Cars have had front airbags for years without side airbags. When the front-only airbag was introduced, nobody said that was stupid unless they brought a side airbag too. With that said, I do not see any spec sheet that says no side airbags for the R/T.
http://www.dodge.com/en/pdf/buyersgu...enger_2009.pdf
lists the side airbags as standard on all models for the challenger.