Mopar Hemi Challenge Series Returns

[rickaren]

May 12, 2010
MOPAR HEMI CHALLENGE SERIES RETURNS TO POPULAR NHRA RACE DESTINATIONS IN 2010

NHRA
GLENDORA, Calif. (May 12, 2010)


Mopar has renewed its agreement with NHRA to support the Mopar HEMI Challenge Race Series, an extremely popular three-event schedule of races that will showcase the world’s fastest Super Stock race cars.

The Mopar HEMI Challenge Race Series will open at the Holley National Hot Rod Reunion at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky., June 18-20, before heading to the marquee 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, Sept. 1-6. The Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas that are most associated with the series will compete for the lucrative $10,000 winner’s purse at the tradition-rich Labor Day weekend classic, the world’s most prestigious drag race.

The Mopar HEMI Challenge Series will conclude at the JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals, Sept. 24-26, at National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Ohio. The winner at the Holley National Hot Rod Reunion and JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals will earn $5,000 apiece.

“The Mopar HEMI Challenge Race Series 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 Eric Lotz, director of field marketing, NHRA. “The $10,000 HEMI Challenge race at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals has grown into an annual must-see event for all sportsman enthusiasts.”

Drivers expected to compete in the Mopar HEMI Challenge Series this season include past winners Bucky Hess and Charlie Westcott Jr., along with Jim Daniels, Joe Teuton Jr., David Barton, Darrell Marvel and Fred Henson.

“The Mopar HEMI Challenge is for the weekend drag racers who are the core of the series,” said Pietro Gorlier, President & CEO, Mopar Service, Parts & Customer Care, Chrysler Group LLC. “These dedicated racers who compete in the Mopar HEMI Challenge buy Mopar parts from Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge or Ram dealerships and pour money, time and sweat into their Mopar HEMI-powered race cars. They are great examples of the passion for the Mopar brand that exists in the drag-racing community.”


About the Mopar Brand

Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand.

Mopar distributes approximately 280,000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original-equipment parts for Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles—a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide.

When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts maker, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.

Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s – the muscle-car era. The former Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “special parts” for super-stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division, called Mopar Performance Parts, in order to enhance speed and handling for vehicles both on the road or at the track.


About the NHRA

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks worldwide. As the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States, NHRA presents 23 national events featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. Two NHRA-sanctioned bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels: the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.