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Center Line, Mich. — Bragging rights and $15,000 in prize money will be on the line when the Mopar® 2007 HEMI® Challenge Race Series crowns a champion at the 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park (ORP) in Indianapolis on Aug. 29 - Sept. 3.
The seventh annual Mopar HEMI Challenge race series stop at ORP has become a Labor Day tradition. Race fans flock to ORP to watch ‘68 Plymouth Barracudas and Dodge Darts in the NHRA Super Stock/A-HEMI (SS/AH) division do battle. More than 25 HEMI-powered cars will run head-to-head Mopar duels for Indy faithful on Friday, Aug. 31.
Charlie Westcott Jr., driver of the ‘68 Plymouth ‘Cuda “Warfish,” is chomping at the bit to hit the ORP track, considering his recent Indy track record. Westcott has claimed the Mopar HEMI Challenge trophy at Indy for the last two years. He looks to make it a possible trifecta and bring home the $10,000 Mopar HEMI Challenge U.S. Nationals winner’s check and trophy. The race series champion also banks $5,000 for taking the overall points title.
Westcott is also gunning for his second-straight Mopar HEMI Challenge overall championship at Indy, the 2007 season points finale. Following his HEMI Challenge win at April’s Jegs.com Cajun SPORTSnationals, Westcott holds a 20-point lead over Rick Houser, driver of the Jim DeFrank & Sons ‘68 ‘Cuda Fastback. Houser also scored a 2007 HEMI Challenge win at the inaugural Mopars at The Strip event in Las Vegas .
The legendary “Dandy Dick” Landy changed the face of drag racing
This year, Mopar will pay tribute to the legendary Mopar Super Stock and Pro Stock driver, Dick Landy. With his expertise behind the wheel and his prowess as an engine and chassis developer, “Dandy Dick” earned the respect of his peers and changed the face of drag racing.
Throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s, Landy campaigned successful Dodge factory race cars in a variety of classes. As a pioneer and heavy hitter in the Funny Car and Pro Stock ranks, Landy acquired a winning reputation in NHRA competition. Showcasing Detroit 's factory muscle cars being built at the time, Landy headed a Chrysler-sponsored Dodge Drag Racing Clinic. Every drag racing fan's hero, Landy died on Jan. 11, 2007 at the age of 69.
Mac Tools U.S. Nationals HEMI Challenge event details
For information on the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals HEMI Challenge event at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis scheduled for Friday, Aug. 31, 2007, visit O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis: Home Page. For event coverage of the HEMI Challenge, visit Mopar Speed: The Offical E-Zine of Team Mopar.
More Mopar HEMI Challenge events are on tap after the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
In its seventh season, the HEMI Challenge has ballooned from a one-race event into a multi-event race series. This year, the event lineup will feature six races of SS/AH drivers. After the 2007 HEMI Challenge champion is crowned at the U.S. Nationals, the 2008 HEMI Challenge points season will begin at the Jeg’s NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals in Columbus on Sept. 28–30, 2007. Two additional 2008 HEMI Challenge points events will take place in 2007: at the NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals in Fontana, Calif. on Oct. 5–7; and the Northeastern Division Dutch Classic at Mohnton, Penn. on Oct. 18–21.
“It’s going to be a great battle for the 2007 HEMI Challenge title,” said Jon Clark, Mopar Performance’s Parts Manager. “Mopar will crown the 7th HEMI Challenge champion at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. It just goes to show the longevity and success of this authentic event. The enthusiasts who compete in these SS/AH HEMI-powered Mopars have spurred the expansion of the series. They are the heart of the program. The number of ‘68 ‘Cudas and Darts entering the HEMI Challenge continues to grow, as does the number of Mopar HEMI Challenge events.”
70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.
Originally used in the 1920s, Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It was also widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s – the muscle car era. The 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 to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.
Today, The New Chrysler’s Global Service & Parts division is responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of nearly 250,000 authentic Mopar replacement parts, components and accessories for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles sold around the world. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering standards.
Mopar® Will Crown the 2007 HEMI® Challenge Race Series Champion at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Aug. 29 – Sept. 3
- The Mopar® HEMI® Challenge Race Series features head-to-head competition in the NHRA Super Stock/A-HEMI (SS/AH) division
- Mopar will pay tribute to legendary engine builder and driver, “Dandy Dick” Landy
- Mac Tools U.S. Nationals HEMI Challenge event details
- More Mopar HEMI Challenge events are scheduled to follow the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Center Line, Mich. — Bragging rights and $15,000 in prize money will be on the line when the Mopar® 2007 HEMI® Challenge Race Series crowns a champion at the 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park (ORP) in Indianapolis on Aug. 29 - Sept. 3.
The seventh annual Mopar HEMI Challenge race series stop at ORP has become a Labor Day tradition. Race fans flock to ORP to watch ‘68 Plymouth Barracudas and Dodge Darts in the NHRA Super Stock/A-HEMI (SS/AH) division do battle. More than 25 HEMI-powered cars will run head-to-head Mopar duels for Indy faithful on Friday, Aug. 31.
Charlie Westcott Jr., driver of the ‘68 Plymouth ‘Cuda “Warfish,” is chomping at the bit to hit the ORP track, considering his recent Indy track record. Westcott has claimed the Mopar HEMI Challenge trophy at Indy for the last two years. He looks to make it a possible trifecta and bring home the $10,000 Mopar HEMI Challenge U.S. Nationals winner’s check and trophy. The race series champion also banks $5,000 for taking the overall points title.
Westcott is also gunning for his second-straight Mopar HEMI Challenge overall championship at Indy, the 2007 season points finale. Following his HEMI Challenge win at April’s Jegs.com Cajun SPORTSnationals, Westcott holds a 20-point lead over Rick Houser, driver of the Jim DeFrank & Sons ‘68 ‘Cuda Fastback. Houser also scored a 2007 HEMI Challenge win at the inaugural Mopars at The Strip event in Las Vegas .
The legendary “Dandy Dick” Landy changed the face of drag racing
This year, Mopar will pay tribute to the legendary Mopar Super Stock and Pro Stock driver, Dick Landy. With his expertise behind the wheel and his prowess as an engine and chassis developer, “Dandy Dick” earned the respect of his peers and changed the face of drag racing.
Throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s, Landy campaigned successful Dodge factory race cars in a variety of classes. As a pioneer and heavy hitter in the Funny Car and Pro Stock ranks, Landy acquired a winning reputation in NHRA competition. Showcasing Detroit 's factory muscle cars being built at the time, Landy headed a Chrysler-sponsored Dodge Drag Racing Clinic. Every drag racing fan's hero, Landy died on Jan. 11, 2007 at the age of 69.
Mac Tools U.S. Nationals HEMI Challenge event details
For information on the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals HEMI Challenge event at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis scheduled for Friday, Aug. 31, 2007, visit O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis: Home Page. For event coverage of the HEMI Challenge, visit Mopar Speed: The Offical E-Zine of Team Mopar.
More Mopar HEMI Challenge events are on tap after the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
In its seventh season, the HEMI Challenge has ballooned from a one-race event into a multi-event race series. This year, the event lineup will feature six races of SS/AH drivers. After the 2007 HEMI Challenge champion is crowned at the U.S. Nationals, the 2008 HEMI Challenge points season will begin at the Jeg’s NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals in Columbus on Sept. 28–30, 2007. Two additional 2008 HEMI Challenge points events will take place in 2007: at the NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals in Fontana, Calif. on Oct. 5–7; and the Northeastern Division Dutch Classic at Mohnton, Penn. on Oct. 18–21.
“It’s going to be a great battle for the 2007 HEMI Challenge title,” said Jon Clark, Mopar Performance’s Parts Manager. “Mopar will crown the 7th HEMI Challenge champion at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. It just goes to show the longevity and success of this authentic event. The enthusiasts who compete in these SS/AH HEMI-powered Mopars have spurred the expansion of the series. They are the heart of the program. The number of ‘68 ‘Cudas and Darts entering the HEMI Challenge continues to grow, as does the number of Mopar HEMI Challenge events.”
70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.
Originally used in the 1920s, Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It was also widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s – the muscle car era. The 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 to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.
Today, The New Chrysler’s Global Service & Parts division is responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of nearly 250,000 authentic Mopar replacement parts, components and accessories for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles sold around the world. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering standards.
