On this episode of Rottler Featured Series, join us in Niles, Ohio at Ross Racing Engines where owner Tony Lombardi runs a multi-generational engine building business that’s built a following among drag racers and custom hot rod enthusiasts alike.

Tony’s dad started the business back in the 1970s doing the machine work for his own dragster. Word spread, however, and soon the shop was building engines for racers nationwide. These days Ross Racing Engines builds just about every type of performance motor there is — circle track, offshore boat, super stock, top fuel, and everything in between.

As a driver, Tony started racing stock dirt track before jumping over to drag racing, but these days where he’s really made a name for himself is as an engine builder. He takes those hard core, classic hot rod engines — Olds, Hemis, Buick Nailheads, you name it — and totally rebuilds the interior with modern parts good enough to drive coast-to-coast (which many have done).

Ross Racing Engines has done hot rod engine work for some of the biggest names in the business including Roseville Rod & Custom and Galpin Ford, and Tony’s shop is lined with ribbons and trophies, including many national championships like the NHRA Nostalgia Top Fuel Championship just this past year.

As a shop with a reputation for outstanding quality, naturally, Ross Racing Engines is also a Rottler-powered shop. They have an H85AX automatic hone that Tony credits for helping deliver three national championships. “My cylinders are very straight, true, and round” thanks to that hone” he says.

As for the future and his retirement plan, Tony says they’ll find him face down in the shop one day because he’s going to build engines until he can’t build them anymore. That’s great news for everyone (except maybe the last guy he builds an engine for)!

Check out Ross Racing Engine’s story in the video!