The 2026 Optima Ultimate Street Car season kicked off at G2 Motorsports Park near Dallas, TX, launching another year of multi‑discipline competition that rewards balanced vehicles and complete driver performances. Drivers on Forgeline wheels once again made an immediate impact, earning multiple class wins to open the season.
Class Winners on Forgeline Wheels
Several Forgeline‑equipped drivers claimed class victories at G2 Motorsports Park, delivering standout performances across a wide range of classes and platforms.
GTV: Chris Smith — 1970 Chevrolet Camaro “Angry Smurf”
Chris Smith opened the 2026 season by setting the benchmark in GTV, piloting his unmistakable “Angry Smurf” 1970 Camaro on Forgeline Carbon+Forged GA‑Carbon wheels. Smith delivered a remarkably consistent weekend, earning 1st overall in Design & Engineering with a perfect 100 points, while also finishing 1st in GTV in Autocross, Acceleration/Braking, and Hot Laps. His results—placing inside the overall top six in every on‑track segment—reinforced his reputation as one of the most complete competitors in the field. Already the 2024 season points champion, 2025 Invitational overall runner‑up, and 2025 GTV class champion, Smith’s season‑opening performance secured his invitation to the 2026 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational and immediately reasserted his status as a championship contender.
GT: Dave Schotz — 2022 Chevrolet Camaro
Dave Schotz delivered one of the most consistent performances of the weekend in GT, piloting his 2022 Chevrolet Camaro on Forgeline one‑piece forged monoblock GTD1 5‑Lug Open wheels. Schotz finished second overall and 1st in the GT class in every scored segment, earning 99 points each in Design & Engineering, Autocross, Acceleration/Braking, and Hot Laps. His near‑perfect execution across all four segments secured the GT class victory and earned him an invitation to compete at the 2026 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational in Las Vegas, marking an exceptional start to the season.
GTL: Jessica Powers — 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
Jessica Powers opened the 2026 season with a strong and consistent performance in GTL, piloting her 2004 Chevrolet Corvette on Forgeline one‑piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels. Powers led the class in Design & Engineering, earning 77 points, and stayed competitive throughout the on‑track segments with a 4th‑place GTL finish in Autocross, 3rd in GTL in the Acceleration/Braking Challenge, and a 2nd‑place GTL result in Hot Laps. Her balanced results across all four segments secured the GTL class win and earned her an invitation to compete at the 2026 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational in Las Vegas.
Outlaw: Bob Sobey — 2013 Nissan GT‑R
Bob Sobey added another strong result to his Optima résumé with a win in the Outlaw class, driving his 2013 Nissan GT‑R on Forgeline one‑piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels. Scored separately from the rest of the field, Sobey’s consistent performance across Autocross, Acceleration/Braking, and Hot Laps secured the class victory at the season opener. A proven force in the series, Sobey is a three‑time Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational Champion, having won the title in 2022, 2023, and 2024 with his GT‑R on Forgeline GS1R wheels.
Spirit of the Event: Randy Dicken — 1967 Chevrolet Camaro
Randy Dicken was honored with the Spirit of the Event award at G2 Motorsports Park, recognizing the attitude and approach that define the Optima Ultimate Street Car series. Driving his 1967 Chevrolet Camaro on Forgeline forged three‑piece GA3 wheels, Dicken took on every segment of the weekend with enthusiasm, perseverance, and a true appreciation for the competition and the Optima community. The Spirit of the Event award is presented to competitors who best embody sportsmanship, commitment, and passion for the experience—and Dicken’s weekend effort earned him that recognition along with an invitation to compete at the 2026 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational in Las Vegas.
Austin Barnes Opens 2026 at the Front
Defending 2025 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational Champion Austin Barnes carried his momentum into the 2026 season opener, posting the fastest overall times in both Autocross and the Acceleration/Braking Challenge while driving his 2003 Chevrolet Corvette on Forgeline one‑piece forged monoblock VX1R wheels. A mechanical failure ultimately took Barnes out of contention during the Hot Lap Challenge, but with his Invitational invitation already secured as the reigning champion, Barnes opened the season exactly where he left off—at the front of the field.
A Strong Start to the 2026 Season
With multiple class wins, Invitational invitations already locked in, and early momentum from several championship contenders, the opening round at G2 Motorsports Park set the tone for another highly competitive Optima Ultimate Street Car season. Congrats to Chris, Dave, Jessica, Bob, Randy, Austin, and all of the finishers at G2 Motorsports Park! And thank you for trusting Forgeline to carry you to glory!
For more information about the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational and the OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car Series, visit DriveUSCA.com.
Class Winners on Forgeline Wheels
Several Forgeline‑equipped drivers claimed class victories at G2 Motorsports Park, delivering standout performances across a wide range of classes and platforms.
GTV: Chris Smith — 1970 Chevrolet Camaro “Angry Smurf”
Chris Smith opened the 2026 season by setting the benchmark in GTV, piloting his unmistakable “Angry Smurf” 1970 Camaro on Forgeline Carbon+Forged GA‑Carbon wheels. Smith delivered a remarkably consistent weekend, earning 1st overall in Design & Engineering with a perfect 100 points, while also finishing 1st in GTV in Autocross, Acceleration/Braking, and Hot Laps. His results—placing inside the overall top six in every on‑track segment—reinforced his reputation as one of the most complete competitors in the field. Already the 2024 season points champion, 2025 Invitational overall runner‑up, and 2025 GTV class champion, Smith’s season‑opening performance secured his invitation to the 2026 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational and immediately reasserted his status as a championship contender.
GT: Dave Schotz — 2022 Chevrolet Camaro
Dave Schotz delivered one of the most consistent performances of the weekend in GT, piloting his 2022 Chevrolet Camaro on Forgeline one‑piece forged monoblock GTD1 5‑Lug Open wheels. Schotz finished second overall and 1st in the GT class in every scored segment, earning 99 points each in Design & Engineering, Autocross, Acceleration/Braking, and Hot Laps. His near‑perfect execution across all four segments secured the GT class victory and earned him an invitation to compete at the 2026 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational in Las Vegas, marking an exceptional start to the season.
GTL: Jessica Powers — 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
Jessica Powers opened the 2026 season with a strong and consistent performance in GTL, piloting her 2004 Chevrolet Corvette on Forgeline one‑piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels. Powers led the class in Design & Engineering, earning 77 points, and stayed competitive throughout the on‑track segments with a 4th‑place GTL finish in Autocross, 3rd in GTL in the Acceleration/Braking Challenge, and a 2nd‑place GTL result in Hot Laps. Her balanced results across all four segments secured the GTL class win and earned her an invitation to compete at the 2026 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational in Las Vegas.
Outlaw: Bob Sobey — 2013 Nissan GT‑R
Bob Sobey added another strong result to his Optima résumé with a win in the Outlaw class, driving his 2013 Nissan GT‑R on Forgeline one‑piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels. Scored separately from the rest of the field, Sobey’s consistent performance across Autocross, Acceleration/Braking, and Hot Laps secured the class victory at the season opener. A proven force in the series, Sobey is a three‑time Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational Champion, having won the title in 2022, 2023, and 2024 with his GT‑R on Forgeline GS1R wheels.
Spirit of the Event: Randy Dicken — 1967 Chevrolet Camaro
Randy Dicken was honored with the Spirit of the Event award at G2 Motorsports Park, recognizing the attitude and approach that define the Optima Ultimate Street Car series. Driving his 1967 Chevrolet Camaro on Forgeline forged three‑piece GA3 wheels, Dicken took on every segment of the weekend with enthusiasm, perseverance, and a true appreciation for the competition and the Optima community. The Spirit of the Event award is presented to competitors who best embody sportsmanship, commitment, and passion for the experience—and Dicken’s weekend effort earned him that recognition along with an invitation to compete at the 2026 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational in Las Vegas.
Austin Barnes Opens 2026 at the Front
Defending 2025 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational Champion Austin Barnes carried his momentum into the 2026 season opener, posting the fastest overall times in both Autocross and the Acceleration/Braking Challenge while driving his 2003 Chevrolet Corvette on Forgeline one‑piece forged monoblock VX1R wheels. A mechanical failure ultimately took Barnes out of contention during the Hot Lap Challenge, but with his Invitational invitation already secured as the reigning champion, Barnes opened the season exactly where he left off—at the front of the field.
A Strong Start to the 2026 Season
With multiple class wins, Invitational invitations already locked in, and early momentum from several championship contenders, the opening round at G2 Motorsports Park set the tone for another highly competitive Optima Ultimate Street Car season. Congrats to Chris, Dave, Jessica, Bob, Randy, Austin, and all of the finishers at G2 Motorsports Park! And thank you for trusting Forgeline to carry you to glory!
For more information about the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational and the OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car Series, visit DriveUSCA.com.