Lock Up Your Pink Slips: Dodge Greenlights Drag Race Challenger

by Jonny Lieberman

Published: May 16th, 2008

lock up your pink slips dodge greenlights drag race challenger

I'm the first to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of drag racing. Yes, I intellectually understand how powerful, nifty and skilled everyone involved in the sport is. But I'm just not a fan. However — and a big however — I do love the technology that goes into and comes out of drag racing. More power, stronger components and lighter weight. Guess what? Chrysler is about to make all my dreams come true. Motor Authority is describing the Challenger drag racing kit as a throwback to the Hemi Dart and Barracuda packages of decades gone by. Specifically, what do you get? A lighter chassis. This is the big one, as the Challenger SRT-8 weighs more than a 1970 New Yorker. No, really. Internet speculation is claiming the chassis will be 800 pounds less fat. Which is (or isn't) huge. Draggers will also get lots of engine choices (duh), the possibility of a manual transmission, better brakes, seats, cooling, a working hood scoop and a lift off composite hood. The drag racing package is aimed at both pros and amateurs, is currently being vetted by the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) to sanction the kit for competition use. I can smell the top fuel now. And the pomade.

Jonny Lieberman

Cleanup driver for Team Black Metal V8olvo.

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Sajeev Mehta on May 16, 2008

Odds are the Drag Pack'd Challenger won't come with an expensive warranty, either. Or $2.99 a gallon gas. I would say this version should come in at thousands less than the R/T, but we all know that Chrysler needs $$$ and people will dig deep for one of these.

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AJ on May 16, 2008

Makes me wish I had the garage space, a tow vehicle, a reason, oh, and the extra money to buy one! And how about my own personal track. Yes, that would be cool. :)

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Golden2husky on May 16, 2008

Sounds like one to buy and stash for Barrett Jackson 2040....

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Rudiger on May 17, 2008
Sajeev Mehta: "I would say this version should come in at thousands less than the R/T, but we all know that Chrysler needs $$$ and people will dig deep for one of these."I wouldn't bet on the price being less than an R/T. Manufacturers have a bad habit of charging exhorbitant sums for anything 'limited' or 'special', even if they're actually much cheaper to build. Porsche used to have a lighter 'Club Sport' 993 that lacked A/C and a radio, yet was over $10k more than an RPO car. With a limited production run (there were only a total of around 100 Hemi-Darts and 'Cudas built in 1968, and they were expensive, stripped, dragstrip-only cars, too), I would imagine any true Super-Stock Challenger will fall into the same high-price category.

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