World Cup Finals : Import vs Domestic 2023
Broken Records and Billet Trophies, This is World Cup Finals!
The Haltech World Cup Finals presented by Wiseco is a one-of-a-kind racing spectacle. With meticulous track prep, optimal environmental conditions, and fierce competition that keeps racers and fans on the edge of their seats throughout a five-day extravaganza, it stands as a premier quarter-mile drag racing competition, featuring cash prizes exceeding $200k and drawing competitors and fans from across the globe.
The 27th edition of the 2023 Haltech World Cup Finals Import vs. Domestic, presented by Wiseco, kicked off on November 1, 2023, and roared through to the late hours of November 5, 2023, at the Maryland International Raceway. This year’s WCF event witnessed the participation of over 350 racers and hosted a sell-out crowd of nearly 60,000 enthusiasts who journeyed to rural St. Mary’s County, Maryland, to be part of the action.
The highly competitive Mickey Thompson Outlaw vs. Extreme class features a collection of the fastest cars on the property including the “Blackberry Rocket” driven by Mark Benston Jr. from Selbyville, Delaware. Benston and his team accomplished an impressive feat by resetting the Outlaw Drag Radial ET world record not once, but FOUR times during the weekend!
Initially struggling with the track during qualifying, the Benston team was determined to complete a pass in Q5. Given the highly competitive field, a 5-second qualifying time was essential. The OvE class, the fastest in World Cup Finals history, demanded a flawless pass just to make the show.
During the final qualifying session, Benston’s turbocharged Big Block Chevy-powered ’02 Camaro set a record-breaking 5.752 at 254 mph, earning him the 3rd spot on the qualifying sheet but sacrificing an exhausted engine block in the process.
On Race Day Sunday, the team was rebuilt more confident than ever. The car performed exceptionally, consistently improving throughout eliminations. After securing a first-round win due to an opponent’s breakdown, Benston clocked a remarkable 5.733 at 254 mph in round two, moving on to the semis and setting another world record.
In the semi-finals, he delivered another record-setting run of 5.713 at 252 mph, securing a spot in the finals. There, Benston defeated Street Outlaws star John “The CEO” Odom with a monumental 5.697 at 254 mph pass, not only winning the event but also pushing the world record into the 5.6-second territory for the first time ever.
Mark Benston Jr’s Big Block Chevy features a battle-hardened set of Manley NexTek springs, Titanium Intake and Extreme Duty Exhaust Valves
Ideal weather and track conditions often result in numerous record-breaking performances. Another outstanding example is Carl Brunet, who established a new four-cylinder world record with an incredible run of 5.828 seconds at 242.71 mph during Q2.
What’s truly remarkable is that Carl’s GM EcoTec-powered GXP has been equipped with the same set of Manley rods in its record-setting engine for over 15 years offering consistent year-after-year performance.
Brett LaSala, who has already had a remarkable season with numerous wins and records, achieved another impressive feat in the McLeod Racing Warriors vs Tres Cuarto category. Hailing from Florida, LaSala and his Twin-Turbo ’12 Ford Mustang “Snot Rocket” secured the fifth qualifying spot in a field of 32 cars, posting a 6.510 at 224 mph. In head-to-head racing, LaSala secured five consecutive round wins and sealed the deal in the final race against Jamil Negron and his ’84 RX-7. LaSala’s lane lit up with the win light, displaying a remarkable 6.486 at 225 mph.
Brett’s Mustang is powered by a Fast Forward Race Engines built Coyote engine that turns high-pressure air and fuel into 2000+hp utilizing a custom Manley Platinum Piston combo.
With a strong second-place qualification at 8.042 and a speed of 167.09 mph, Steven Zsigray dominated Driveshaft Shop Mean Street, ultimately piloting his 2JZ-swapped ’02 Tacoma to a finals victory over Richard Crawford, clocking a new personal best time of 7.963 at 169 mph.
Steven’s turbocharged 2JZ bullet features a set of Manley Turbo-Tuff rods supporting in excess of 1000hp!
The 2023 Haltech World Cup Finals, presented by Wiseco, witnessed intense competition among some of the world’s top drag racers, leading to the crowning of new champions in 11 categories. Congratulations to all participants! If you couldn’t attend the Maryland event, be sure to mark your calendars for next year.
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For additional results and information about next year’s event, please visit the World Cup Finals: Import vs. Domestic website.