Testing at World Cup Finals at Maryland International Raceway Gives the Racing World A Taste of What Could Be a Record-Setting Event
For the last 28 years, the World Cup Finals Import vs. Domestic event has been held at Maryland International Raceway (MDIR). Highly anticipated for cool temperatures and great track prep, the World Cup Finals Import vs. Domestic event packs in huge crowds, and delivers some great racing, as well as record-setting runs.
With twelve classes on tap, crowds can expect to see everything from 5-second runs in the quickest class, Outlaw vs. Extreme, to low 9-second naturally-aspirated runs in the All Motor ranks. Plenty of familiar names are on site already, including notable names and past winners Cleetus McFarland, Brett LaSala, Victor Alvarez and Joe Glockner to name a few.
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One of the competitors that is being closely watched is Jimmy Taylor in the Pro Mod ’69 Camaro. After testing for several days at MDIR two weeks ago, Taylor set the quickest and fastest pass for a door car in the eighth-mile.
A blistering 3.387 at 240.29 mph run not only set the door car record, but Taylor became the first driver to clock a 3.3-second pass in a door car. Now, Taylor is focused on his next goal: a 4-second, 300 mph run at the World Cup Finals Import vs. Domestic event.
The current record for the quickest and fastest pass for a door car on the quarter-mile standard is currently held by Todd Moyer at a 5.144 at 273 mph. Run in the same-style ‘outlaw’ trim at Bradenton Motorsports Park in January 2024, Taylor is the first to seriously challenge that run.
In testing on Wednesday, November 5th, Taylor produced a 5.259 at only 214 mph run at the quarter-mile mark. The 3.409 at 233.88 mph incrementals at the eighth-mile mark shows the Camaro was on a decent pass; will the 4-second zone be invaded for the first time this week?
One record that was set yesterday came from Eric LaFerriere and the 2JZ-powered Nissan 240SX known as ‘White Rice.’ After setting the Import Radial record mark of 6.08 at 235 mph at this year’s TX2K event in March, LaFerriere dropped that record a bit to a 6.048 at 237.34 mph last night at MDIR in testing.
Qualifying starts today with a single shot for all classes, and will continue with four more session between Friday and Saturday. The 32-car qualified fields will see round one of eliminations get underway on Saturday evening, with final eliminations set for Sunday.
The event is a complete sell out on racer entries and spectator tickets; racing action can be viewed on Flo Racing.
Written by Derek Putnam. Media courtesy of Motion Raceworks, JTaylor Motorsports and Stick Shift Elite.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com