And then there were five.

From a laundry list of applicant teams that poured in this spring, we’ve narrowed the finalists for the Horsepower Wars $10K Drag Shootout down to ten, and as the budget build draws nearer, we’ve now cut that list in half, naming the five finalists who will vie for a shot at the $10,000 winner’s payday and the very car they will assemble in just ten days time.

So who are the finalists, you ask? In no particular order:

Team Boddie/Dow Brothers Race Cars

Led by racer and diesel performance shop entrepreneur Russ Wullenwaber, this team has been a definite favorite from the get-go, with the star-power and driving talent of grudge racer Jay Boddie and the chassis and fabrication skills of brothers Cole and Cody Dow. From driving, to building, to on-camera prowess, these guys have it.

West Bend Dyno

Perhaps the every-man team out of our five finalists, West Bend Dyno Tuning owner Brad Riekoff from Wisconsin leads this group of guys — driver Dameian Shepard, Brian Jankuski, Tony Bruggink, and Brian Wohlfeil — who make a living building, tweaking, and tuning cars just like those we expect to see in the $10K Drag Shootout. They’re an entertaining bunch, too. Don’t count ‘em out!

Team Dirty Jersey

He may not be drag racing’s only “Big Daddy” but he’s certainly door-car racing’s “Big Daddy.” Requiring no introduction, Mustang racing legend Dwayne Gutridge heads up this squad from New Jersey out of Big Daddy Performance. Gutridge can build ‘em as well as he drives ‘em, and his crew — Mike Rozman, Freddie Felt and Regas Anagnostou — are sure to help give him the winning ride he’s used to having underneath him.

Stinky Pinky Racing

You’d be hard-up to find a more entertaining, passionate, and downright raucous group than “Disco Dean” Karns and his crew from Ohio. Pink racecars with questionable names, plenty of talent both in and out of the cockpit, and personalities as wild as the day is long sums this team up.

Team Bigun

Two top-flight drivers and one of doorslammer racing’s best tuners gives Team Bigun from North Carolina a heck of a shot at the $10K Drag Shootout. Leaf Spring world record holder and well-traveled small-tire racer Lyle Barnett will do the driving, while team leader Eric Yost, Pete Harrell, and Jason Smith will make it all happen mechanically. If you saw their entry video, you know these guys aren’t just skilled, but can entertain with the best of them, as well.

Now here’s where you come in: we have five teams, and we need three (the Dream Team presented by Comp Cams will fill the fourth and final position). After many hours of deliberation, and with help from the fans, the staff has narrowed down the top two as Stinky Pinky Racing and Team Boddie/Dow Brothers Race Cars. However, to select the third team we will need your help to decide between Team Bigun, Team Dirty Jersey, and West Bend Dyno. Those teams will be on the campaign trail, and they’ll need your help to get them into the $10K Drag Shootout. If you have a favorite, this is your call-to-action to literally get out there and vote! Keep an eye out as we’ll be posting a poll right here on HorsepowerWars.com to put these three remaining teams on the ballot.

The Horsepower Wars $10K Drag Shootout has been made possible by some of the leading companies in our industry, including Royal Purple, Comp Cams, TCI Transmissions, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, E3 Spark Plugs, Fragola, Holley, Diablosport, Mahle Motorsports, Dyna-Batt, ProCharger, Weld Racing, ARP, BMR Suspension, QA1, PRW, Covercraft, and of course, Summit Racing.