Hooptie World Championship

Six teams arrive in Tucson, Ariz. for a racing competition with $5K hoopties; then the teams must build and modify their vehicles for the final drag race.

Each team has endured the mini-gauntlet and dragstrip, some with disastrous consequences. Team MR2-D2 didn't even make the eliminator event after a blown engine, while Team Mob-Z shredded their driveshaft at the dragstrip once the light turned green.

Entering the third event, the teams are learning to expect the unexpected. Team Wagon Slayer pulled out the win on the dirt circle track, while Team MR2-D2 is still fighting engine issues, and Team Blackhawk had to rebuild their transmission overnig.

With the fourth event looming, long nights and limited build times are pushing teams to their limits; team Liam Nissan took gold at the drift course, while Wagon Slayer and Mob-Z remain near the top of the pack.

We are entering the penultimate event at the HWC, and our teams continue to press forward with little regard for their personal well-being. However, the camaraderie couldn't be stronger, with teams helping each other out whenever trouble should arise.

The teams compete in the sixth and final challenge, the mega-gauntlet, covering dirt, asphalt, drift, off-road hazards, slalom and drag.