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23rd
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Race drivers drive to the checkered flag on the track. Over at Hendrick Motorsports technicians' race to build NASCAR engines.
This year Robert Marock and Jay Wiles beat 11 other teams to win the 12th annual Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown. The late Randy Dorton was Hendrick Motorsports' master engine builder until he lost his life in a plane crash nine years ago on his way to a NASCAR race in Martinsville.
Marock, the first two-time champion for Hendrick Automotive Group, and Wiles built their final Chevrolet R07.2 engine in 24 minutes and 38 seconds.
"I get more nervous every time I participate," said the 50-year-old Marock. "Jay (Wiles) was a great partner and communication was the key to winning today. I hope I can go back to the dealership and motivate my co-workers to get to this level and be in the competition. Hendrick teaches us not to be ordinary and this competition is an example of that."
Wiles, 49, has worked at Hendrick Motorsports since 1998 and won the first Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown in 2002.
"The first year I won we built our engine in just over 17 minutes, so that tells you how much more complex these engines and the process is now," Wiles said. "This event is important to Mr. Hendrick and important to all of us ...We compete and have some fun at the same time."
"Started in 2002, the Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown pairs 12 Hendrick Automotive Group (car sales) master technicians with 12 Hendrick Motorsports technicians, in a two-day competition to construct Chevrolet R07.2 engines. The overall goal of the competition is to have the fewest errors in the shortest amount of time. The teams are set in a bracket-style format, and the two teams with the best times go head-to-head in the final round at Hendrick Motorsports," said a company release.
This year, 120 technicians took the test.
"We appreciate what our technicians at Hendrick Automotive Group do every day," said Rick Hendrick, Chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group and Owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "This event was established to recognize them and our team in the Hendrick Motorsports engine department. Whether it's selling cars or competing on the racetrack, we know the organization is stronger when we're all working together. That's something we're doing now more than ever."
This year Robert Marock and Jay Wiles beat 11 other teams to win the 12th annual Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown. The late Randy Dorton was Hendrick Motorsports' master engine builder until he lost his life in a plane crash nine years ago on his way to a NASCAR race in Martinsville.
Marock, the first two-time champion for Hendrick Automotive Group, and Wiles built their final Chevrolet R07.2 engine in 24 minutes and 38 seconds.
"I get more nervous every time I participate," said the 50-year-old Marock. "Jay (Wiles) was a great partner and communication was the key to winning today. I hope I can go back to the dealership and motivate my co-workers to get to this level and be in the competition. Hendrick teaches us not to be ordinary and this competition is an example of that."
Wiles, 49, has worked at Hendrick Motorsports since 1998 and won the first Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown in 2002.
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| Eventual winners of the 12th annual Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown Jay Wiles of Hendrick Motorsports and Robert Marock of Honda of Concord, a Hendrick Automotive Group dealership, near the end of their championship build. (Photo: Hendrick Motorsports) |
"The first year I won we built our engine in just over 17 minutes, so that tells you how much more complex these engines and the process is now," Wiles said. "This event is important to Mr. Hendrick and important to all of us ...We compete and have some fun at the same time."
"Started in 2002, the Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown pairs 12 Hendrick Automotive Group (car sales) master technicians with 12 Hendrick Motorsports technicians, in a two-day competition to construct Chevrolet R07.2 engines. The overall goal of the competition is to have the fewest errors in the shortest amount of time. The teams are set in a bracket-style format, and the two teams with the best times go head-to-head in the final round at Hendrick Motorsports," said a company release.
This year, 120 technicians took the test.
"We appreciate what our technicians at Hendrick Automotive Group do every day," said Rick Hendrick, Chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group and Owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "This event was established to recognize them and our team in the Hendrick Motorsports engine department. Whether it's selling cars or competing on the racetrack, we know the organization is stronger when we're all working together. That's something we're doing now more than ever."
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| Hendrick Automotive Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ed Brown, Vice President of Fixed Operations Wayne Simpson, General Manager of Honda of Concord Wes Watkins, Winner Robert Marock of Honda of Concord, Winner Jay Wiles of Hendrick Motorsports, Chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group and Owner of Hendrick Motorsports Rick Hendrick, and Director of Engine Operations at Hendrick Motorsports Jeff Andrews. (Photo: Hendrick Motorsports) |