The 63rd Annual NHRA U.S. Nationals
August 22, 2017 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – Each year, the prestigious U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway near Indianapolis bring together not only the best Pro drag racers in the world, but also the top Sportsman competitors from all categories. Mopar’s Sportsman racers have reached national and divisional winner’s circles across the country this season, and during Labor Day weekend they will be a major part of “The Big Go.”
The Mopar HEMI® Challenge Returns for 17th Consecutive Year
2017 marks the 17th edition of the Mopar HEMI Challenge, a unique event in which Super Stock/Automatic HEMI (SS/AH) drivers battle for bragging rights in 1968 HEMI-powered Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas: the original Mopar package cars. The vehicles were purpose-built for the drag strip and served as the precursor to today’s Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak vehicles.
The winner claims $15,000 and a HEMI Challenge trophy, while the event also provides a cash payout to the top 16 finishers. All competitors receive special HEMI Challenge decals, hats and limited-edition posters.
“We take pride in how our classic Mopar package cars have remained so popular close to 50 years after they were introduced,” said Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar), FCA – Global. “As we celebrate our brand’s 80th anniversary in 2017, we continue to support the passion and commitment of our Sportsman racers not only through the Mopar HEMI Challenge, but also with contingency programs and our modern-day package car, the Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak.”
Mopar and Dodge Displays Feature Fan-friendly Activities
On top of watching the on-track action during the U.S. Nationals, fans will be able to visit both the Mopar and Dodge display trailers on Lucas Oil Raceway’s Manufacturers Midway. Enthusiasts can test their mettle in Dodge Challenger SRT Demon simulators, and compete for prizes throughout the weekend while learning more about all of the Mopar and Dodge offerings. The Mopar and Dodge display trailers are present at 15 NHRA national events throughout the 2017 season.
About Mopar Motorsports
The Mopar brand’s commitment to professional motorsports competition was established in the 1950s when a partnership ignited with drag racing pioneer Don Garlits, resulting in the breaking of numerous speed and performance barriers in HEMI-powered vehicles over the next several decades. In 2016, thanks to Don Schumacher Racing driver Ron Capps, Mopar captured its fourth NHRA Funny Car World Championship in the last six years. As Mopar celebrates 80 years as a brand in 2017, it will focus its NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series efforts on NHRA Funny Car and, with rising star Leah Pritchett, NHRA Top Fuel Dragster. Mopar will also bolster its commitment to NHRA Sportsman racing with new contingency rewards, factory support and at-track technical advice and guidance.
Mopar-first Features
During the brand’s 80 years, Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including:
- Vehicle-information apps: first to introduce smartphone vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with consumers
- wiADVISOR: first to incorporate a tablet-based service lane tool
- Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to market with a new interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters
- Wi-Fi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot
- Electronic owner manuals: first to introduce traditional owner manuals on a smartphone app
80 Years of Mopar
Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was born on August 1, 1937, as the name of a line of antifreeze products. Mopar has since evolved over 80 years to serve as the total service, parts and customer-care brand of all FCA vehicles around the globe.
Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era, with Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use, and expanded to include technical service and customer support. Today, the Mopar brand’s global reach distributes more than 500,000 parts and accessories in over 150 markets around the world. With more than 50 parts distribution centers and 25 customer contact centers globally, Mopar integrates service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer support worldwide.
Mopar is the source for genuine parts and accessories for all FCA US. Mopar parts are engineered together with the same teams that create factory-authorized specifications for FCA vehicles, offering a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. Complete information on the Mopar brand is available at www.mopar.com.
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