Over the six day span that is the Chevrolet Performance NHRA US Nationals, I get to do some cool stuff but the coolest is announcing the Mopar Hemi Challenge alongside Herb McCandless. “Mr. Four Speed” as he is known is one of the legendary drivers from the golden age of super stock and the early days of pro stock action. A team driver for Sox and Martin, he tells fantastic stories about the match racing days and has direct experience with the cars that are the focal point of what lots of people consider the coolest race at the US Nationals, the 2015 Mopar Hemi Challenge.
This year, more than 20 cars from across the country threw in on being a part of the heads up battle that takes place during class eliminations in Super Stock on Friday with the final being run before the banging Indy crowd on Saturday. There have been dominant cars and teams over the years but in the 15 times the event has been run, lots of cool names have hosted the trophy for besting all comers. This year’s race was full of twists, turns, and even a couple of potential cinderella stories that got stopped before coming to fruition.
These cars are amazingly specialized pieces and they have evolved over the years from runners that could clip the top of the 10s to those now capable of running down into the middle/low eights. Chassis are back halved, intake manifold design is a voodoo science that has seen the spread of the cross ram shrink over the years, but the carbs on top of that manifold are the correct ones that were used from the factory. The bore and stroke of the motor must be factory, and the compression is regulated as well. Supertuned to a level that even amazes guys like McCandless it is a hoot to call the action with him.
Les Mayhew and CompetitionPlus teamed up for some great Indy video and this is one of them. Just released the other day it has all the hallmarks of a Mayhew piece with varying camera angles, cool interviews, and an overall awesome job capturing what the race looks and feels like.
If we only had the smell-o-vision option!
Bucket list.
The Hemi Challenge is one of the things that make the Nationals “The Big Go”. I first attended in 1967 (when the Hemi cars were contesting SS/A) and have attended at least 25 times since, including consecutive visits since 2005. Say what you will about the state of NHRA drag racing, the U.S. Nationals is the epitome of motorized mayhem.
No matter how the river flows and the wind blows, I’ll be there as long as I can take breath, leaning on the west side starting line fence betting a buck a race with my pals Charlie and Chris. Pretty good gig huh Brian? Getting paid to be at the biggest drag race in the world. Take my word folks, I’ve seen him in action and he earns every penny. When he’s not calling the action, he’s doing finish line interviews and voiding the warranty on every golf cart he comes in contact with. Good job. man.