Toyota Tundra Drag Races Can-Am Maverick, Mind the Gap

You can think of guys like Clarkson, Needell, and Tsuchiya. They were all part of some of the best-ever TV Shows on the subject. Years later, many rose to popularity by reviewing, driving, racing, or just showing off their cars on YouTube. More isn't always better, so high-end automotive content isn't something you'll find at every corner.

And with so much competition on the market, creators always have to come up with some new idea to stand out from the crowd. While the new off-road "This vs That" format is somewhat pointless, it's still entertaining. I wouldn't dive into the Hoonigan subject this time; as you may know, some veteran crew members have chosen to start new projects away from Ken Block's former venture.

I'm still determining how this will affect the quality of their content in the future, but they should continue producing wild automotive videos anytime soon. The last time I watched this format, it was a crash festival, and I almost doubted the continuity of the series. But here we are, and they've already released two more episodes. One even had BJ Baldwin running up against Blake Wilkey, but that's not the purpose of today's story. As I had seen the nature of the 1,000 feet (304 meters) "runway," I was instantly surprised by the current match-up.

Pitching a Can-Am Maverick against a Toyota Tundra on this surface is like asking a pro swimmer to race against a dolphin. If that's not a good enough comparison, keep reading for more info. Right out of the box, the Maverick's turbocharged Rotax engine has a maximum output of around 200 horsepower. But the one here also benefits from a tune-up, meaning it's closer to 300 hp.

That may sound meager next to the Tundra's supercharged 5.7-liter V8. But this is ultimately power a power-to-weight ratio battle. Ok, I know that's simplifying things a lot, but I was willing to bet that the Maverick would make a fool out of the Tundra after less than 60 seconds since the video started. Add the pro driver to the equation, and the whole race seems completely pointless.

But sometimes, watching a challenge to see how badly someone loses is fun. With Hoonigan rules, the lesser car/driver pair gets a second chance on the second run. The Toyota gets lucky for a minute, but the outcome is inevitable. Imagine how big of a gap we would have seen if this wasn't just a straight-line acceleration battle but a complete course with corners. Wouldn't you agree that that would be more exciting?