Photograph courtesy Daniel Moore
Over 20 years later, Daniel Moore isn’t just driving the car he owned at 16 years old, he’s racing it, too.
And over those 20-plus years, Moore has incrementally built the car up into the wild track car it is today, through a process of “finding the limits of each setup, breaking it, and rebuilding it better,” he says.
Currently on its fifth engine–a turbocharged B16A rated at 530 horsepower–the Civic’s extensive list of upgrades (which, we'll add, was well organized on the entry form) also features a built YS1 transmission, custom Garret Intercooler, RedShift coil-overs, PFC big brake kit–consisting of Wilwood rotors paired with “prototype” TA2 calipers–custom Mugen-style widebody kit and 949 wheels wrapped in Vitour P1 tires.
“It’s hard to call it the ultimate track car only because there’s always room to improve with more time and money,” Moore adds. “The car is an ultimate track car today, but next year it will probably be even better.”
If that’s the case, the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge will serve as an excellent baseline for next year.
Simply put, the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is our annual search for the fastest track machine on four wheels.
For 2026, we’re moving the party to Eagles Canyon Raceway, with the on-track action kicking off on October 22.
Whether your entry is new or old, factory-bought or home-built, built by a pro team or a weekend warrior, it’s welcome to compete as long as both driver and car pass a safety inspection.
The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge takes place at Eagles Canyon Raceway for 2026 and will again join the Tire Rack SCCA Time Trials Nationals Powered by Hagerty.
Enter your car today and a take a few to eye up the competition.
The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports and fueled by Sunoco, in association with Wilwood, Vitour Tire, CRC Industries, Vbox Motorsport and Red Line Oil, with trophies from BimmerWorld, Nine Lives Racing and Falken Tire.
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