Mopar Performance Parts enters a 2007 Dodge Charger

Joining both amateur and seasoned drivers, Chrysler Group’s Mopar® Performance Parts has entered a specially-prepared 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 in the 2007 Cannonball One Lap of America Competition. A joint vehicle development project between Mopar and Street and Racing Technology (SRT), the Charger had previously competed in the Targa Newfoundland race.

The One Lap competition begins on Saturday, May 5 as competitors leave Indiana’s South Bend Motor Speedway. For the next eight days, the drivers and their vehicles endure nearly 4,000 miles of 24-hour-a-day driving on top of strenuous closed-course competition at each stop along the way. In between race stops, competitors battle fatigue, weather and traffic across 11 states with the competition finishing on Saturday, May 12 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Powering the Charger SRT8 is a 392 HEMI® crate motor that pushes 525 horsepower and 510 lbs.-ft. of torque. Powertrain, suspension and braking performance modifications were completed to test experimental Mopar performance parts.

“Mopar is thrilled to put our Charger SRT8 to the test in the One Lap. We’ve experimented with unique performance enhancements as a proving ground for new performance parts. These guys really burned the midnight oil putting this car together." said Jon Clark, Mopar Performance Parts Manager.

Scott McMeekin and Eric Vickerman, Mopar Performance Parts engineers, will drive the Charger in the One Lap motorsports competition.

In honor of the Virginia Tech victims, memorial decals will be displayed on all cars participating in the event.