Dodge Challenger Drag Package - Details

CENTER LINE, Michigan — Mopar and Chrysler officially unveiled the soon-to-be-legendary and extensively covered Dodge Challenger package car over the weekend. The drag-racing package met the public at the 29th Annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Denver, Colorado. Racers "Big Daddy" Don Garlits and Judy "Miss Mighty Mopar" Lilly drove the Challengers on their inaugural track run.

The car starts as a Challenger SRT8 with a special body-in-white chassis from Chrysler's Canadian assembly plant. Modifications are more intense than predicted, with Mopar even repositioning the engine to improve driveline angle and weight distribution.

Mopar shortened the Challenger's 116-inch wheelbase half an inch and cut weight by eliminating the windshield wiper assembly, complete HVAC system, all airbag components, the rear seats, the power steering system, exhaust system and underbody heat shields, cross-car and side impact door beams, rear bumper beam and rear deck lid spoiler. Mopar even removed the body sealer, sound deadener and undercoat from the factory, and achieved a final weight that's 1,000 pounds lighter than the standard SRT8, which weighs 4,152 pounds.

The drag package will have three engine options — 5.7- and 6.1-liter Hemi engines and a 5.9-liter Magnum Wedge — as well as a choice of manual or automatic transmission. The package-car program also includes a composite lift-off hood with functional scoop, Viper-style front seats, polycarbonate door windows, manual rack-and-pinion steering, a lightweight front brake assembly and special cable-operated throttle linkage and pedal assembly.

This groundbreaking vehicle will have potential to race in 40 classes and is currently eligible to run in three Eliminator categories: Comp, Super Stock and Stock. Mopar plans to build at least 100 of these bad boys, and the MSRP for the Challenger Drag Race Package Car program should be in the low- to mid-$30,000 range.

What this means to you: The day has finally come where the official details on the Challenger drag package car have been released, and we couldn't be more impressed