Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
We were blessed with sunny skies and comfortable Fall temperatures for the grand finale of the racing season, known as the Haltech World Cup Finals aka Import vs Domestic which highlights drag racing action from all over the world. This event stretches out over 5 days with record breaking racing. The Miller Brothers Production team and the entire Maryland International Raceway staff worked around the clock to make sure the track was prepped and ready for action. The crowd was hype and excited once the races began.
Pre-registration for Import vs Domestic has become very limited and filled up quickly. The classes for the event are the “Outlaw vs Extreme” by Mickey Thompson Tires, “Radial vs Modified” by ATI Performance Products, X275 vs Hot Rod by Precision Turbo & Engine, “Warriors vs Tres Cuarto” by King Racing, “Street Fighter” by JPC Racing, “Wild Street” by Fuel Injector Clinic, “Super Street” by Real Street Performance, “True Street” by Driveshaft Shop and “All Motor” by Competition Clutch. These races are made up of some of the highest horsepower street cars on the planet. The event draws hundreds of Heads-Up racers competing for over $100,000 in cash prizes.
Import vs Domestic is the meeting place where racers converge onto one track to settle the score. It is nothing short of amazing to see cars run the ¼ mile in record numbers. Some of the trailers at the event even looked like car shops. After passes, we witnessed motors being replaced, axels being swapped and a lot of wrench work. With the 2,300′ vendor midway one could easily purchase something as small spark plugs and car care products all the way up to Mickey Thompson tires and a turbo charger from Haltech.
The World Cup Finals (WCF) is more than just races. The custom car show was complete with classics and exotics that left spectators in awe and sparked many discussions between the owner and fans describing the life story of each of the vehicles. The custom car show has cash and trophy awards for all the winners. A big thank you goes out to Mother’s for sending out car care gifts for all the car show participants. The products and giftbags were pleasantly received and a lot of discussion was had about the results with using their products. WCF was definitely the place to showcase the custom paint jobs, matte wraps and the latest industry trends.
Being a biker, I was excited to see the top winners from the Orient Express Pro Street class at Import vs Domestic. These top racers competed in a 8-Bike field and ran on a pro ladder. Platinum General Services sponsored the Pro Street class at WCF and will be paying $5,000 to the Winner, $1,000 to the Runner-Up, $250 to the Semis, and $100 to the 1/4 Finalists.
I had to take the Stinger to Import vs Domestic. The Kia Stinger was pure show stopper as people stared as I rolled past in a parking lot. Gearheads immediately talked to me about companies who are already offering Air Intakes, Intercoolers, and Blow Off Valves to make more power that the 365 hp that is delivered from the factory. Each one of these parts has a purpose because improving efficiency and keeping the twin turbo setup running at its peak is extremely important. My buddies, that are into the custom part of the car game, kept referencing back to the 2017 SEMA Kia Stinger build by West Coast Customs and the 2018 SEMA DUB Stinger build. It was encouraging to see the excitement from the car community about the Kia Stinger.
Jason and Chris aka the Miller brothers, along with their entire team, have spent countless hours to revamp the event and make it better than ever. The live broadcast from SpeedVideo.com kept those that could not attend the event, still part of the action. MBP and the Maryland International Raceway staff were more than gracious to all involved including the racers, vendors, media and the patrons. WCF brings in over 30,000 patrons and just keeps getting bigger and better every year! Enjoy the photo gallery.
