Best Moments of 2017: Optima Invitational Makes Street Car History

Racer Ken Thwaits and His Evo IX

Ken Thwaits and his Evo IX are no strangers to the OUSCI, though, and has been running this car under the Showtime Motorsports banner since 2015 and has been racing since the age of 13. The car is no slouch, even with a full custom interior. The 4G63 turbo four-cylinder is punched out to 2.4-liters with a billet crank putting out 600-horsepower to all four wheels at 30-PSI of boost.

Even so, it was Mike DuSold’s twin-turbo 1967 Chevrolet Camaro that took the win in the Lingenfelter D&E with 100-points. Thwaits was tied for third with John Lazorack III’s amazing LS-swapped 1988 Chrysler Conquest at 98-points.

On Track

The Detroit Speed Autocross was where Ken made up his points. Finishing first with a time of 59.181, he finished ahead of Austin Barnes and his 2010 Dodge Viper (59.532) and fellow Evolution IX driver Brandon Ranvek (59.640). Brandon Williams in his 2009 Nissan GTR finished fourth with a 59.984. This also meant that three of the Top Five in the autocross were imports. Thwaits would also take the win in the Powerstop Speed Stop Challenge on Sunday but the top five were close behind at this point.

It would be the results from the Falken Tires Road Course Time Trial that would determine the winner and the last chance to keep the title with an American make. Mike Barns would take the top spot at the time trial with his Viper but Thwaits was able to finish with just three-points to spare by finishing just outside of the top ten times in the road course.