Mopar Performance Parts has renewed its sponsorship with the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) of the wildly popular Super Stock Hemi Challenge for the fourth consecutive year, NHRA officials announced today.

The Mopar Performance Parts Super Stock Hemi Challenge will take place on Friday, Sept. 3, during the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. More than 20 1968 SS/AA Plymouth Barracudas and Dodge Darts will compete for the coveted $10,000 bonus awarded to the winner of the Hemi Challenge. The runner-up will receive a pair of Mopar Hemi heads.

"The Mopar Performance Parts Super Stock Hemi Challenge 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 Len Imbrogno, NHRA director of sportsman racing and member tracks. "The Darts and Barracudas we see entered in the Hemi Challenge at Indianapolis Raceway Park have quickly become a favorite for sportsman fans everywhere."

NHRA competitors who are eligible for the competition in the Hemi Challenge are those who compete in the Super Stock/A-Automatic (SS/AA) category. These limited production 1968 Hemi-powered Barracudas and Darts were made famous by legendary NHRA pioneers such as Ronnie Sox, Dick Landy, Arlen Vanke and Ron Mancini in the late 1960s and won numerous national events and national championships in the lightweight, high-horsepower Super Stock entries.

"Mopar Performance Parts is committed to keeping the Hemi heritage alive both on the track and on the street for years to come," said David Hakim, portfolio manager for Mopar Performance Parts. "Because of the prestige associated with winning this event, we are seeing an influx of new competitors building HEMI cars for the class along with the traditional SS/AA racers. It's not just about the money, but bragging rights are on the line as well. All of the competitors in this event want to be able to say they had the baddest Hemi car at the 50th annual U.S. Nationals."

Among the entries for the prestigious event this season include past winners Richard Beshore and Bucky Hess.

"These cars are really incredible," Hakim added. "The fact they have gone in the mid-eights at over 150 mph while retaining the same basic production package is very impressive. This is not just a nostalgia class, either. There is continuous research and development along with a great deal of technology that goes into the engine, driveline and suspension. Therefore, the level of competition within SS/AA class is always being raised."

Mopar Performance Parts offers a wide variety of factory engineered high-performance parts for Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. Mopar Performance Parts are manufactured to the highest standards and designed to give enthusiasts and professional racers the competitive edge they demand.

08/1/04

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