MOPAR HEMI CHALLENGE RACE SERIES OPENS AT PRESTIGIOUS MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS

MOPAR HEMI CHALLENGE RACE SERIES OPENS AT PRESTIGIOUS MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS

GLENDORA, Calif. (Aug. 5, 2009) – Mopar has renewed its agreement with NHRA to sponsor the Mopar HEMI Challenge Race Series, a wildly 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 55th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, Sept. 2-7. 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 world’s most prestigious drag race during Labor Day weekend.

The Mopar HEMI Challenge Series also will be contested at the JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals, Sept. 25-27, at National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Ohio, and at the Dutch Classic, Oct. 22-25, at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. Those events will pay the winner $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 presented by Lucas Oil has grown into an annual must-see event for all sportsman enthusiasts.”

All three Mopar HEMI Challenge races will be stand-alone events.

The defending champion of the Mopar HEMI Challenge at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil is Charlie Westcott Jr. Other drivers expected to compete in the series this season include past winner Bucky Hess, Larry Woo, Joe Teuton Jr., Rick Houser, Darrell Marvel and Fred Henson.

“The Mopar HEMI Challenge illustrates the amazing dedication of the grassroots racers that are the core of the series,” said Jim Sassorossi, director of Mopar Global Parts Sales and Marketing, Chrysler LLC. “The dedicated racers who compete in the Mopar HEMI Challenge buy parts from a Dodge, Chrysler or Jeep dealership and pour money, time and sweat into their Mopar HEMI-powered race cars. They are great examples of the passion that exists in the drag racing community for the Mopar brand.”