Forgeline customers dominated the 2024 OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car competition at Sebring International Raceway, where they claimed all three spots on the overall podium and won six of the eight classes. This effort was led by Chris Smith, who took both the overall and GTV class wins, in his 1970 Chevrolet Camaro known as "Angry Smurf"!
Chris finished near the top overall in each of the four competition segments, including second place overall in the Lingenfelter Performance Design and Engineering Competition, first place overall in the Peak Performance Acceleration/Braking Challenge, fifth place overall in Falken Tire Hot Lap Challenge, and seventh place overall in the Autocross. His performance throughout the weekend competition placed him at the top of the GTV Class (in which his Camaro competes), and the sum of his performances earned him 489 points and the overall win out of all 53 competitors.
Chris’s “Angry Smurf” pro-touring 1970 Chevrolet Camaro was built as an in-house project at Smitty’s Custom Automotive and painted in GM’s PPG Rapid Blue. It’s powered by a 720HP Holley fuel-injected 427ci Kurt Urban LS7 mated to a Pfitzner Performance Gearboxes six-speed sequential transmission and rides on Speedtech Performance suspension, Motion Control Suspension 4-way adjustable remote-reservoir coilovers, Wilwood disc brakes, 315/30ZR18 & 335/30ZR18 BFGoodrich g-Force Rival S tires, and 18×11/18×12 Forgeline forged three piece AL305 wheels finished with Satin Race Gold centers & Black Pearl outers!
In addition to Chris’s overall and GTV class victories, other top finishers included GT class winner and second place overall finisher Dave Schotz in his 2022 Chevrolet Camaro on Forgeline one piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels, GTL class champion and third place overall finisher Ryan Mathews in his 2002 Chevrolet Corvette on Forgeline forged three piece GF3 Open Lug wheels, GTT class champion Stephen Dorrick in his Nissan Frontier on Forgeline forged three piece FF3-Truck wheels, GTR class champion Patrick Lever in his Superformance GT40 on Forgeline forged three piece AL308 wheels, and Outlaw class champion Jamie Elliott in his 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 on Forgeline forged three piece GA3R wheels.
At least two other Forgeline drivers also earned their invitations to the 2024 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational, including Aimel Baron who finished third in the GTS class in his 2019 Chevrolet Corvette on Forgeline one piece forged monoblock ZO1R wheels and Mike Owen who earned the Summit Racing Spirit of the Event award in his 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle on Forgeline forged three piece AL305 wheels. Congrats to all of the new 2024 OUSCI invitees!
For more information about the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational and the OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car Series, visit DriveOPTIMA.com.