Forgeline customers once again dominated the 17th annual OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational, presented by Advance Auto Parts, in Las Vegas, during the 2024 SEMA week, where they claimed the top two spots on the overall podium and won five of the seven classes. This effort was led by Bob Sobey, whose 2013 Nissan GT-R was crowned the 2024 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car for the third year in a row, and by Chris Smith, who not only won the GTV class at the invitational but also won the 2024 Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car season championship (in a 54-year old GTV-class Camaro)!
Bob finished near the top overall in each of the four competition segments of the invitational, including first place overall in the Peak Performance Acceleration/Braking Challenge, second place overall in the Lingenfelter Performance Design and Engineering Competition, third place overall in Falken Tire Hot Lap Challenge, and sixth place overall in the Autocross. His performance throughout the 7-day competition placed him at the top of the Recaro GTS Class (in which his GT-R competes) for the fourth consecutive year, and – more importantly – the sum of his 2024 performances earned him 492 points and the overall win out of all 70 competitors.
Bob’s 2024 win marks the thirteenth year that the OUSCI champion has ridden to victory on Forgeline wheels throughout the event’s 17 year history, including Steven Rupp’s ’68 Camaro in 2008, Mark Stielow’s ’69 Camaro in 2010, Todd Rumpke’s ’06 Corvette in 2011, Danny Popp’s ’03 Corvette in 2014, 2015, & 2016, Ken Thwaits’ ’06 Mitsubishi Evo in 2017, Mike DuSold’s ’67 Camaro in 2018 & 2019, Jake Rozelle’s ’03 Corvette Z06 in 2021, and Bob Sobey’s Nissan GT-R in 2022, 2023, & 2024.
Bob’s winning R35 Nissan GT-R rides on Essex-AP Racing disc brakes, Falken Azenis tires, and 18-inch Forgeline one piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels.
In addition to Bob’s overall and GTS class victories, the other 2024 top finishers include GT class champion and second place overall finisher Dave Schotz in his 2022 Chevrolet Camaro on Forgeline one piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels, GTV class champion and 2024 season champion Chris Smith in his 1970 Chevrolet Camaro on Forgeline forged three piece AL305 wheels, Outlaw class champion Duke Langley in his 2002 Chevrolet Corvette on Forgeline one piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels, and GTT class champion Hondo Miller in his 1970 Chevrolet Blazer on Forgeline forged three piece GZ3 wheels. Congrats to all of the 2024 OUSCI champions!
For more information about the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational and the OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car Series, visit DriveOPTIMA.com.
Bob finished near the top overall in each of the four competition segments of the invitational, including first place overall in the Peak Performance Acceleration/Braking Challenge, second place overall in the Lingenfelter Performance Design and Engineering Competition, third place overall in Falken Tire Hot Lap Challenge, and sixth place overall in the Autocross. His performance throughout the 7-day competition placed him at the top of the Recaro GTS Class (in which his GT-R competes) for the fourth consecutive year, and – more importantly – the sum of his 2024 performances earned him 492 points and the overall win out of all 70 competitors.
Bob’s 2024 win marks the thirteenth year that the OUSCI champion has ridden to victory on Forgeline wheels throughout the event’s 17 year history, including Steven Rupp’s ’68 Camaro in 2008, Mark Stielow’s ’69 Camaro in 2010, Todd Rumpke’s ’06 Corvette in 2011, Danny Popp’s ’03 Corvette in 2014, 2015, & 2016, Ken Thwaits’ ’06 Mitsubishi Evo in 2017, Mike DuSold’s ’67 Camaro in 2018 & 2019, Jake Rozelle’s ’03 Corvette Z06 in 2021, and Bob Sobey’s Nissan GT-R in 2022, 2023, & 2024.
Bob’s winning R35 Nissan GT-R rides on Essex-AP Racing disc brakes, Falken Azenis tires, and 18-inch Forgeline one piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels.
In addition to Bob’s overall and GTS class victories, the other 2024 top finishers include GT class champion and second place overall finisher Dave Schotz in his 2022 Chevrolet Camaro on Forgeline one piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels, GTV class champion and 2024 season champion Chris Smith in his 1970 Chevrolet Camaro on Forgeline forged three piece AL305 wheels, Outlaw class champion Duke Langley in his 2002 Chevrolet Corvette on Forgeline one piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels, and GTT class champion Hondo Miller in his 1970 Chevrolet Blazer on Forgeline forged three piece GZ3 wheels. Congrats to all of the 2024 OUSCI champions!
For more information about the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational and the OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car Series, visit DriveOPTIMA.com.