Texas-based racer and promoter, Michael Hollis, pulled off one of the grittiest wins of his career this weekend at That Racing Channel’s King of the Open Road, held at Osage Casino & Hotel Tulsa Raceway Park.
After completing a grueling 225-mile cruise on Friday, Hollis qualified No. 2 in one class and No. 4 in another during Saturday’s sessions – only to discover a mysterious engine noise. By Sunday, it became clear the issue was major: the harmonic balancer had split in half. With no spare in sight and the final eliminations underway, Hollis and his father improvised a solution straight out of a grassroots racing movie – rigging up an old RYOBI cordless drill with zip ties and electrical tape to keep the water pump turning and battery charging.
“It worked,” Hollis said. “We made it all the way to the finals against my buddy Aaron Fowler and laid down our best pass of the weekend to take the freaking win.”
Hollis’ perseverance perfectly embodied the KOTOR spirit – a drag-and-drive-style event that blends scenic cruising, street car racing, and good vibes in a grassroots environment. More than 200 racers and thousands of fans descended on Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park for the unique multi-day throwdown, which continues to grow under the direction of promoter Jared Holt and the TRC team.
As Hollis put it: “As Lex Joon says… Never quit.”
This story was originally published on August 3, 2025. 
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