Automotive Specialists has been a success in the racing industry since opening for business in 1965. Chronicled here by decade are some highlights of the racers, teams and victories our technical expertise and engine R&D have helped power in over 37 years of racing. Our engines have been winning for nearly four decades, and we can build one for you to win with in the coming years.

1960s

During the late 1960s into the late 1970s Automotive Specialists was the first to make high performance and racing in-line six cylinder intakes and headers for 240 Ford and 250 Chevrolet engines. In the late 1960s Dale Earnhardt was one of the drivers who raced Keith's Automotive Specialists stock cars early in his career. We became the primary cylinder head supplier for many winning Winston Cup teams, including Junior Johnson's cars driven by Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough.

1970s

During the late '70s Automotive Specialists worked on the first W-2 small block Chrysler engines and worked with big block Chryslers for Winston Cup. First cylinder heads developed were done after hours, we couldn't afford for anyone to see it.

1980s

We built engines for Ernie Irvan when he began racing on dirt, and continued supplying his powerplants when he advanced to Winston Cup. Automotive Specialists branched out form exclusively building racing engines to begin the house-engine program for the NASTRAC driving school, now known as the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

1990s

We began these years with building the Winston Cup restrictor-plate engine that powered Derrick Cope to his Daytona 500 win, and expanded our capacity later in the decade by moving to a state-of-the-art engine shop in 1997. In 1994 our racing engines won five championships: including the Valvoline Challenge, Slim Jim All Pro, Five Flags Classic, NASCAR Northwest Tour, and United Stock Car Alliance Tropical Challenge. We added to this impressive achievement in this decade by powering the winners of two Hooters Cup Championships, and two Hooters ProCup Championships. In 1998 Automotive Specialists began qualifying our engines on the first DTS dynos in the Southeast in a noise control installation that has become well known in the industry for its accuracy and repeatability.

2000s

These first years of the new millennium has been some of our best yet for our engines and technical experience. In 2001 our R&D division was contracted to machine, assemble, and test a 2-cylinder variable compression ratio engine used by the US Department of Energy. Bobby Gill won the Hooters ProCup Championship in 2000 and 2001 with our powerplants. Jason Sarvis won the Hooters ProCup Championship in 2002. We also helped develop the Keith Dorton Signature Series of racing products, including intake manifolds and custom-turnable carburetors, for venerable performance and racing manufacturer Holley Performance Products. Plus, we worked with world -renowned piston manufacturer Mahle to develop their racing pistons for short track engines.

We are working on more new products and services each year. Automotive Specialists is well known in racing, just let our 37 years of business by of service to you.