OPTIMA® Batteries, the global leader in high-performance automotive and AGM batteries and chargers, is proud to announce the premiere of its OPTIMA® Ultimate Ultimate Street Car Invitational television special on SPEED™ on Sunday, March 10 at 11 a.m. EST.

The OPTIMA® Ultimate Invitational vehicles represent a wide range of interests and styles, from a 1933 Ford hot rod to a custom-crafted Nissan GT-R, and several vintage and late-model American muscle cars modified for greatly improved performance. European supercars are also well represented in the mix, ranging from a track-friendly 1985 Porsche Carrera to a 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo.

The OPTIMA® Ultimate Invitational began in 2008 when Cam Douglass, OPTIMA® Ultimate Batteries director of product development and marketing recognized a need to prove the specialty vehicles on the SEMA Show floor were built for speed and superior performance. Today the annual event occurs each Saturday following the close of the SEMA Show, bringing in top automotive talent, highly modified vehicles, credible racing veterans and fresh talent.

Additional airings will occur on the following dates and times:

A complete list of sponsors for the 2012 OPTIMA® Ultimate Street Car Invitational include presenting sponsors K&N Filters and Royal Purple; race event sponsors BFGoodrich, RideTech, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering and Detroit Speed and Engineering/JRI Shocks; and associate sponsors MagnaFlow, Roadster Shop, Mothers, RECARO and Centerforce Clutches.