Bob Sobey Wins 2023 Optima Ultimate Street Car Championship; Forgeline Customers Sweep the Podium…AGAIN
Forgeline customers once again dominated the 16th annual OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational, presented by Advance Auto Parts, in Las Vegas, during the 2023 SEMA week, where they claimed all thee spots on the overall podium and won six of the eight classes. This effort was led by Bob Sobey, whose 2013 Nissan GT-R was crowned the 2023 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car for the second year in a row!
Bob finished near the top overall in each of the four competition segments, including second place overall in the Peak Performance Acceleration/Braking Challenge, fourth place overall in Falken Tire Hot Lap Challenge, fifth place overall in the Autocross, and sixth place overall in the Lingenfelter Performance Design and Engineering Competition. His performance throughout the 7-day competition placed him at the top of the Recaro GTS Class (in which his GT-R competes) for the third consecutive year, and – more importantly – the sum of his 2023 performances earned him the overall win out of all 91 competitors.
Bob’s 2023 win marks the twelfth year that the OUSCI champion has ridden to victory on Forgeline wheels throughout the event’s 15 year history, including Steven Rupp’s ’68 Camaro in 2008, Mark Stielow’s ’69 Camaro in 2010, Todd Rumpke’s ’06 Corvette in 2011, Danny Popp’s ’03 Corvette in 2014, 2015, & 2016, Ken Thwaits’ ’06 Mitsubishi Evo in 2017, Mike DuSold’s ’67 Camaro in 2018 & 2019, Jake Rozelle’s ’03 Corvette Z06 in 2021, and Bob Sobey’s Nissan GT-R in 2022 & 2023.
Bob’s winning R35 Nissan GT-R rides on Essex-AP Racing disc brakes, Falken Azenis tires, and 18-inch Forgeline one piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels.
In addition to Bob’s overall and GTS class victories, the other 2023 top finishers include GTS class runner-up and second place overall finisher Jordan Priestly in his Tesla Model 3 on Forgeline one piece forged monoblock CF1 Open Lug wheels, GTV class champion and third place overall finisher Chris Smith in his 1970 Chevrolet Camaro on Forgeline forged three piece AL305 wheels, Outlaw class champion Duke Langley in his 2002 Chevrolet Corvette on Forgeline one piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels, GTR class champion Dan Long in his Superformance GT40 on Forgeline forged three piece HL3X wheels, GTT class champion Stephen Dorrick in his Nissan Frontier on Forgeline forged three piece FF3-Truck wheels, and GTL class champion Ryan Mathews in his 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 on Forgeline forged three piece GF3 Open Lug wheels. Congrats to all of the 2023 OUSCI champions!
For more information about the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational and the OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car Series, visit DriveOPTIMA.com.
Bob Sobey’s Ultimate Street Car Champion Nissan GT-R on Forgeline One Piece Forged Monoblock GS1R Wheels
Jordan Priestley’s GTS Class Tesla Model 3 on Forgeline one piece forged monoblock CF1 Open Lug wheels
Chris Smith’s GTV Class Chevrolet Camaro on Forgeline forged three piece AL305 wheels
Duke Langley’s Outlaw Class Chevrolet Corvette on Forgeline one piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels
Dan Long’s GTR Class Superformance GT40 on Forgeline forged three piece HL3X wheels
Stephen Dorrick’s GTT Class Nissan Frontier on Forgeline forged three piece FF3-Truck wheels
Ryan Mathews’s GTL Class Chevrolet Corvette on Forgeline forged three piece GF3 Open Lug wheels
