Dodge found a way to put a Hemi V8 into the new Charger. The catch?
It’s a purpose-built drag car that costs $235,000. Only 50 examples will be built. None is street legal.
The 2026 Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pack is the first project under the newly reconstituted Street and Racing Technology performance division.
Riley Technologies will race-prep the cars in Mooresville, North Carolina.
The vehicle is engineered specifically for NHRA sportsman classes, particularly the Factory Stock Showdown where it competes against COPO Camaros and Cobra Jet Mustangs.
Under the hood sits a supercharged 354 cubic inch Gen III aluminum Hemi V8.
The wet-sump engine features H-beam connecting rods, Diamond aluminum pistons, forged crankshaft, six-bolt main caps, Mopar camshaft with 0.675 lift, Jesel solid rollers, aluminum throttle body, and a Whipple 3.0L twin-screw supercharger.
The Factory Stock Showdown class uses a factored power rating of 630 horsepower. Dodge claims the car is capable of sub-eight-second elapsed times.
Power transfers through a Coan Racing XLT three-speed automatic transmission with a 9.65-inch torque converter.
The rear axle is a Mark Williams Enterprises 9-inch unit with an aluminum center section and 4.30:1 gears.
40-spline gun-drilled axles keep the wheels spinning. A quick-change four-piston aluminum brake setup clamps cross-drilled rotors.
The body uses carbon fiber extensively. Hood, doors, front fascia, and rear hatch all get the lightweight treatment.
Despite the Charger’s larger size, it weighs 100 pounds less than the previous Challenger Drag Pack. The car likely sits at or below 3,500 pounds.
Additional weight savings come from a lightweight front K-member, carbon fiber in the instrument panel, billet belt tensioner, and aluminum driveshaft.
Suspension features double-adjustable coilovers up front. An upgraded four-link rear setup provides launch control.
The car sits on 15×11-inch rear WELD Racing forged aluminum double beadlock wheels wrapped in Mickey Thompson drag radials.
Inside, Sabelt SFI-certified seats, harnesses, and a window net protect the driver. An NHRA-approved chromoly roll cage is certified down to a 7.50 elapsed time.
A Holley EFI Dominator ECU and Racepak Smartwire data logger with 6.9-inch display monitor fuel, spark, and driver inputs.
Integrated pedal rests, line-lock, and brake pressure switches help dial in the preferred launch.
Standard color is Knuckle White. Eighteen additional colors are available including B5 Blue, Frostbite, Go Mango, Plum Crazy, Sinamon Stick, and Sublime.
Three graphics packages can be added. Optional equipment includes a sensor package, carbon seats dropping 20 pounds, and a carbon driveshaft with aluminum rear axle yoke saving seven pounds.
The name references Mopar’s Hustle Stuff catalogs from the 1970s. Those catalogs offered performance parts, tune-up tips, and detailed diagrams for racers.
Dodge is offering a $26,000 contingency payout to the first owner who wins an NHRA Factory Stock Showdown event in 2026. Reservations opened October 31.
The Drag Pack proves a Hellcat V8 would easily fit in the 2026 Charger platform. Maybe a street-legal version arrives later.
