When the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat was introduced, FCA claimed that it was officially tested to run an 11.20 quarter mile time with the stock Pirelli tires. Running low 11s in a 4500lb+ car in stock form is mighty impressive, but as the temperatures have dropped around the country, we are hearing reports of stock Hellcat cars outrunning that official time.
One such claim comes from Jay Gustafson, who was able to pilot his 2016 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat well below the official stock time, running an 11.084 at 128 miles per hour. Again, that is a 100% stock car, right down to the tires that were on the Challenger when it rolled off of the assembly line in Brampton, Ontario and, like the car used for the official Dodge test runs – Jay’s Challenger is equipped with the 8-speed automatic transmission.
Jay Gustafson first hit the track with his Hellcat Challenger in October, running a best time of 11.208 and on his second trip to the track a short time later, he backed up that run with an 11.207. However, as temperatures dropped into the 50s at Cecil County Dragway, Gustafson was able to dive below the 11.20 mark this past weekend.
During the course of the day, he was able to run a handful of 11.10-11.19 ¼ mile passes, but late in the day, everything came together perfectly and Gustafson’s Hellcat Challenger laid down an incredible 11.084 at 128 miles per hour. Granted, that was in good conditions and it came on a day where he was able to make 14 passes down the track, allowing him to really dial in his launch, but this shows that the official quarter mile time of 11.20 can be comfortably beaten with good air, a good track and a good driver.
Unfortunately, Jay was alone at the track when he made those runs so he wasn’t able to have anyone record the record pass, but there is some interesting news to end this piece. Cecil is expecting to be open this weekend with even cooler temperatures, and Jay Gustafson plans to be there. He is hoping to have someone there to film what could be an even quicker ¼ mile time and in the long run, the real goal here is to see if he can get into the 10s with a fully stock Hellcat Challenger.
Should that happen, you’ll be sure to find that video here on DodgeForum.com.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
