Take a look at this, Wild Arizona Cash Days Ends in Flames, Rollover Wreck & Photo Finishes!
The Arizona desert came alive with horsepower and heat as street racers gathered for one of the most intense cash days of the year. With $200 buy-ins, $2,000 on top from organizers, and a winner-takes-all pot totaling $5,000, this no-prep battle on 26″ tires featured 15 gritty racers of all types: Fox Bodies, Civics, Couriers, and Z cars.
All Kinds of Builds, All One Goal
From all-wheel-drive Honda Civics to twin-turbo LS-powered trucks, the event saw a rare variety of builds. The infamous “Silky Johnson” Z-car rocked 500hp of nitrous over an LS1, while another standout was an AWD Civic making over 1,200 hp. Some racers rolled in solo, fresh off 12-hour drives, others were fine-tuned and ready to fly. No matter their background, they all came for one reason: to win.
Early Highlights: Burnouts, Boost & Big Surprises
The first round kicked off with impressive showdowns. The Ford Courier surprised with a turbo setup, while a green Mustang blew tires from start to finish. A rare DSM 2G Eclipse made a comeback after years in hiding and nearly edged out a Fox Body by inches in one of the closest races of the night.
Meanwhile, the AWD Civic stunned the crowd with its lightning launch, dominating its V8 competition and proving imports had a place in this street shootout.
Terrifying Crash Halts Racing
As the first round continued, disaster struck. The Crazy Horse Fox Body from California launched hard but lost control, flipping multiple times into the desert. Spectators watched in horror as the car tumbled violently, ejecting parts (and possibly the driver) mid-air. Thankfully, the driver walked away and was taken to the hospital for evaluation. Racing paused, cleanup crews cleared debris, and organizers gave racers the choice to continue. Most did.
Second Round: Close Calls and Domination
With the course cleared, action resumed. The AWD Civic again blasted through its matchup, the twin Z-cars battled with a nitrous wheelie-stealer edging out the turbo setup, and the purple Fox Body, running M1 methanol, lived up to its nickname “The Spicy Fox” by choking onlookers with every burnout—and winning convincingly.
Semis: Civic vs Fox, Nova vs Z
The semi-finals pitted top contenders against each other:
- The Spicy Fox edged out the Civic in a drag race where AWD traction almost stole the show.
- The Blue Nova, another M1-burning beast, defeated the Z car after both struggled for traction.
The Final: Purple Fox vs Blue Nova
In a matchup between friends but fierce competitors, the final race came down to inches. The Blue Nova, managing power perfectly, drove around the Fox Body at the 500-foot mark, crossing the line first and claiming $5,000 in cash. The drivers embraced at the finish line—friends before and after, but full-blown rivals for 660 feet.
Why It Mattered
This race wasn’t just about money. It was about grit, resilience, and raw racing on an unprepared surface. It highlighted the rise of AWD imports in a V8-dominated world, the danger and thrill of no-prep racing, and the tight-knit community that makes events like these unforgettable.
Want more racing recaps, crash coverage, and wild behind-the-scenes content? Stay tuned.
