In 2016, Holley’s LS Fest will be the place to be for LS enthusiasts the world over for the seventh straight year. Competitors, spectators, and vendors will descend on historic Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky for a weekend of GM LS-powered drag racing, drifting, autocross, and m more. This year, the drag racing portion of the event will get a shot in the arm thanks to the School of Automotive Machinists and Lingenfelter Performance Engineering.
The race will be known as “The Battle At The Green” and will be the ultimate COPO Camaro race in 2016. Falling under the rules of NHRA Stock and Super Stock Eliminator, a qualified pro ladder will be used, and COPO Camaros will race for a winner’s purse of $10,000* while the runner-up will receive a $1,000 payout. Racers will compete in an all “dial-in” format for eliminations with no heads up racing for the same class vehicles. Holley’s Bill Tichenor said, “This is exactly what we originally envisioned for LS Fest. We wanted to host a party and let the industry make it their own. We are super excited that the guys at Lingenfelter and SAM came up with this idea and we can’t wait to see it unfold. Each COPO since 2013 has come from the factory with Holley EFI and each naturally aspirated COPO has a Holley Hi-Ram intake, so it is only fitting that we spotlight the COPOs at the Holley LS Fest.”
With the COPO class being one of the most popular classes among spectators, the Holley LS Fest will be emphasizing the class in 2016. COPO racers will be pitted on-site in a special area reserved exclusively for them so that spectators can check out all of the COPO cars in one location. Also, qualifying will be run at special times during the event to make sure spectators have every opportunity to see the COPO Camaros in action.
According to Mike Copeland, vice president and general manager of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, “With Chevrolet’s continuation of the COPO Camaro program in 2016, we expect this new generation of race car to increase participation as well as spectator interest in the future. While Lingenfelter has sponsored the COPO class from the beginning, during the 2015 event Judson Massingill of the School of Automotive Machinists and I developed the idea of offering competitors this added incentive. With $10,000 to the winner, as well as bragging rights, we’re hoping to turn this into the ultimate COPO Camaro shootout for the year.”
“The ‘Battle At The Green’ is a combination of great cars and a great race. SAM has competed at every Holley LS Fest and witnessed firsthand the continued growth at each event. We are proud to co-sponsor this class with Lingenfelter Performance Engineering,” said Judson Massingill, director of education, School of Automotive Machinists.
The 2016 Holley LS Fest will take place on September 9, 10, and 11th at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY, while the Track X event will take place at the nearby National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park. Be sure to like the Holley LS Fest Facebook page for more updates throughout the year.
About Lingenfelter Performance Engineering
Dedicated to perfecting the art of automobile, light truck, and SUV performance and delivering innovative engineered solutions for over 42 years, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering is a globally-recognized brand in the performance aftermarket industry. Driven by owner Ken Lingenfelter’s quest for technology leadership and excellence, Lingenfelter offers vehicle customization, engine building and installation, engine packages, and high-performance GM aftermarket components to create drivable, reliable high-horsepower vehicles. For more information, visit www.lingenfelter.com or call Lingenfelter Performance Engineering at (260) 724-2552.
About the School of Automotive Machinists
Since 1985, the School of Automotive Machinists, based in Houston, TX, has provided the motorsports industry with well-trained graduates. The realization of the need for qualified performance engine builders originated with founders and owners Judson and Linda Massingill. SAM offers five programs to qualify students to become engine machinists. The programs are comprised of block, head, and CNC machining as well as EFI tuning and associate degree programs. The School of Automotive Machinists has placed graduates with top race teams in NASCAR, NHRA, IndyCar and other series. The School campaigns a COPO in NHRA Stock Eliminator, crewed by SAM students. For more information, visit www.samracing.com or call the School of Automotive Machinists at (713) 683-3817.
*Note: The payout is set for a minimum 32 car field. If less than 32 COPO Camaros show up to compete, the purse will be adjusted based on the total number of participants.
