NHRA News: Mopar Performance Parts continues backing of Super Stock Hemi Challenge (8/5/2004)

Mopar Performance Parts continues backing of Super Stock Hemi Challenge

8/5/2004

Mopar Performance Parts has renewed its sponsorship of the wildly popular Super Stock Hemi Challenge for the fourth consecutive year.

The Mopar Performance Parts Super Stock Hemi Challenge will take place on Friday, Sept. 3, during the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. More than 20 1968 SS/AA Plymouth Barracudas and Dodge Darts will compete for the coveted $10,000 bonus awarded to the winner of the Hemi Challenge. The runner-up will receive a pair of Mopar Hemi heads.

"The Mopar Performance Parts Super Stock Hemi Challenge brings together the best SS/AA Hemi cars from all over the country to compete against each other in a program that continues to grow in popularity," said Len Imbrogno, NHRA director of sportsman racing and member tracks. "The Darts and Barracudas we see entered in the Hemi Challenge at Indianapolis Raceway Park have quickly become a favorite for sportsman fans everywhere."

NHRA competitors who are eligible for the competition in the Hemi Challenge are those who compete in the Super Stock/A-Automatic (SS/AA) category. These limited-production 1968 Hemi-powered Barracudas and Darts were made famous by legendary NHRA pioneers such as Ronnie Sox, Dick Landy, Arlen Vanke, and Ron Mancini in the late 1960s and won numerous national events and national championships in the lightweight, high-horsepower Super Stock entries.

"Mopar Performance Parts is committed to keeping the Hemi heritage alive both on the track and on the street for years to come," said David Hakim, portfolio manager for Mopar Performance Parts. "Because of the prestige associated with winning this event, we are seeing an influx of new competitors building Hemi cars for the class along with the traditional SS/AA racers. It's not just about the money, but bragging rights are on the line as well. All of the competitors in this event want to be able to say they had the baddest Hemi car at the 50th annual U.S. Nationals."

Among the entries for the prestigious event this season include past winners Richard Beshore, Bucky Hess, and three-time NHRA champion Jeg Coughlin.

"These cars are really incredible," Hakim said. "The fact they have gone in the mid-eights at over 150 mph while retaining the same basic production package is very impressive. This is not just a nostalgia class, either. There is continuous research and development along with a great deal of technology that goes into the engine, driveline and suspension. Therefore, the level of competition within SS/AA class is always being raised."

Mopar Performance Parts offers a wide variety of factory engineered high-performance parts for Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles. Mopar Performance Parts are manufactured to the highest standards and designed to give enthusiasts and professional racers the competitive edge they demand.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 23 national events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has 80,000 members nationwide and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, NHRA Summit Sport Compact Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.

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