Our favorite modern Hemi street cars invade Las Vegas to go heads up drag racing!
We are without a doubt at the pinnacle of factory performance. With the debut of the 800-plus hp Dodge Demon, the Hellcat with its 707 hp and the Scat Pack with “just” 485 hp are players in the back-up band—but what a hell of a back-up band it is. Kind of like saying Eddie and Alex Van Halen are David Lee Roth’s roadies. Putting things into perspective, the “lowly” Scat Pack 392 can click off solid 12s just as easily as going to the grocery store for ice cream. Not even the vaunted ’66-71 Street Hemi could do that in bone-stock trim back in the day. Hellcats are even quicker, cranking out 11s with stock tires at altitude and high 10s with slicks. Put the street tires back on and hit the highway with 22 mpg. Three years after the first Hellcat, we now see them regularly in the 9s with nothing but simple bolt-ons, but even that pales in comparison to the new Demon.
Dodge for their part say go right ahead and race them—we’ll cover you on the factory warranty. Who are we to argue with them? The Dodge faithful have opted into the revolution, gobbling up Scat Packs and Hellcats by the thousands. Moreover, they have actively sought out opportunities to race against the cross-town rivals at Chevy and Ford. With Chevy cranking up the heat with the Camaro ZL1 and Ford following up the rear with the Shelby GT350, it’s not uncommon to see battles break out on the street and at the track. The Dodges—especially the Hellcat—have no problem breaking hearts and taking money, so to keep things interesting, we wanted to see which guys and gals have the fastest Hellcats and Scat Packs in the land.
To do that, Mopar Muscle teamed up with Phil Painter, who puts on a shindig in Las Vegas called MATS—which most people word-associate with “Mopars At The Strip.” We created two classes: The Scat Pack Challenge and the Hellcat Shootout. Both classes run heads-up, and require the cars to be registered, licensed, insured, and driven on the street. Beyond that, any mods are allowed.
Last year at our first Vegas race, Al Jiminez won the Hellcat Shootout with a 10.96/128.8 [click here: http://www.hotrod.com/articles/srt-hellcats-invade-vegas-for-drag-showdown/] while David Boyer’s Charger cleaned up in the Scat Pack class with a 12.04/117.3 [click here: http://www.hotrod.com/articles/scat-pack-dodges-hit-vegas-and-run-11s/]. That went so well, we did it again in St. Louis for the Monster Muscle Weekend in St. Louis [click here: http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hellcats-scat-pack-392s-hit-st-louis-drag-showdown/], where Catie Schmidt took the Hellcat crown with a 10.84/126.7 and Mike Muenz took Scat Pack honors with a 12.08/114.2.
This year at Las Vegas on April 22, 2017, we continued our quest for the fastest Hellcats and Scat Packs, and once again saw strong performances. Early on, we spotted Scott Herring, Walter Escobar, and Donald Halm as top contenders in the Hellcat camp. With some serious mid-10-second timeslips, any one of them could’ve emerged victorious. And since you’re wrongly thinking it, don’t assume that 10s are slow for Las Vegas, because the altitude density, temperature, headwind, and ambient dust level is typically very high, slowing cars significantly. At the end of the day, Walter Escobar proved his mettle with a final-round performance of 10.74/132.2 to Mark Aletto’s slowing 13.38/113.6.
In the Scat Pack Challenge, Jesse Rose was the stand out all day as his Magnacharger-blown 2016 Challenger was deep in the 11s. With a trap speed of over 130 mph, Rose was clearly suffering from a loss of traction that otherwise would’ve put him in league with the Hellcats. While not as fast as Tim Hayes’s Kenne-Bell blown Scat Pack Challenger that we saw in St. Louis (10.50/131), keep in mind the far less favorable track and atmospheric conditions in Las Vegas. We think these two cars would make an awesome Scat Pack pairing if we could ever get the two together. Which brings up another point: we’ve not yet seen the East Coast guys or the West Coast guys make the journey to the opposite coast for either Hellcat or Scat Pack competition. It would be nice to see that change—especially for the West Coast guys who have a harder time hooking in the high desert. Next stop for the Hellcat Shootout and Scat Pack Challenge: the St. Louis Monster Musclecar Weekend!
| Hellcat Shootout Results | |||||
| Round 1 | |||||
| Driver: | Hometown: | Model: | R/T: | E.T.: | MPH: |
| Donald Halm | Apple Valley, CA | 2016 Challenger | .050 | 11.656 | 94.33 |
| Dave Mitten | Pleasant Grove, UT | 2015 Challenger | .228 | 11.990 | 121.85 |
| Russell Martin | Las Vegas, NV | 2015 Challenger | .104 | 11.094 | 124.08 |
| Rae Kraska | Sacramento, CA | 2016 Charger | .348 | 12.317 | 119.82 |
| Albert O’Neil | Silverdale, WA | 2016 Challenger | .110 | 12.021 | 119.17 |
| Tony Rawlings | Preston, ID | 2015 Challenger | .792 | 12.878 | 119.90 |
| Mark Aletto | Salt Lake City, UT | 2016 Challenger | .405 | 12.639 | 116.72 |
| Steve Brock | Myrtle Beach, SC | 2016 Challenger | .207 | 12.907 | 116.83 |
| Vee Mendoza | Las Vegas, NV | 2017 Challenger | .605 | 12.354 | 121.54 |
| Brandon Wilkinson | North Highlands, CA | 2016 Challenger | .450 | 12.684 | 111.60 |
| Scott Herring | S. Jordan, UT | 2015 Charger | .085 | 10.560 | 129.52 |
| Mike Cunningham Jr. | Las Vegas, NV | 2016 Charger | .267 | 11.895 | 120.08 |
| Walter Escobar | Long Beach, CA | 2015 Challenger | .537 | 11.481 | 132.11 |
| Tom Gipe | Cypress, CA | 2015 Challenger | .261 | 12.632 | 121.27 |
| Round 2 | |||||
| Walter Escobar | Long Beach, CA | 2015 Challenger | .403 | 10.718 | 131.55 |
| Donald Halm | Apple Valley, CA | 2016 Challenger | -.002 | 10.437 | 130.08 |
| Russell Martin | Las Vegas, NV | 2015 Challenger | .298 | 11.072 | 123.69 |
| Vee Mendoza | Las Vegas, NV | 2017 Challenger | .666 | 12.214 | 121.50 |
| Mark Aletto | Salt Lake City, UT | 2016 Challenger | .278 | 13.381 | 111.59 |
| Albert O’Neil | Silverdale, WA | 2016 Challenger | -.033 | 12.177 | 118.94 |
| Round 3 | |||||
| Walter Escobar | Long Beach, CA | 2015 Challenger | .361 | 10.728 | 123.81 |
| Russell Martin | Las Vegas, NV | 2015 Challenger | .103 | 11.099 | 124.60 |
| Mark Aletto | Salt Lake City, UT | 2016 Challenger | .169 | 12.732 | 113.45 |
| bye | |||||
| Finals | |||||
| Walter Escobar (win) | Long Beach, CA | 2015 Challenger | .395 | 10.744 | 132.26 |
| Mark Aletto (runner up) | Salt Lake City, UT | 2016 Challenger | .270 | 13.387 | 113.65 |
| Scat Pack Challenge Results | |||||
| Round 1 | |||||
| Dwayne Karr | N. Las Vegas, NV | 2015 Challenger SRT 392 | .322 | 12.868 | 110.02 |
| Bob Schelb | Peoria, AZ | 2016 Charger SRT 392 | .616 | 13.563 | 105.09 |
| Lane Watts | Peoria, AZ | 2015 Challenger | .134 | 12.566 | 108.74 |
| David Boyer | Chaparral, NM | 2015 Charger | .463 | 12.391 | 109.73 |
| Jesse Rose | Ephrata, WA | 2016 Challenger | .555 | 11.317 | 128.62 |
| Chris Yunez | Phoenix, AZ | 2016 Challenger | .286 | 12.509 | 108.47 |
| Round 2 | |||||
| Jesse Rose | Ephrata, WA | 2016 Challenger | .388 | 11.237 | 129.38 |
| Dwayne Karr | N. Las Vegas, NV | 2015 Challenger SRT 392 | -.192 | 12.891 | 109.93 |
| Lane Watts | Peoria, AZ | 2015 Challenger | .169 | 12.611 | 109.01 |
| bye | |||||
| Finals | |||||
| Jesse Rose (win) | Ephrata, WA | 2016 Challenger | .777 | 11.190 | 130.08 |
| Lane Watts (runner up) | Peoria, AZ | 2015 Challenger | .205 | 12.712 | 108.59 |
MEET THE COMPETITORS!
HELLCAT SHOOTOUT
2015 Hellcat Challenger
Chris Mitten; Pleasant Grove, UT
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mods: all stock with Nitto NT555R Drag Radials, 315/35R20
Chassis dyno HP: 641
Best previous e.t.: 10.96/126.1
2015 Hellcat Challenger
Walter Escobar; Long Beach, CA
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mods: American Racing long-tube headers, Flowmaster exhaust, Magnaflow mufflers, AFE cold air intake, DiabloSport Q16 tune, 2.5-inch Metco pulley, carbon fiber hood and decklid, Barton short-throw shifter, Bad Boyzz clutch, Hoosier 28/10.0-17 slicks
Chassis dyno HP: 835
Best previous e.t.: 10.6/137
2016 Hellcat Challenger
Donald Halm; Apple Valley, CA
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mods: all stock, DiabloSport Trinity tuner, K&N filter, Mickey Thompson 305/45R17 drag radials
Chassis dyno HP: n/a
Best previous e.t.: 10.80/126
2017 Hellcat Challenger
Vee Mendoza; Las Vegas, NV
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mods: all stock, Nitto NT555R 275/40R20 Drag Radials
Chassis dyno HP: n/a
Best previous e.t.: n/a
2016 Hellcat Challenger
Brandon Wilkinson; Sacramento, CA
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mods: all stock, DiabloSport Trinity 1000 tune, cut-off resonators, Mickey Thompson 305/35R20 ET Drag radials
Chassis dyno HP: 670 hp
Best previous e.t.: 11.7/118
2015 Hellcat Charger
Scott Herring; South Jordan, UT
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mods: Innovators West underdrive crank pulley, Metco 2.85-inch blower pulley (12.5 psi), American Racing long-tube headers, 1,000cc injectors, Brisk platinum spark plugs, AFE cold-air intake, DiabloSport Trinity PCM tune, Mickey Thompson 305/45R17 ET Street R Drag Radials
Chassis dyno HP: 814 hp
Best previous e.t.: 11.47/124
2016 Hellcat Charger
Michael Cunningham; Las Vegas, NV
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mods: all stock, Legmaker cold-air intake, Hoosier 28/10.0-17 slicks
Chassis dyno HP: n/a
Best previous e.t.: 11.1/124
2016 Hellcat Challenger
Mark Aletto; Salt Lake City, UT
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mods: all stock, Nitto 305/40R20 NT555R Drag Radials
Chassis dyno HP: n/a
Best previous e.t.: 12.31/118
2016 Hellcat Challenger
Albert O’Neil; Silverdale, WA
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mods: all stock, Nitto 305/40R20 NT555R Drag Radials
Chassis dyno HP: n/a
Best previous e.t: n/a
2016 Hellcat Challenger Hurst Edition
Steve Brock; Myrtle Beach, SC
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mods: mechanically all stock, Nitto 305/40R20 NT555R Drag Radials
Chassis dyno HP: 647 hp
Best previous e.t.: n/a
2015 Hellcat Challenger
Tony Rawlings; Preston, ID
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mods: all stock
Chassis dyno HP: n/a
Best previous e.t.: 12.02/119
2016 Hellcat Charger
Rae Kraska; Sacramento, CA
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mods: all stock
Chassis dyno HP: n/a
Best previous e.t.: 11.7/122
2015 Hellcat Challenger
Russ Martin; North Las Vegas, NV
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mods: DSS carbon fiber driveshaft, AFE cold-air intake, DiabloSport Trinity tune; Mickey Thompson 305/45R18 ET Street R Drag Radials
Chassis dyno HP: n/a
Best previous e.t.: 11.23/123
SCAT PACK CHALLENGE
2016 Scat Pack 392 Challenger
Chris Yunez; Phoenix, AZ
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mods: all stock, Mickey Thompson 305/35R20 ET Street S/S Drag Radials
Chassis dyno HP: n/a
Best previous e.t.: 12.1/109
2015 Scat Pack 392 Charger
David Boyer; Chaparral, NM
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mods: Nitrous Outlet 6.4L kit, DiabloSport tune, K&N filter, Innovate Motorsports A/F meter, Hoosier 28/10-17 slicks
Chassis dyno HP: 543 hp
Best previous e.t.: 11.3/121
2016 Scat Pack 392 Challenger
Lane Watts; Peoria, AZ
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mods: DiabloSport Trinity with HemiFever tune, Hellcat airbox, electric exhaust cutouts, Mickey Thompson 275/40R20 ET Street S/S Drag Radials
Chassis dyno HP: 460 hp
Best previous e.t.: 12.52/109
2016 Dodge SRT 392 Charger
Bob Schelb; Peoria, AZ
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mods: K&N cold-air intake kit, Performance Distributors SOS ignition coil kit, Nitto NT555R 275/40R20 Drag Radials
Chassis dyno HP: n/a
Best previous e.t.: 12.7/109
2015 Dodge SRT 392 Challenger
Dwayne Karr; North Las Vegas, NV
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mods: all stock, K&N cold air intake
Chassis dyno HP: n/a
Best previous e.t.: 12.5/111
2016 Scat Pack 392 Challenger
Jesse Rose; Ephrata, WA
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mods: DiabloSport Trinity tune, Magnacharger supercharger kit, Nitrous Outlet kit, Mahle forged pistons, Molnar rods, DSS axles and driveshaft, Hop Not kit, Tazer line lock, McLeod clutch, Barton shifter, Hoosier 28/10-17 slicks
Chassis dyno HP: n/a
Best previous e.t.: n/a
Check out more drag racing action here!
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hellcats-scat-pack-392s-hit-st-louis-drag-showdown/
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/scat-pack-dodges-hit-vegas-and-run-11s/
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/srt-hellcats-invade-vegas-for-drag-showdown/
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