Holley LS Fest West, 2021 LS Fest West

Horsepower in the Desert – 2021 Holley LS Fest West in Las Vegas

It’s difficult to argue the dominance of GM’s LS engine platform in hot rodding over the past decade. The engine’s ability to make big power on a budget, its massive aftermarket performance parts support, and easy adaptability into a wide range of platforms has made it the engine swap of choice for everything from vintage classics, to off roaders, to imports, to autocross racers. Aided by easy availability ranging from salvage yard take-outs to countless crate engine offerings, LS engines are seemingly everywhere.

Holley LS Fest West, 2021 LS Fest West

Holley LS Fest West, 2021 LS Fest West

Holley and FM3 Marketing have capitalized on this popularity with a series of LS Fest events billed as “celebrations of everything and anything powered by the incredible GM LS engine!” These events aren’t typical car shows – they have a heavy motorsports element with drag racing, autocrossing, drifting, and off-road competitions. There’s a conventional car show, too, plus vendor exhibits, dyno challenges, and more, making for an action-heavy, full-throttle weekend.


Holley LS Fest West, 2021 LS Fest West

Holley LS Fest West, 2021 LS Fest West


The latest installment of the popular series rolled into Sin City April 23-25, as Holley LS Fest West 2021 took over Las Vegas Motor Speedway. You could tell that gearheads from across the Western U.S. were eager for some high-horsepower action, as all aspects of the event were bustling with both participants and spectators. Even with health and safety protocols capping total attendance, it was still a spectacle to behold.

Holley LS Fest West, 2021 LS Fest West

There were plenty of familiar Goodguys vehicles and faces in the mix, including Josh Leisinger, who was the Grand Champion in the Vintage class with his ’64 Corvette, and David Carroll who nabbed the Grand Champion title in the Truck class in a ’74 GMC. Duke Langley captured the Late-Model Grand Champion win in a 2002 Corvette. It was also cool to see that Weaver Customs took home the Best of Show honor in the Hooker Blackheart and LS1 Tech Show-n-Shine with the ’65 GMC they built for Andrea Fappani, just a week after earning some top awards at the Goodguys FiTech Spring Nationals in Scottsdale. A full list of winners and results can be found HERE.

The accompanying photos offer a glimpse at all of the desert weekend action. The roar of LS power could be heard throughout the Las Vegas Motor Speedway grounds and was sweet music to the throng of gathered gearheads. For LS fans, LS Fest West in Vegas was definitely the place to be last weekend. Check it out and we think you’ll agree.

2021 Holley LS Fest West Photo Extra!

Photos by Terry Lysak

Editor, Goodguys Gazette

Damon Lee began snapping photos at car shows when he was 10, tagging along with his father to events throughout the Midwest. He has combined his passion for cars and knack for writing and imagery into a 20-year career in the automotive aftermarket, writing for titles like Super Chevy and Rod & Custom and, more recently, working for respected industry leaders Speedway Motors and Goodguys Rod & Custom Association.