OPTIMA Batteries recently crowned Bob Sobey and his 2013 Nissan GT-R as the winner of the 16th annual OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI), the company announced.
Sobey, now a four-time competitor and back-to-back OUSCI champion, returned this season and defended his title while also winning the Ultimate Street Car Association (USCA) National Championship, OPTIMA said.
Established in 2008, the contest originally aimed to evaluate the street-worthiness and overall performance potential of cars showcased at the SEMA Show, and has evolved into a competitive street car racing series, organizers said.
“I couldn’t be more happy. I have to thank my friends, family and wife, especially. I really enjoy coming out and running with everyone. I couldn’t have done this without my crew member Brian. He’s the guy that does the majority of the work on everything,” Sobey said. “I run this series because it’s so fun. If anybody needs help, somebody’s going to help them.”
Throughout the 2023 OUSCI championship, competitors and their vehicles faced a series of five challenges – the Lingenfelter Design and Engineering Challenge, Road Rally, Peak Performance Challenge, Autocross and the Falken Tire Road Course Time Trial. Competitors receive points for each challenge, and scores were totaled to determine the winner in each category.
This year, second place was taken by 2021 Tesla Model 3 driver Jordan Priestly, and Chris Smith finished third with his 1970 Chevrolet Camaro.
“The 2023 season has been truly remarkable, characterized by exceptional competition and impressive performances from all participants. It’s a source of great pride to witness the evolution of the series, which has grown into a tight-knit family of racers over the past 16 years,” said Cam Douglass, director of marketing for OPTIMA Batteries. “Bob Sobey’s consecutive championship wins, becoming only the third in the series’ history to achieve this feat, underscore his remarkable dedication to the sport.”
All vehicles must be licensed, registered and insured for street use to be eligible to compete.
