MReeves

Mopar unveils 2010 NHRA Pro Stock Dodge Avenger
Tuesday, November 03, 2009



Mopar will launch a new Pro Stock Dodge Avenger to compete in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Attendees at the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nov. 3-6, will get the first glimpse of the new Pro Stock Dodge Avenger. The 2010 NHRA Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger of Team Mopar driver Allen Johnson will be on exhibit in the Mopar display at SEMA, booth No. 43127.
The new Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger has been officially approved for competition by NHRA. The Dodge Avenger is targeted for its competition debut at the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Feb. 11-14, 2010. The Mopar Dodge Avenger replaces the Dodge Stratus R/T body, which had been in use by Mopar Hemi-powered NHRA Pro Stock competitors since the midpoint of the 2003 season.
The new Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger was developed in-house at Chrysler Group LLC. The project utilized Chrysler Group LLC tools and resources also employed to build the production Dodge Avenger, creating a connection between the street and the quarter-mile.
“The introduction of the new NHRA Pro Stock Dodge Avenger will invigorate our Mopar-powered Pro Stock racers,” said Jim Sassorossi, director-Mopar Global Parts Sales and Marketing, Chrysler Group LLC. “The production Dodge Avenger is a perfect template for the dragstrip. The Dodge Avenger’s bold styling and aggressive looks communicate the performance capability of the Dodge brand’s midsize sedan. ”
The greatest challenge to the Dodge Motorsports Engineering team tasked with the project was maintaining maximum identity of the Dodge Avenger in the new body without forsaking performance on the dragstrip.
“Our team worked within NHRA’s rules to balance aerodynamic performance goals and maximize Dodge Avenger identity,” said Joe Vitous, SRT & Motorsports aero-thermal manager. “The new Mopar Dodge Avenger meets or exceeds the aero goals we established.”
Mopar-powered NHRA Pro Stock drivers, including Team Mopar driver Johnson, worked closely with the Dodge Motorsports Engineering team to ensure that the new Pro Stock Dodge Avenger was large enough to accommodate all safety features, such as the roll cage and quick ingress and egress in case of an emergency. The size of the front door of the Avenger was adjusted to maximize driver safety.
“I’m very excited to race the new Mopar Dodge Avenger,” Johnson commented. “We’ve been racing the Stratus since mid-2003. Just having a change is an upgrade. We feel we’ve been at a disadvantage with some of our competitors who have been racing in newer bodies for the last few years. I was fitted for the new body in late September. NHRA was there, and we spent a lot of time going over the templates. That was exciting. I’m glad we’re going ahead full bore.”

67 GTX

will it run in the 4's?

MReeves

The prostocks of today will run in the 6.50's except at the tracks where the air is so bad. IE Denver and Bristol and a couple of others. Most of them are in the 4.30's in a 1/8th mile now. Talking to Roy Johnson ( engine builder and father of Allen) they are expecting a 3 to 4 MPH pickup just in the aero of this body. This is HUGE!!!! They have been right with most all the others all year.. Another 3 or 4 MPH will be great. Of course the competition will be also trying to find another MPH or two in the off season... Next year in Pro Stock will be VERY interesting for sure!!!!! With Ford entering the Pro Stock ranks a very serious way I expect to see some new winners next year.....

67 GTX

what class runs in the 4's?

MReeves

that would be funny cars.....

67 GTX

ah
what is internally different between funny cars and pro stock?
like motors?
weight?

MReeves

Wow, that is a big question... First of all the FC is a fiberglass one piece body. The PS is a carbon fiber body that has doors, hood and trunk lid.

The FC engine makes app 8,000 hp and runs on nitromethane. This is limited to 500 ci. This is a blown beast that eats parts each and every run. A FC engine is torn down to the block between passes and at NHRA national events that is 75 to 90 minutes. This is quite a show in itsself.... The PS engine is limited to 500 CI by the rules and they run two 4500 cfm carbs on a tunnel ram type intake. This engine runs on racing gas and makes 1200 to 1300 hp.

The FC has a minimum weight at the conclusion of a run of 2,555 lbs... the PS car must weigh 2,350 lbs at the conculsion of a run both are with driver...

PS cars must be 2004 or later NHRA approved cars.... FC is approved by NHRA by using body plates and forms simular to Nascar... Both chassis have differences and this is determined by the speed they run. The higher the speed the more bars in the cage and chassis...

The tranny in a PS is a Liberty. Drivers use the clutch to leave the starting line and then just pull and push the lever without the clutch at all... There are five forward and one reverse.. FC are a direct drive with a reverser... No clutch or shifting during a run.

Drivers suits are much different the FC has a complete fire suit as well as boots gloves and such... PS drives wear a thinner fire suit and gloves and approved helmets..

This is all I can come up with just off my head.. If you want more info look at NHRA.com and read all the rules for all the classes....

Hopes this helps.... Mack

62Furious

that is a cool ride looks like it would be fun to run

67 GTX

wow
thanks for posting all that mack
pro stock requires manual shifting during the race?

MReeves

Yes, the PS cars have a 5 speed Liberty tranny that requires manually shifting thru all the gears. But the clutch is not used after they leave the starting line.... Mack

67 GTX

wow, shifting 5 times in under 7 seconds