Photos by Phil Hutchison and Diane Kubicke Story by Phil Hutchison and NHRA Communications
Only days away, the 12 annual Mopar HEMI Challenge is arguably, one of the most anticipated events at the 58th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. The shootout, which came to fruition after years of SS/AA class racing at the Indianapolis strip, features 1968 Hemi Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas running for an $18,000 purse.
Bristol PA racer “Dr Jim” Daniels will have his flying Dart at the upcoming Hemi Challenge
In 1968, Chrysler made approximately 100 fastback Plymouth Barracudas and Dodge Darts equipped with the Hemi for drag racing competition. The cars were assembled by Hurst Performance and featured lightweight items such as lightweight side glass, fiberglass front fenders, and hood with scoop, lightweight seats, and sound deadener and other street equipment such as rear seats omitted. A sticker inside the car indicated that the vehicle was not for street use. Go figure.
Is this Dart, once owned by “Dandy” Dick Landy one of the original 100?
Right off the bat, the Cudas and Darts were putting down mid 10 second times, which for a race car manufactured by one of Detroit’s big three, made them the quickest Super Stockers in the NHRA.
The quickest and fastest Hemi on the planet.
Fast forward to 2012 (the class has been renamed SS/AH) and with the advances in cam and head technology, along with chassis improvements have these beasts running in the mid to low 8 second bracket with multi time Challenge winner Charlie Westcott Jr the current NHRA National Record holder with a 8.22 at 162.72 mph.
Winner of the very first Hemi Challenge, Bucky Hess running out of West Virginia
Now it must be pointed out that few if none of the original 100 cars produced by Mopar are still racing completively, they are worth too much on the market to chance having them crash or be damaged at the track. The Cudas and Darts racing at Indy are specialty built racecars with all the latest tricks that the Super Stock rulebook allows.
Bruce Biegler editor of Drag Race Canada and contributor to Mopar Magazine & MoparSpeed.com gets the Hemi racers ready for their photo shoot before the first round on Friday… sorta like herding cats
Twenty-seven drivers are entered in the Challenge at Indy including Division One racers Tyler Hard, Jim Daniels, Wendell Howes, Hemi guru David Barton and Gary Wolkwitz. Joining this list are former winners Rick Houser, inaugural 2001 winner Bucky Hess, Charlie Westcott Sr. and Charlie Westcott Jr.
PA racer Tyler Hard has his Cuda entered into the 2012 race and is considered to be one of the favorites from D1
Mopar dealer Fred Henson from Madisonville TX gets his ’68 Dart off the line at the 2004 race. The stands in the background are no longer there as larger stands were put up a few years ago.
“Grassroots racers who compete in the Mopar HEMI Challenge are the foundation of drag racing, and the reason why Mopar is involved in the NHRA,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand.
One of the most popular winners was 2004 champ Jeg Coughlin driving Harry Holton’s CA based Cuda. That’s Nitro Joe on the right!
The Westcott family has won the lion’s share of the Mopar Challenges
“We are excited to have the Mopar HEMI Challenge event return as part of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals,” said Eric Lotz, Director of Field Marketing, NHRA. “It’s become an important part of the event and a must-see for all Sportsman enthusiasts. The increased purse from Mopar will add even more excitement to the competition.”
The Mopar Hemi Challenge brings out lots of NHRA veterans like “Mr 4 Speed” Herb McCandless (left) and “Akron Arlen” Vanke (seated)
The 2009 Challenge finals had Westcott the Senior beating David Barton who was late and not quick enough to make it much of a race.
The 2004 finals featured two of the quickest West Coast Hemis with Jeg Coughlin driving the Harry Holton Cuda (near lane) beating Rick Houser behind the wheel of the DeFrank Mopar. Jeg won with a 8.79 to Houser’s close 8.807
California racer Rick Houser driving the DeFrank & Sons Hemi Cuda at the 2005 race
Qualifying starts Wednesday August 29 with eliminations scheduled for Friday August 31 during Super Stock eliminations with the finals running in conjunction with the Pro Qualifying session Friday night under the lights at Indy..
There’s always a few cars you rarely see at NHRA events entered in the Challenge. Here D2 racer John Gifford goes up against Joe Teuton at the 2006 event. Lately “Little” Joe has been making the NED his summer home having raced at some of the recent LODRS events in his Cuda and has been going rounds.
A pre race parade gets the party started during Friday’s Super Stock class eliminations
Division One hitter Gary Wolkwitz hopes to put his Ray Barton powered Dart deep in eliminations at Indy
Stay tuned to NorthEastDragRevieew.com for coverage of the Challenge along with all of the action from the Big Go East 2012.
The Bartons build big power for their Hemi customers. Here David gets ready before the first round of eliminations
Team Teuton has been known to have more than one Hemi in competition, here Kevin Helms (near lane) beats a red lighting Stephen Hebert in round 1 of the 2009 event
