Mopar®, Chrysler LLC’s Global Service and Parts division, attracted large crowds and generated enormous show floor buzz with its lineup of performance parts and vehicles on display at the 2008 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show this past weekend at the Orlando, Fla., Convention Center.
Headlining Mopar’s show presence was the presentation of a special certificate from the Mopar organization to drag racing legend Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, honoring Garlits’ purchase of the first production Dodge Challenger Drag Pak Vehicle. Steve Shugg, Director—Sales and Marketing, Mopar, presented Garlits with the certificate on Dec. 11.
The 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8®, equipped with factory-developed Dodge Challenger Drag Pak Vehicle kits, will be eligible to run in popular categories (stock, super stock and comp eliminator) and potentially 40 classes in NHRA/IHRA competition. Garlits plans to race his Dodge Challenger Drag Pak Vehicle in NHRA Division 2 and is aiming to make it to the U.S. Nationals in 2009 to commemorate his 60th year in drag racing.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun to meet the fans head-to-head on the drag strip during my 60th anniversary tour this coming season,” Garlits said. “We have a lot of work to do to complete my Dodge Challenger Drag Pak Vehicle, fine tune it and dial it in, but it’s no different than anything I have ever done before. We expect to be competitive.”
Garlits also joined Team Mopar drivers Allen Johnson and Samuel Hubinette in a Mopar autograph session at the Mopar Stage prior to the certificate presentation. The three also chatted with RaceFanRadio.com, which staged live broadcasts from the Mopar Stage throughout the weekend.
Mopar-powered vehicles on display at the PRI Show included Hubinette’s Mopar Drift Dodge Challenger; the Retro Dodge Challenger Drag Pak Vehicle Garlits piloted at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals; the 2008 Targa Dodge Challenger SRT8, built by the Mopar Underground group; the Mopar Accessories 2009 Dodge Ram R/T; the Yankee Peddler Dodge Challenger; and a Dodge Viper Competition Coupe. For more information on Mopar vehicles and performance parts, visit http://www.mopar.com.