Challenger Leads the Dodge Invasion at Talladega

Posted By RLD | 04.23.2010

This Sunday will mark the running of the Aarons 499 on the 2.66-mile oval at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama and a major event for the Dodge Motorsports team. Leading the pack for the will be the new Dodge Challenger pace car, featured in the photos above (and below, after the jump).

In addition to the Challenger pace car, the Dodge team will also be rolling out a few more surprises on and off the track. Thanks to Talladegas unique track configuration and high speeds the Dodge-powered Penske Racing teammates will be running a new rear spoiler and smaller restrictor plate. Although the team has put the new configurations up against rigorous testing, the crew is cautiously optimistic about Sundays performance.

To check out the new pace car and team Dodges furious fight to the finish, be sure to tune in to FOX at 1:00 pm ET on Sunday April 25, 2010. If you arent already, you should also be following @TeamDodge on Twitter for minute-by-minute race updates from the Dodge Motorsports Tweet Up, Sunday at 9:15am outside Turn 4. If you can make it, youll get the chance to meet Penske’s @J_allgaier12 and Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles. Boogity, boogity, boogity!

Tagged dodge |

SUBLIME

Now we are talking. Let’s get some serious exposure for the Challenger at the best race track in the country. Are they going to make a limited number of pace car Challengers? Maybe not as guady as that one but at least one that says Official Pace Car on the door. I know you have to use large letters on this one so everyone can see it from the stands so they don’t think it is a Mustang. At any rate, good job and keep up the PR work!
440

Yeah,nice to see Dodge putting Challenger out for people to see !!

Still cant wait for the 6.4 specs…
IndyRider

Yes, it is about time we had a Challenger pacing the field! 3 weeks into ownership and I continue to find new reasons to love this car. In addition, the comments from others are classic. Here are a few favorites:

“Dodge is making the Challenger again?”
“Wow an original Challenger! It looks great!”
“They offer Plum Crazy?”
“You have the best car, out of the retro offerings” (my personal favorite)
SUBLIME

IndyRider, so true…I have had so many people compliment me on my car, yet not a single one knows what the car is.

“I didn’t know they made Camaros in purple”
“Bad ass Mustang”
“Neat looking Charger, is that a 1970 or 1971?”
“What is that thing, I want one”

When you don’t advertise the car, you can’t expect to sell them.
Tracy

Sublime, most of these young bone heads driving aroud now a days don’t know $hit from shinola. When I was a kid I knew the differance from a Mustang to Charger, Cuda, Chevelle, and so forth. If it doesn’t have a big chrome round muffler hanging out the back, they just don’t care. What has happened to the kids these days. Nasty Muscle Cars are where it’s at and well always be. Ya know in history class the 1960′s-70′s muscle cars should be taught so that kids today well know what they missed out on and maybe spark some intrest in the new cars today that the Big3 are making. My did you almost puke when who ever call your car a Camaro. The Camaro is a pile of junk next to a Challenger, I might have said hop in kid and I’ll show you what this thing is all about, then sent him on his way with visions of Challengers dancing through his head. He could have gone back to school the next day and talked about the bitchinest car some guy gave him a ride in. Purple Camaro my a$$
Tracy

Dodge that is a great looking Pace Car by the way. Build some they’ll sell.
http://www.myspace.com/allworldkitty IndyRider

Took my older brother for a ride yesterday, and he was amazed by the comfortable seats, overall ride, and of course the bad ass power. Kind of shows how little magazine critics know about cars.

And seeing the Challenger pacing the field today at Talladega, was cool. I hope Fox gave it some air time similiar to what they did for the camaro and mustang pace cars. If they didn’t then once again, it shows how clueless people are about this car.

Also have to give a shout out to the NorCal Challengers crew who rolled into the Monterey Peninsula this weekend. Cool to see about a dozen cars, cool folks, and living proof that Dodge is alive and well!
Mary

Chrysler/Dodge products ROCK…I love the Viper, the Challenger, the Magnum asnd the PT Cruiser even though it has been discontinued..I own a 2000 Jeep Grand Gherokey Loredo and love it..don’t want to give it up…PLEASE..keep bringing back the old muscle csr looks..Baby boomers love he looks..Your products are fun, stylish and elegant..Keep up the good work..I also like the Chrysler 300..Needs to be frontwheel drive only, for the great lakes and midwest areas though.
SUBLIME

Another NASCAR folley, but it wasn’t so bad for Dodge this time. Brad Kesolowski wins the Nationwide race and Kurt Busch moves from 30th to an 8th place finish with 10 laps to go. It was so nice to see Jimmy Johnson hit the wall and his buddy Jeff losing his temper with him. As long as the Dodges can keep climbing to the top then maybe people will come back to the races. We shall see. If Chevy wins the championships again, its over. Congrats Brad and Kurt!
Tracy

Now Sublime, I don’t like to see anyone hit the wall because my Driver hit the wall in 2001 at Daytona and he is no longer alive. He was Dale Earnhardt drove the black 3 car and was loved and hated but respected by the other drivers on the track. Nascar for me is not the same and it never well be. I root for JJ because he’s the home town boy, too bad he doesn’t drive for RCR. Adam Petty died the same way but during practice, the HANS would have saved them both but until Superman was killed NASCAR didn’t care. No they do and our drivers are safer now but it took the life of a seven time champion to get them off their a$$e$. So please no more about how it was nice to see someone HIT the wall. Tracy
SUBLIME

Jimmy Boy has copped a huge attitude since NASCAR has only allowed the Chevy motor to dominate so yeah it is nice to see Jimmy hit the wall like everyone else does during the year. We don’t want to see anyone die, we just want to see someone different win. Jimmy is a pretty boy sissy that just doesn’t fit the southern NASCAR motif and to see him win makes most of us pretty sick. I know you are partial to JJ because he’s from your home town but that is as far as it goes. Jimmy has got to go. His luck has to run out some time and I hope it does this year. He gives Chevy a bad name. Dale on the other hand was a tough southern boy and I didn’t mind when a Chevy won as long as it was Dale. JJ is a prima donna and if things don’t go his way then he and Chad will go to the NASCAR officials and try and have the rules changed. It is really hard to stomach it anymore.
Tracy

Sublime I see your point, it’s a sport that started in the south and has now moved everywhere hell I grew up out here in Ca. so I never thought it was something I could have done because of the southern root thing. Ca. had drag racing and that was all I knew of. First race I every watched was the 79 Daytona on CBS and the crash and fight at the end was unbeliable. I think Nascar is bring in the pretty boys so when they are on tv they look good on camara? Anyway take it easy.
SUBLIME

Tracy, you are right…it is all about being politically correct and that is not what the sport is about. It is about good old boys racing and getting mad when they lose. The pretty boys like Jeff Gorden and Jimmy Johnson don’t do it justice. I used to go to all the races throughout the country now I watch the last 10 minutes on TV (only if it is a big race like Daytona and Talledaga). It just isn’t the same as when racers fixed their own cars and took stock cars from the dealerships and made them into race cars. It is just too bad.
Tracy

Sublime, I hate the templete cars it’s not stock at all. Throw some real STOCK cars out their and see what happens. I think the Impala is front wheel drive? And what of the Toyota Camery race car, those words really don’t go together at all. Biggest engine that it has is a six so even running in something called stock car is BS. I do what you do with the races dvr see you wins at end and thats about it. I hate the restrector plate races, big packs of cars going round and round is not that fun. Make em run smaller CI engines at the big tracks and stop the plate crap, I feel it helped kill Earnhardt along with no Hans. Oh well no one wants to listens to the fans or the buyers(Dodge). Take it easy Sub, Tracy
HEMIhead

Sublime, Tracy,
Good Luck getting Dodge to listen to your comments or reply. Check out their motorsports website, they haven’t updated it since Nov. 20, and they still want you to watch the 2010 Daytona 500. Try voting on the winner when it isn’t Dodge. Who’s covering their motorsports
program? I doubt anybody. If they are not interested, why should I be? or anybody else for that matter. I am just living on nostalgia now. Awwwww, the good old days of the Chrysler Corporation………..
http://www.dodge.com/en/motorsports/index.html
Tracy

Hello Hemi, yes I know that Dodge doesn’t care as I’ve told them about a place that I used to work at, I was a contractor and where I worked they NEVER bought Dodge trucks, cars or vans. You know when you buy these vehicles you then have to buy replacement parts. I find it very funny that they don’t want to know this info. Do I want to be paid some how yes I do. Because a job would be nice to have. Hmmmm it’s strage that they don’t want to know about a place that they could sell at least $500,000.00-1,000,000.00 or more every year to this place. Being that WE bailed them out I wonder how this would look if the public was to find out about there unresponsivness to this. Oh it was real funny to look at that link you posted, maybe they could just change the date and put in next years. Hey this is just like the heath care bill we didn’t want it but DC didn’t care to listen, kind of like Dodge they don’t listen either oh thats right their run by the same DUMMIES that are running the country. We’ve put out enough ideas here and all we get is silence. Oh well they’ll most likely blow it again and need another bail out because of lackluster sales.
SUBLIME

HEMIhead, you are right with the Dodge Motorsports website. It looks like they didn’t pay their bill so the web developers quit updating it or we are living in the future. Did you know the Daytona 500 is coming up 2/14/2010? Unbelieveable! It makes the company look like it went bankrupt and they stopped making vehicles. Can you believe this oversight?
Hitman_

Now that is some serious graphics in that Challenger SRT. Leading the pack!
Tracy

Hey Sublime, go to the build your car area and you can still order a Det Yellow R/T and a Plum Crazy R/T just click the classic buton and you’re on your way. Hmmmm thought both of those colors could not be ordered now.
HEMIhead

Sublime,
what I can’t believe is that they have any interest in motorsports or any of their fans.
How hard is it to update that site? I bet anybody on this blog could do it. I also bet there are
fans out there who know more about what’s happening with their motorsports program than they do! Now don’t get me wrong here, I know Nascar is all smoke and mirrors, but when you are a race fan, that’s what we have to deal with right now until something better comes along.
Like I stated before, I am living on nostalgia right now.
Think of the Dodge race car driver, who hasen’t even been recognized for his win, and what this site tells him? I guess I am going to have to post it here for him:
“CONGRATULATIONS BRAD KESELOWSKI!!!”
NATIONWIDE POINTS LEADER!
Challenger2010

Just wait till June 2 at the Daytona Nationwide race. Brad Keselowski and a couple other Dodge drivers will be racing the new car of tomorrow with the new Challenger nose. A sweet looking ride and very identifiable.

I just hope Brad’s horsepower continues to keep him leading the Nationwide series.
HEMIhead

Can’t wait to see Brad driving the new Challenger on the track!
SUBLIME

I see the new name for the Sebring will be Nassau: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/28/report-chryslers-sebring-replacement-to-be-named-nassau/
I will be honest with you, I know the quality of the old Sebring isn’t there but I liked the look except that the headlights were much too big and the fog lights looked like fangs. Bigger wheels would have made it look sharp as well with a softer interior. Hopefully, the Chrysler 200 will replace it not this version of the Nassau because this is a butt ugly station wagon for God sakes.
SUBLIME

Tracy, you can order Hemi Orange again so why can’t you order anything? They are starting to pile up at the dealerships now so you don’t have to order them. They are starting to give you deals on them since they have been sitting for so long. Everybody who wants a Challenger has bought one by now. The only hold outs are the people that want them at a fair price. Maybe they can change them up a little for next year so they look fresh again and lower the price. It is about time and the design does need a little tweaking to make it look really good. I still think it looks too flat on the sides.
Tracy

Hi Sublime, took a look at the pics/renderings of the Nassau what a dog. What is it with these designers now a days, is ugly the new beatiful? On the colors I’m just going by what I heard on these not being avaliable after a certain date. I could be wrong who knows.
jono

“In addition to the Challenger pace car, the Dodge team will also be rolling out a few more surprises on and off the track.”

Hopefully this means that Dodge marketing has a few releases ready about the 2011 Challenger. I’ve been hearing about the 2011 Mustang for weeks now, and still, not a whisper about the Challenger; just rumors and gossip.
Dodge, I’m ready to upgrade my ’08 Challenger SRT8 when a 6.4 L hemi w/ 500+ hp and a 6 speed is available! (and sublime would be nice).
440

Tracy,
The Nassau picture you see is purely a concept from years ago….The new Chrysler Sebring/Nassau looks like the 200C concept..

They used the Nassau name on the 1955-56 Chrysler models of the Windsor…..Windsor Nassau..

The Sebring was based on a Mitshubishi platform,Mitshubishi gave Chrysler a bad..bad name…2007-Sebring,3.0 6 bangers,2.5 6 banger ect…LEMONS !!
SUBLIME

jono, yes they need to offer a 6.4 (392 cubic inch) MDS in sublime.
david

dodge hasnt updated there website? haha what? dodgemotorsports.com they have a brand new website thats badasss, dodge went all out for there motorsports teams, is really cool, so to say they are not involved in nascar is a joke, seems like they are more into it now then ever!
SUBLIME

david, what are you talking about? They are still advertising for the Daytona 500 that has come and gone on their website. Their cars are doing worse this year, it is the same old story except for the Nationwide series. Hopefully, they can take the title in the Nationwide series…now that would be great.
HEMIhead

Yes Sublime, my bad, they do have a new website, but they should kill the link to the
old one, or at least re-route to the new one. How many Dodge Motorsports websites are there? I actually have the “OLD” website saved in my favorites so, when I hit it, it takes me to that site, and the site is still there? Too Funny. The new site is way better.
david

yea too many people are looking at the old site, the new site is wayyyyyyyyy better!! dodge is pretty good this year!
Tracy

Hi my name is Brad Keselowski, I’d like to invite everyone to come on down and check out the new Dodges. Dodge is commited to building a better car and truck then the compitition, the same way my team and I are dedicated to bringing my car to the winners circle, each and every race we are in. Take the 2010 Challenger this car is one of the best built and with on the money good looks that you’ll be the talk of the block when you cruise home. So come on down and take a test drive today, I believe you’ll be very happy with the new Dodges, and if you buy one between now and June 1st you’ll receive an $1500.00 off plus any other insentives that dodge has going. Dodge is putting me in the winners circle don’t you want to be there too. Hows that boys another ad, and at no charge. Tracy
SUBLIME

Tracy, you are right. You should have your top drivers endorse your cars, especially when they win the day before. Have the commercials filmed in advance and then show them after a win or even a near win or when they are the points leader. Show them driving their race car and then behind the wheel of a car at the show room.
Tracy

Sublime, it sure makes sence to me, what a great way to get potential buyers into the show room. Here’s an idea Brad wins a race and he goes into his winners burn out which fads into him doing the burn out in a Challenger, at the end he jumps out and invites everyone down to their nearest dealer to test drive the new Dodges. Such an easy thing to do,and this ad would appeal to both men and women. Tracy
SUBLIME

Yes Tracy, infact Dodge should just do their own commercials with a web cam and make it look live and real. Paying for poor advertising is just a waste of money.
Tracy

Sublime,here’s another one I thought of. It has Roger Penske introducing his team to the non racing world and as their names are called out they step out of a new Dodge and say something snappy about the new car/truck/van they’er standing by and again invite future buyers to come on by and take a look. These could be edited to show only one driver at a time if they only want the ad to show one vehicle. Gee this advertising sure isn’t all that hard if you ask me. Tracy
tr4petty

I don’t think you can call 3 sponsored Chargers on the race track an invasion! I sure hope that Dodge adds a few more teams for next year! Too many times this year, there hasn’t been a competitive Dodge on the track to watch after only a small part of the race has been run. I don’t think Chrysler understands the impact that competitive Mopars in a popular racing series like Nascar can have on the buying public.
david

After penske/dodge win the nationwide championship this year with brad i think dodge will see how big nascar is for them and try to add more cars!
tr4petty

Let’s hope so David! I know some Mopar guys who are pretty disgusted with the lack of cars to watch on the weekends!
tr4petty

Well, the Dover race today was another disappointing day for us Dodge/Nascar fans. Dodge has GOT to support some more teams next year and increase their odds of winning some races! After Kurt cut a tire and hit the wall, there was NO competitve Dodges on the track. Brad and Sam were never a threat for the lead. This has happened TOO MANY times this year! Dodge needs AT LEAST 10 Chargers on the track each race so that Dodge race fans have reason to hope for success all race long! C’mon DODGE, give us Mopar guys something to talk about around the water cooler on Mondays! PLEASE!!!