It’s not all about quarter miles: Dodge takes the 2015 Challenger Trans Am racing

By Stephen Edelstein August 15, 2014

With so much talk of the 707-horsepower 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and its 11.2-second quarter-mile time, you’d think Dodge’s two-door muscle car is only good at driving in a straight line.

That’s not true. In the early 1970s, the Challenger competed in one of the most hotly-contested road racing series in history. The SCCA Trans Am was originally intended for nimble imported sports sedans, but it was quickly dominated by muscle cars from the Big Three, plus American Motors.

Hoping to recapture some of that glory, the Challenger will return to Trans Am this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course race.

Dodge didn’t release any technical details, but the rules for the TA2 class the Challenger will be competing in specify a V8 engine producing around 500 hp.

The cost of entire car is also capped at $100,000, meaning the Trans Am Challenger does without a lot of the exotic modifications like ones seen on the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R and other production-based cars built for more-demanding endurance racing.

RELATED: 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat first drive

Two Challenger SRT racers will be campaigned by Miller Racing, driven by Cameron Lawrence and four-time champion Tommy Kendall. This will be Kendall’s first Trans Am start in a decade.

Decked out in a modernized version of the livery worn by its 1970s predecessors, the Challenger SRT should be quite a sight on the track.

It’s a nice bit of nostalgia for sure, but with the road-going Hellcat outgunning the Trans Am racer to the tune of 200 hp, why should anyone care?

While the HEMI and 440 Magnum-powered Challengers were terrorizing drag strips back in the day, Dodge also offered a Challenger T/A model.

It had a smaller engine, but it was built to certify the Challenger for Trans Am competition, just like a couple of cars you may have heard of: the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and Ford Mustang Boss 302.

Both of those classics have been reincarnated, and it would be great to see lighting strike a third time.

Topics

Photo Galleries

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

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

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.