Simon Haddad’s Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat runs a 10.43 quarter mile with stock power and near-stock weight.
When the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat was introduced back in 2014, the automaker announced that it would run an NHRA-ceritifed quarter mile time of 10.80 with drag radial tires. Since then, a great many Hellcat owners have run quicker than that without any other significant changes, but Simon Haddad has turned a quicker stock power time with a full interior than any other new Challenger.
Today, we bring you a look at that Hellcat Challenger setting the record, from the YouTube channel of dline83.
Phast Hemi’s Hellcat Challenger
Simon Haddad goes by Phast Hemi in the online Mopar community and last weekend, his Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat laid down a quarter mile time of 10.43 at 132 miles per hour. The only modifications made to the car are the skinny front wheels, the wider rear wheels with drag radial tires, a stronger driveshaft and a set of 3.09 gears. That run was made with the loaded interior, so while the front wheels cut a little weight – this beast is close to the factory curb weight.
Most importantly, Simon hasn’t done anything to add more power to his Hellcat Challenger, so his time of 10.43 was reached on stock power. There has been another Hellcat that ran quicker with stock power, but that car has gone through an extensive weight reduction program while this car is near-factory weight.
Haddad first set the record for the quickest stock-power Hellcat last year when he ran a 10.56 at 130.99 miles per hour. He hasn’t made any changes since then, but with the cool Michigan air and hundreds of runs under his belt, Phast Hemi was able to run an even faster quarter mile with his Mopar muscle car. That is a 10.43 quarter mile with heated seats, a premium sound system and the big Brembo high performance brakes – making this the quickest Hellcat Challenger of its kind in the world.
"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.