When the silver 2006 Dodge Ram Quad Cab powered by the 5.7L Hemi V8 pulls into frame in the video below, it doesn’t look like it is going to be “truckin fast”. However, as soon as this silver Ram gets into the burnout box – it becomes clear that this is not an average Hemi quad cab. If not for the description telling us in advance what this half ton Ram runs in the quarter mile, I might guess that this healthy sounding pickup might crack into the 13 second range while struggling to beat the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS in the near lane. I would be very wrong.
As soon as the race begins and the 2006 Ram Quad Cab launches out to a huge lead (albeit due in part to a short red light), it is evident that this is way more than just a rear drive Ram with loud exhaust. Even with the slight advantage from the red light start, the 5,500 pound pickup rapidly pulls away from the 400+ horsepower Camaro SS – roaring down the quarter mile in just 12.02 seconds with a trap speed of 111.97 miles per hour. That is a brief tailwind away from this full sized pickup running in the 11 second range and trapping better than 112 miles per hour. That’s truckin’ fast.
For those of you wondering what has been done to this 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab to tickle the 11s, the major modifications are listed in the comments. They include features like a sidewinder camshaft, built cylinder heads, long tube headers, 4.56 gears, a 2600 rpm torque converter, a superchips tune and a 100 shot nitrous system.
"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.
