Mopar Muscle took an SRT and an R/T to the 1/8 mile track for some drag testing. Both cars had a lot of tire spin and were difficult to launch. Here is the article:

Filed under: Mopar News, Dodge Challenger, DAVE YOUNG


"Well, we took a pair of 2009 Challengers to Lakeland drag strip last night and had a blast.

Since we had the 2009 Challenger SRT-8 press car this week, we decided to take it to the drag strip. Instead of making the trek to Bradenton, we drove across town to the Lakeland eighth mile drag strip here in central Florida, for some test and tune time. Of course I had my wife bring our new Challenger R/T out as well so we could see what it would do. It's barely broken in, but I figured a couple of passes wouldn't hurt the process.

As editor Bolig and I quickly found, traction was going to be the limiting factor of the evening. Both cars spun hard no matter who drove them, and the only way we could get any respectable times was to finesse the cars out of the hole at nearly an idle to avoid tire spin. Even so, the six-speed SRT-8 would spin badly going into second, and a little going into third. Third gear carried the car through the traps in the eighth at about 5,600 rpm and 85 mph. My best elapsed time in the SRT was 9.109 in the eighth, which equates to about 14.10 in the quarter.

The R/T automatic had traction issues as well, and I really had trouble getting it to hook up. My wife Amy (who regularly drives the B-3 project, low 10s) ran the best time in the R/T by idling off the line about 20 feet, then easing the gas to full throttle to net a 9.61 in the eighth at 80 mph, again going through the traps in third gear. This equates to about 15 seconds flat in the quarter mile.

Neither car, with any of the drivers on hand, was able to run a sub-two second sixty foot time. This was a combination of a marginal track and stock tires on both cars. Both cars have the potential for better elapsed times as indicated by their mph, but traction is the key. On a better track we could have left harder, and I would suspect the R/T could run 9.30s (14.50s) and the SRT-8 capable of 8.80 (13.80s). Maybe even better.

Even with the traction issues, it was fun to race both cars. And at 4,100 lbs each, the elapsed times weren't bad. Also remember, these cars are bone stock, and the new Challenger is designed as an all-around performance vehicle. Features that make it stop, handle, and ride nicely don't necessarily equate to optimal drag strip performance, but make it a great driving car.

Are either car comparable to a '70 Challenger? Not really, these cars are much more refined, less tiring to drive and far more comfortable, and offer better performance no matter if you compare handling, braking, or acceleration.

Just wait until we start modifying them . . ."