Each year, Optima Batteries and the Ultimate Street Car Association (USCA) put on a series of events leading up to the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI). This series puts drivers of street-legal musclecars to the test to determine which car will be crowned the ultimate street car.

While some may think that this competition is just for those who have purpose built race cars, think again. It’s true that many of the competitors are driving cars that didn’t come off the showroom floor looking the way they do now, but part of the OUSCI includes being street legal, and part of the event is held there – on the street.

But even some of the best built cars can come up short where other cars shine, and at each of the events there are more challenges than just a single race through the cones. Coming up on November 8-9, following the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host 100 competitors – the largest number of competing vehicles in the event’s seven-year history. These competitors will put their skills, and their cars, to various challenges throughout the two-day event.

More than just an autocross or big-track race, these cars are also judged on design and engineering, sponsored by Lingenfelter Performance. A bare interior without door panels or carpeting will give competitors a lower score, hurting their chances for much needed event points. These cars will be racing the hot lap, hosed by BF Goodrich, and also hit the Ridetech Street Challenge Autocross. The Wilwood Speed Stop Challenge puts their stopping skills into play, and breaking out of the ‘stop box’ means DNF.

If all of this competition has you wanting to get inside the racetrack and see the cars up close and personal, tickets are currently on sale for this event. Your $30 admission price not only gets you in the gate, but also reserves a 2014 OPTIMA Invitational event t-shirt for each ticket holder. The gates will open at 8:30 on Saturday morning, and the events start at 9:30. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway is just 15 minutes north of downtown Las Vegas, which is close by for those attending the SEMA show.