Drag racing has always attracted people who enjoy doing things with their hands. Racers take pride in working on their race cars and finding ways to make them perform better at the track, and Joe Zolper plans on showcasing those racers that build and maintain their own rides at the Builders Brawl.

Zolper has built some impressive rides at his shop, Prison City Customs, including his own 1969 Dodge Daytona known as “Dauntless.” The idea for the Builders Brawl event came to Zolper after he saw a lack of recognition for those who have built their own race cars from the ground up.

“I felt the industry was going in the wrong direction. I wanted to create an event that would showcase the builders in our community. Whether it’s someone running a small shop of their own, or just a guy out of a small garage behind his house, I want them to be the stars of this event. I felt it was time to give the people that work very hard in this industry the recognition they really deserve,” Zolper explains.

The Builders Braw will feature Daily Driver, Small Tire, RWYB 4.50 Index, Big Tire, and High 5 classes. Racers who would like to participate in the event will need to submit an application that outlines the build of the vehicle they plan on racing. This lines up with Zolper’s vision of having a race that features people who’ve built their own cars.

“The vast amount of knowledge that is going to be at this event will be unbelievable. Fans that are building their own cars at home will be able to come to this event and relate to every single driver that’s there. Fans who know how to use a welder, pipe bender, micrometer, and other tools are going to respect the racers at the Builders Brawl,” Zolper says.

The Builders Brawl will take place July 29-30 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. You can learn more about the event right here on the Builders Brawl website.