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2015 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak smokes the quarter mile with 426 HEMI power

Stephen Edelstein
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The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat may be able to scorch through the quarter mile in 11.2 seconds, but it’s not a dedicated racecar.

For those who truly live their lives one quarter mile at a time, Chrysler’s Mopar parts division unveiled a 2015 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak “test vehicle” at Indianapolis this past week. It’s latest version of the Pentastar empire’s factory drag racer.

The Drag Pak includes the same visual upgrades as the Challenger SRT Hellcat, plus a mean-looking hood scoop and track-ready wheels and tires, the latter a massive 30 inches in diameter, and nine inches wide.

Under that bulging hood is a HEMI V8 that displaces the same 426 cubic inches as the legendary 1960s “Race HEMI.” That’s equivalent to about 7.0 liters in modern speak. It’s mated to an automatic transmission with racing-style shifter and a line-lock feature for easier burnouts.

Related: 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat boasts 707 hp supercharged HEMI V8

Other Drag Pak modifications include an aluminum driveshaft, trunk-mounted battery and weigh box, and reworked suspension.

The interior is based on the stock SRT Hellcat setup, with added Mopar gauges, lightweight driver and passenger seats, and a full roll cage.

As with previous Mopar factory racers, the 2015 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak will be certified for National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Sportsman competition. It’ll go up against the like of Chevrolet’s COPO Camaro, and possibly a successor to the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet based on the new 2015 model.

Dodge is still awaiting NHRA certification for this muscle car, and may also make changes based on feedback from the racers it showed the car to at Indianapolis. Expect a fully-sorted version to arrive soon.

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Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
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