2026 Mustang Week Smoke Show Presented by Summit Racing

The Mustang Week Smoke Show is the ultimate burnout event, featuring two distinct classes designed to give drivers a chance to showcase their skills — whether you’re running a street car for fun or competing in the Pro Burnout Show.

Held inside the Monster Energy Zone. Held at Mustang Week 2026 in Galveston/Houston, TX at Moody Gardens.

Event Classes

• Mustang Week Street Class – $1,000 Purse (Friday Night)
• Ford vs. The World Pro Class – $15,000 Purse (Saturday Night)

Mustang Week Street Class Burnout Contest

Friday Night – April 17, 2026
Presented by Summit Racing
Hosted & MC’d by Cobra Sam

This class is about one thing: having a good time.

The Mustang Week Street Class Burnout Contest turns the Monster Energy Zone into a full-blown smoke show. This is your moment to roll in, mat the throttle, and light it up. Burnouts, donuts, figure-8s—if it makes smoke and fires up the crowd, it’s fair game.

Vehicle Eligibility

• Ford-bodied or Ford-powered vehicles only
• Pro-style burnout cars not permitted in Street Class (judges’ discretion)
• Vehicle must pass a basic safety inspection
• Vehicle must be in good condition with no fluid leaks
• All basic safety rules apply

Competition Format

• Burnout Type:
  • Moving (Aussie-style) or Standing (static)
  • Driver must notify the Pit Boss in advance
• Time Limit:
  • 45–75 seconds per run
  • Final time at official’s discretion
  • Must shut down immediately on command
• End of Run: Signaled by air horn or red flag
• Driving Area: Inside the Monster Energy Zone
• Stay off the wall: Automatic DQ if you hit a barrier or cannot drive off the pad

Prize Purse

$1,000 Total
$750 – Winner
$250 – Runner-Up

Driver & Contest Rules

• Driver and any passenger must be 18+
• Valid driver’s license and insurance required
• Passengers allowed but must:
  • Stay inside the vehicle
  • Sign a waiver
• Drivers and passengers must attend the driver’s meeting
• Seat belts required at all times
• Vehicle must remain under control
• No fluids allowed on tires
• If a tire blows, you must immediately stop
• Officials may stop any vehicle at any time

Flag & Command System

• Pit Boss: Start burnout on command
• Red Flag or Air Horn: Run is complete—return to pit
• Air Horn = STOP immediately

Automatic Run End / Disqualification

• No reverse driving during burnout
• Cannot hit or press the nose of the car against the K-rail
  (automatic DQ – safety issue)
• Failure to drive off the pad under your own power
• Vehicles experiencing mechanical issues may still be eligible for judging, provided the run was completed safely.

Judging Criteria (Keep It Fun)

You score points for:

• Crowd hype & reaction
• Showmanship
• Volume of smoke
• Vehicle control & driving skill

Points deducted for:

• Stalling or stopping
• Barrier contact that visibly moves or slows the barrier
• Failure to drive off the pad

Judges will use the above criteria to determine the winner.

Tie Breaker – Crowd reaction decides the winner

Mustang Week Smoke Show – Ford vs. The World PRO RULES

Saturday Night – April 18, 2026

Ford vs. The World is a premier burnout showdown that brings together top drivers and high-powered machines for an intense, high-stakes competition.

Apply to participate in the Smoke Show: Fords vs. the World competition at Mustang Week Texas 2026. Approval is not guaranteed – you will receive an approval or response to the email you have listed.

Entry Requirements

• Open to all makes and models
• Ford vs. The World format
• Application required, including vehicle history and background. Approval required.

Prize Package

• $15,000 Total Purse
  • $10,000 – First Place
  • $4,000 – Second Place
  • $1,000 – Third Place

Ford vs. The World – Vehicle Rules

• Helmet & Neck collar (or driver restraint) required.
• Fire suit required for methanol entries (SFI 3.2A/5 minimum)
• Seat belts or harness required
• Fire-retardant shoes, gloves, and head sock recommended
• Hot fluids must be contained under the hood
• Firewall must be complete with no holes into the driver compartment
• Scatter shields required on supercharged clutch-equipped vehicles
  • Ballistic transmission protection also required
• Turbo Exhaust Safety: Two bolts installed in the exhaust pipe in a cross pattern
• Battery disconnect switch required. Must be easily accessible to officials
• No hubcaps, wheel trim, or wheel weights
• Steel wheels required if attempting tire pop
• Hatches, tailgates, wings, etc. must have additional tethering
• No nitromethane
• Battery must be securely mounted
• No externally mounted nitrous bottles
• No fireworks
• No passengers
• Driver must be 18+ years old

Ford vs. The World – Competition Rules

• Burnouts limited to two (2) minutes
• Burnouts begin only on official command (green flag)
• No standing/static burnouts
  • Vehicle must maintain movement
• Vehicle may not be placed against a safety wall
• Driver must stop immediately if instructed by event staff
• We use a flag and air horn system to communicate with our drivers during the burnouts.
  • Green flag – driver may start the burnout. Can also mean “keep going you are good”
  • Yellow Flag – warning (fire risk, loss of control, unsafe.)
  • Red flag – stop immediately, run is over. Can be safety related. Failure to comply is a DQ and/or being banned from future competitions.
  • The air horn can be used by the PIT BOSS to notify you to STOP immediately in addition to the red flag.
  • PIT BOSS will be in 100% CONTROL of the Flag system, but the other safety personnel will also wave the Yellow or Red Flags at the direction of the PIT BOSS.
  • Red Flag + Air Horn – RUN is Complete. Return to Pit.
  • When you hear the AIR HORN you must STOP, run is over.

Judging Criteria (100 Points Total)

• Instant smoke – 10 pts
• Constant smoke – 30 pts
• Volume of smoke – 20 pts
• Driving skill – 30 pts
• Crowd hype/reaction – 10 pts

Point Deductions

• Failure to drive off the pad: –5 pts
• Tires still inflated: –5 pts per tire

Disqualifications

• Competition stopping or fire – DQ
• Vehicle backing up – DQ

Tie Breaker

• Winner decided by crowd reaction