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Dave Thomas Sets NHRA AA/SA ET, MPH Records in Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak

    --  Thomas sets record with a 9.43/143.90 pass in his 2011 Mopar Challenger
        Drag Pak
    --  Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak built for sanctioned NHRA Stock and Super
        Stock configurations
    --  Mopar offers the only factory-built, V-10 powered race-ready package car

Less than one month after making its competition debut, the 2011 Mopar® Challenger V-10 Drag Pak is already rewriting the NHRA record books.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110408/DE80245 )

Dave Thomas, of Westchester, Pa., powered his 2011 Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak to a record-setting 9.43-second elapsed time (ET) at 143.90 mph during a test session on Thursday, April 7 at the NHRA Division 1 National Open event at Atco (N.J.) Raceway (the test session allowed for record attempts). Thomas captured both the ET and mph records in the AA/SA class just two weeks after taking ownership of his Mopar Drag Pak, and with only a few passes under his belt in the new V-10-powered beast.

"In less than one month of competition, our 2011 Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak has made its presence known in the NHRA Sportsman ranks," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group's service, parts and customer-care brand. "Mopar is the only source for racers who want to purchase a factory-built, V-10-powered race-ready package car."

"The first run we made in the car was last Sunday," said Thomas, who backed up his record with a 9.46 ET run. "We only had eight passes in the car prior to our first run down the track yesterday, which was the record-setter. I know I could have gone quicker. On the second run, the car left good but I let off at the end of the pass."

"It's a spectacular car," added Thomas, who has been racing since 1971, in vehicles including a HEMI® Plymouth Barracuda. "We basically added weight bars to make minimum weight, and that was it. On its first-ever run, the car went a 9.79 at 137 mph. It's a turn-key operation. There are no headaches involved in setting it up at all. You just get in there and drive it. It's neat that the factory can make something like this."

The 2011 Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak, the first and only 500-plus cubic-inch V-10 drag race package car, was unveiled at the Dodge Viper Owners Invitational in October 2010. Based on the 2011 Dodge Challenger and finished in a Stock Eliminator and Super Stock configuration, the vehicle features competition wheels and tires, a Mopar solid rear axle with performance gear ratio, a 2-speed drag race transmission with integrated roll control, a complete competition fuel system with fuel cell, and a complete interior with gauge package.

The race-ready package car made its competition debut when Frank Teuton Jr. entered his Mopar V-10 Drag Pak at the NHRA Gatornationals less than a month ago. Frank's brother, Joseph Teuton, took the car to its first class (AA/SA) win at the JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals on March 18.

For complete information on the Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak, including ordering information, visit http://www.mopar.com or your local Dodge dealer.

Mopar-First Features

Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including:

    --  Camper trailers: first to introduce off-road camper trailers
    --  Vehicle-information apps: first to introduce smartphone
        vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with
        consumers
    --  Electronic owner manuals: first to introduce traditional owner manuals
        in a DVD and brief user-guide format
    --  Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to market with a new
        interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle
        is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters
    --  2011 Mopar Challenger Drag Pak: first to introduce a 500-plus cubic-inch
        V-10 drag-race package car
    --  Wi-Fi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a
        wireless hot spot
    --  WiTECH: first to support vehicle diagnosis and software updates
        leveraging off-the-shelf personal computers and a dedicated wireless
        tool network

About the Mopar Brand

Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand.

Mopar distributes approximately 280,000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original-equipment parts for Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles -- a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is available at http://www.mopar.com.

More than 70 Years of Mopar

When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.

Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s -- the muscle-car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth "package cars" equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of "special parts" for super-stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.

On the Internet

Visit Chrysler's Media Services Web site at http://www.media.chrysler.com for additional Chrysler and Mopar news. For additional information about Mopar, log on to http://www.mopar.com or http://www.moparspeed.com.

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC