Viper Shreds Camaro ZL1 on the Drag Strip: Track Time Tuesday

Viper has nitrous and the Camaro looks stock, leading to an easy win for the Dodge supercar.

The Dodge Viper was engineered to be an all-around performance car that would shine bright on any track but admittedly, the Mopar supercar is at its best on a road course. That being said, the lightweight, V10-powered beasts were still solid performers on the drag strip, especially with a few modifications. This week’s Track Time Tuesday video comes to us from the Wheels YouTube channel and it is a fine example of how unseen modifications can turn a Viper into a muscle car killer in the quarter-mile.

Bottled Viper

Unfortunately, there are no details to accompany this video, but can pick out some key details of this Viper based on what we can see and hear. We know from the exterior design that this is a second generation Viper, powered by the 8.0-liter V10 that offers 450 horsepower in stock form.

The only obvious exterior change is the Gen 5 wheels. Based on the way that this car comes out of the hole, we are guessing that it is equipped with nice, sticky tires. Also, based on the sound of the car as it eases up to the starting line, we are guessing that it has some exhaust upgrades as well. The most significant modification is nitrous oxide. Just before the silver Viper pulls into the starting beams, we can see the nitrous system purge through the hood vent.

In stock form, a second generation Viper GTS is good for a quarter mile time in the low-12-second range. That is not quick enough to beat a new Camaro ZL1, but with a little extra power, it should be possible. As it turns out, the extra power is more than enough for the Dodge to hand out a beating.

Battling the ZL1

The modern Camaro ZL1 is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that offers 650 horsepower, with a quick-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission sending that power towards the rear wheels. In stock form, these cars are good for quarter mile times down into the mid-11-second range in the right conditions. The Camaro in this video appears to be stock, right down to the tires, and that spells trouble.

After the Viper and Camaro both clean off their tires, they ease into the starting beams of Mission Raceway in Canada. On green, the Viper rips away from the starting line, pretty much ending the race as soon as it begins. Maybe the ZL1 could run down a stock Gen 2 Viper, but this bottled beast is too much, easily beating the Chevy on the big end. The Viper runs an 11.14 at 125 miles per hour to the Camaro’s 11.83.

Next, a pair of Vipers square off, followed by a pair of Camaros, but the feature attraction of this video is the first race.

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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