Epling Garage Hellcat Challenger is First in the 7s: Track Time Tuesday

Epling Dodge Challenger became the first Hellcat car in the 7s, setting the world record at 7.84.

In late August, the Epling Garage Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat became the first car with a Hellcat VIN and engine to run the quarter mile in the 7-second range. That weekend, Jason Epling piloted the black muscle car to a new world record-setting best of 7.87 at 176 miles per hour and after a few tuning adjustments, that record was broken a week later with a 7.84 at 176.

For this week’s Track Time Tuesday video, we bring you a look at each of those record runs from the Epling Garage YouTube channel, and while these records are likely to be broken, this will always be the first Hellcat car to run in the 7-second range.

Epling Hellcat Challenger

You may recall a few weeks back when we brought you a look at the Epling Garage Dodge Challenger running an 8.05, setting the quarter mile record for being the quickest Hellcat car in the world. Since then, the family team of Leon, Jason (Leon’s son) and Logan (Leon’s grandson, Jason’s son) have just made suspension and engine tuning adjustments, but they made the difference needed to put this car in the 7s.

For those who missed the piece about the 8.05, here is a quick rundown of what makes this machine so wicked. Power is provided by a Hellcat Hemi bored and stroked to 426 cubic inches, fitted with ThiTek cylinder heads, a 4.9-liter Kenne Bell supercharger, a custom Comp Cams camshaft, a Holley EFI fuel system, a Snow Performance water injection system, dual Magnaflow fuel pumps, a nitrous oxide system and a tune for Q16 racing fuel from Tim Barth at Barth Tuning.

That engine makes around 1,500 horsepower at the wheels, with the power getting there by means of 1 Liberty 5-speed manual transmission with a Ram triple-disc clutch and a Strange 9-inch rear differential. Mickey Thompson 28-inch drag radials are tasked with getting traction, and they do a good enough job to allow this 4,000-pound muscle car to carry the front wheels high on launch.

History in the Making

In the video above, Jason Epling pilots the Dodge Challenger down the track in just 7.87 seconds at 176 miles per hour. That marked the first 7-second quarter mile run by a car with a Hellcat VIN and Hellcat engine, but this Challenger also has the full metal body and factory chassis, so while it has been heavily upgraded, this car come from the factory as a Hellcat car and it has become the quickest in the world.

The run above of 7.87 was made in late August, and Epling was still able to break into the 7s while struggling with traction in second gear. The video below was captured on September 7, with slightly better traction leading to a new world record of 7.84.

The Epling Garage Challenger Hellcat sounds as great as it runs, so crank up your speakers and enjoy!

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Patrick Rall

"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.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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