 mph

Street Race 8.60

This class was designed for domestic or import-bodied street-legal cars that didn’t fit into a specific heads-up 1/4-mile category. The class is run on a 8.60-second dial in. Competitors ran with stock-style suspension and body components, keeping the cars true to their street roots.

Winner: Jeremy Ortiz, Westfield IN, 1995 Nissan 240SX, .054, 8.602 at 155.17 mph

Runner-up: Thomas Pinto, Mahopac NY, 2008 Pontiac G8, .087, 8.705 at 145.34 mph

Street King

The Street King class brought out a variety of full-bodied street cars, including 5th Gen Camaros and C7 Corvettes, while keeping Dragsters, Roadsters, and Altereds off the track. Racing unfolded over the 1/4 mile on a .500 Pro Tree in a dial-in format, with dial-ins ranging from 7.75 to 13.00 ET in .25-second increments. Competitors ran in an all-run qualifying format, with vehicles required to maintain stock appearance and bodies, pass NHRA safety inspections, and be driven to staging and scales (though towing was allowed after scales). Unlike some other classes, trans brakes are permitted, adding a little extra edge to the head-to-head battles.

Winner - Mike Morris, New Haven KY, 1954 Chevrolet 210, (dial 11.25), .315, 11.114 at 117.89 mph

Runner-up - Jacob Decker, Madison IN, 2006 Chevrolet CO, (dial 12.25) (foul -.002), 12.422 at 104.12 mph

Stock Block Shootout

The Stock Block Shootout brought 1/8th-mile heads-up racing to the spotlight, showcasing cars powered by factory GM production engine blocks only—no aftermarket, LSX, or Chevrolet Performance blocks allowed. The goal of the class is to highlight just how much performance can be squeezed from these engines on a relatively low budget. Competition was tight, with entries limited to 28/275 tires (no W’s) and restricted to door cars and trucks only—keeping Dragsters and Altereds on the sidelines.

Winner - Cameron Davis, Philpot KY, 1993 Ford Mustang, .066, 4.548 at 162.22 mph

Runner-up - Steven Johnson, Robertsdale AL, 1980 Chevrolet Malibu, .044, 5.874 at 141.77 mph

Stick Shift

This class showcased the best of LS and current-generation LT power paired with manual transmissions in a 1/4-mile heads-up format. Every combination was required to run a clutch-assisted H-pattern shifter, putting driver skill front and center. Racing went down on a .400 Pro Tree, with the field set using NHRA’s Pro Ladder format based on qualifying ETs.

Winner - Michael Reiling, O'Fallon MO, 1996 Chevrolet Z28 Camaro, .440, 9.457 at 154.78 mph

Runner-up - Robert Wideman, Green Lake PA, 2000 Chevrolet Camaro, .305, 9.594 at 143.11 mph

Truck & SUV

The Truck & SUV class showcased the growing popularity of LS and current-generation LT-powered trucks and SUVs. Racing took place over the 1/8 mile in a heads-up, all-run format, with any brand of truck or SUV eligible. Competitors could use any OEM or aftermarket automatic transmission, including transmission-to-engine adapters, and trans brakes were allowed, making for some fast, competitive passes across the board.

Winner - Micah Carroll, Ringgold, GA, 1989 GMC S15, .068, 4.973 at 133.66 mph

Runner-up - Nick Drummond, Curtice OH, 1991 Chevrolet S10, .132, 4.920 at 144.18 mph

Rumble

The Rumble class delivered exciting 1/4-mile action, featuring everything from 5th Gen Camaros and C7 Corvettes to full-bodied street cars. Dragsters, Roadsters, and Altereds were kept out, ensuring tight competition among stock-bodied entries. Racers ran on a .500 Pro Tree in a dial-in format with .25-second breaks from 9.00 to 15.00 ET, and all entries completed the all-run qualifying sessions. Vehicles stayed true to their stock appearance, passed NHRA safety inspection, and were driven to staging, making for clean, competitive racing without delay boxes or trans brakes.

Winner - Rhys Duncan, Charlestown IN, 2000 Chevrolet Camaro, (dial 11.75) .066, 1 1.748 at 113.87

Runner-up - Bryan Benge, Santa Claus IN, 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, (dial 12.00) .069, 11.998 at 116.38 mph

Street Warrior 10.10

The class put the spotlight on LS and current-generation LT builds, all chasing a 10.10 index in the 1/4 mile. Qualifying came down to who could run closest to that number, while any passes quicker than 10.10 were bumped to the bottom of the ladder. Once eliminations began, cars were paired off by qualifying order and battled round by round. In matchups where both drivers dipped under the index, the win went to whoever was closest to 10.10—so long as both launches were clean on green. Lane choice kept it old-school, decided by either a handshake deal or a quick coin flip.

Winner - Keith Vaughn, Nashville TN, 1987 Chevrolet Corvette, (dial 10.10), .096, 10.320 at 103.99

Runner-up - Lori Russell, Baton Rouge LA, 2017 GMC Sierra, (dial 10.10), .569, 10.036 at 137.23

Drag & Drive

The Drag & Drive class put vehicles to the ultimate test of durability over the 1/4 mile. In the ‘Drive’ portion of the program competitors spend time cruising the facility and idling in staging lanes before making back-to-back passes—with the focus on achieving the fastest average ET. The class requires DOT-legal tires and full-bodied cars with stock body panels, resulting in a field of tough, street-ready machines pushing both performance and reliability.

Overall Winner – Tyler Baber, Ford Mustang, Runs – 7.337, 7.408, 7.454 – Avg – 7.400

Overall Runner-up – Herbert Casner, Chevrolet Camaro – Runs – 9.187, 9.182, 9.119 – Avg – 9.163

Signing Off From LS Fest East 2025

As the engines cooled and the dust settled, LS Fest East once again proved why it’s a must-attend event for enthusiasts of LS and current-generation LT power. “LS Fest fans are so hardcore and came out in droves,” says Bill Tichenor, Holley’s Corporate Director of Marketing. “All this despite the rainy forecast and the actual rain we received. We appreciate them all! All the normal events were awesome just like always with the most creative vehicles in the country in attendance. Plus, the addition of the Ultra4 USA off-road racing was incredible and Burnout Wars took our burnout contest to a whole new level as well! Excitement is already building for the 2026 event.”

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