Flying Baldini Brothers take grand prize in Autoweek America Adventure

After five days of food, fun and friendly competition, the big prize in the Autoweek America Adventure was in the Mopar booth at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas: a limited-edition 2011 Mopar Dodge Charger.

The daily winners on the adventure collected a key fob, and one of them would start the Charger. Team Roe Racing was the overall high-point winner for the challenge.

But the holders of the winning fob were the Flying Baldini Brothers. Brothers Chris and Tim Baldini, plus teammate Kailee Wheeler, joined the Autoweek America Adventure for a vacation with little expectation of winning the grand prize.

The brothers raced everything from shopping carts to rally cars during their formative years in upstate New York. They regularly attended Ferrari lapping days at Watkins Glen International Raceway and became enamored with the sport. They moved to Seattle about 10 years ago and built a rally car, which they entered in regional competitions starting in 2004. Wheeler joined their rally team and has been co-driving with them ever since.

When asked what they'd do with their new Mopar Charger, Tim Baldini said they will take it back to compete in next year's Autoweek America Adventure.

By Michelle Koueiter