ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. -- Like many of the aerospace programs Arnold Engineering Development Complex supported over its 75-year history, the record-setting VA250 stock car was brought from concept to reality through wind tunnel testing and data evaluation.
It is therefore fitting that, as it tours the nation, the vehicle will make a stop at Arnold Air Force Base, headquarters of AEDC.
The VA250 stock car will be on display at the Arnold AFB Gossick Leadership Center from 3-7 p.m. Sept. 10 and from 1-6 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Hands-On Science Center.
When the Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee learned the VA250 team was interested in visiting Arnold AFB and Tullahoma during the tour, committee members immediately recognized the installation and city, nationally recognized as a Great American Defense Community, would be natural fits for the event, said retired U.S. Air Force Col. Beverly Lee, who also serves on the Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
“The VA250 car is a powerful example of what happens when American craftsmanship is combined with engineering, testing and the determination to accomplish something that has never been done before,” Lee said. “That makes Arnold Air Force Base and the Hands-On Science Center ideal stops – one represents world-class testing and national defense, while the other helps inspire the next generation of innovators.”
The VA250 stock car was built by Joey Arrington, founder of the Virginia-based Arrington Engines and son of the late NASCAR driver Buddy Arrington, to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary.
On March 23, 2026, the VA250 stock car sped down the runway at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility to reach a speed of 253 miles per hour, setting a new stock car land speed record in the process.
Arrington agreed that Arnold AFB is an ideal tour stop for the VA250 stock car, as its personnel understand the importance of testing and data.
“For me, bringing a hand-built American car that used wind tunnel testing and engineering analysis to a community of people who work with aerospace testing every day is a great connection,” he said. “I also hope our young people get to see how the same engineering principles can apply whether you’re talking about a racecar or an aircraft.”
Those who attend the event at Arnold will have the opportunity to meet Arrington and Tommy Hurley, the professional driver who was behind the wheel when the stock car land speed record was established.
Several students from the University of Virginia will also be on hand to discuss the importance of STEM, engineering and the role they played in bringing the VA250 stock car to fruition.
Scheduled engine start-stop demonstrations will take place throughout the visit so attendees can hear the record-setting engine.
Guests can also experience for themselves what it takes to achieve unparalleled speeds via a high-performance driving simulator. Those who climb into the simulator driver’s seat can compete on the virtual track to top the leaderboard and even attempt to best Hurley’s unprecedented pace.
“I’ve always wanted to build a land-speed car, especially with this iconic body shape,” Arrington said. “When we were asked how we could help celebrate the 250th birthday of this country, our first thought was that this was a great opportunity to make a lot of noise.”
Adorned with patriotic colors to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S., the VA250 stock car is based on a 2006 Ronnie Hopkins chassis with inspiration taken from the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona. The record-setting powerhouse is a 358-cubic inch naturally aspirated small-block engine with approximately 1,000 horsepower.
Work on the VA250 stock car began in the spring of 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia. A small group led by Arrington built the car and two engines in around nine months.
From the outset, the goal of the project was to eclipse the stock car land speed record, which was previously 244.9 miles per hour.
“The engines were built through Arrington Engines by people with deep NASCAR engine-building experience, including Doug Triplett, Tony Santaicola and me,” Arrington said. “We were taking what we had learned over years of NASCAR work and applying it to something different – a stock car that had to run safely and stay stable at more than 250 miles per hour.”
Before the run was attempted, the builders sought assurance the VA250 stock car was ready. Once the car was built, it was taken to the AeroDyn Wind Tunnel, a North Carolina-based facility specializing in automotive wind tunnel testing, for aerodynamic analysis and recommendations.
“Our background is primarily building NASCAR engines,” Arrington said. “In a small group, you have to know how to do a little bit of everything. We cautiously used what experience told us was correct, and when we got to the wind tunnel, the results supported what we had done as if we had years and years of engineering in the build.”
Arrington and his team also looked to involve a college with both a strong engineering program and a motorsports group. They found the University of Virginia to be the perfect fit.
“Anytime I get a chance to associate myself with a facility and young people with bright minds, bright ideas and new ideas, I want to make the most of it,” Arrington said.
Working alongside Professor Gavin Garner, director of Experiential Learning with the UVA School of Engineering, students with Virginia Motorsports, an undergraduate-led engineering group at the university who design, build and race formula-style racecars, participated in data analysis and discussions to support development of the VA250 stock car.
“One of the important things they did was review our wind tunnel data,” Arrington said. “In my opinion, they helped make sure we did not try to fly this car without wings. Their input supported the data and gave us additional confidence from a safety standpoint.
“What really stood out to me was how the aerodynamics group at UVA dove into the wind tunnel data and came back with a test report within just a few days. That impressed me.”
With the car built and data analyzed, the VA250 stock car was taken to the Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida for its record-setting attempt.
“On our first pass, the driver was instructed to run about 180 miles per hour, deploy the parachutes and get on the brakes so we could make sure everything worked properly. We had no issues,” Arrington said. “We went back out for the second run and set the record at 253 miles per hour.
“The thing I remember most is that when that missile came through, the hair stood up on my arms and on the back of my neck. That feeling is hard to describe.”
Arrington also encourages younger visitors to gain knowledge from both technology and hands-on experience. He also urges those with pursuing a path in the field to seek the guidance of more experienced engineers.
“I want people to feel like they have been part of this effort and part of what this car represents,” he said. “My hope is that this effort will be recognized beyond Virginia and that it reminds people what American builders, engineers, students and partners can accomplish when they set a goal and go after it.”