Allison Kovalik Becomes The First Person To Run 9s With HURRICANE I6

Gen 2 Garage Team Is Now Aiming For The 8s...

Robert S. Miller February 21, 2025

The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter HURRICANE High-Output (H/O) I6 engine is already proving to be a game-changer in the world of Mopar performance, and Allison Kovalik has just cemented its place on the track. Behind the wheel of her 1999 Dodge Dakota, Kovalik and her Gen 2 Garage team became the first to run a 9-second quarter-mile with the new HURRICANE H/O I6 engine.

Allison Kovalik’s HURRICANE-Powered 1999 Dodge Dakota. (Allison Kovalik’s Instagram).

Her Dakota was originally built for the 2024 Roadkill Nights Grudge Match using the new Direct Connection HurriCrate Cat 3 crate engine, where she put on an impressive showing but came up short in the semifinals. However, instead of stopping there, Kovalik and her time went back to work, refining the truck to unlock its full potential. That dedication paid off during Sick Week, a brutal drag-and-drive event hosted by Tom Bailey, where she competed in the Sick Week Freaks class.

Over the course of five drag strips, her HURRICANE-powered Dakota turned in an average elapsed time (ET) of 10.34 seconds @ 127.2 mph, proving it was consistently fast. But the real breakthrough came at South Georgia Motorsports Park, where she ran a 9.98-second pass @ 132.83 mph, officially making her the first racer to break into the 9s with a HURRICANE engine.

How Kovalik’s Dakota Made History –

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While running a 9.98 @ 132.83 mph is impressive, what’s even more astonishing is that Kovalik achieved it with a completely stock HURRICANE engine and transmission. Unlike many racers who rely on extensive modifications, her Dakota still utilizes factory engine internals, proving just how much potential Dodge’s new HURRICANE Cat 3 crate engine has right out of the box.

To make the most of her setup, Kovalik used a nitrous oxide (N₂O) system, but rather than running it full-throttle the entire time, she only activated the spray in second, third, and fourth gear. Additionally, she launched the Dakota with zero boost, meaning the truck wasn’t using its full potential off the starting line.

Despite these limitations, the Dakota still put down a blistering 1.611-second 60-foot time and crossed the 1/8-mile mark in just 6.373 seconds @ 111.41 mph—all indicators that there’s plenty of room for improvement.

What’s Next? The Race to the 8s –

With the 9-second milestone now in the books, Kovalik and her Gen 2 Garage team are already looking ahead. The next goal? An 8-second quarter-mile pass.

To get there, they plan to upgrade the torque converter, which will allow her to launch at higher RPMs and with more boost, helping the Dakota reach its full potential off the line. Additionally, they’ll continue refining the nitrous system, dialing in the perfect amount of spray to get the most power while maintaining reliability.

Given how much she has already achieved with a stock powertrain and a cautious nitrous setup, it’s very possible that Kovalik’s Dakota will be the first HURRICANE-powered vehicle to reach the 8s.

This achievement is a major milestone for the HURRICANE engine platform, proving it’s not just a replacement for the legendary HEMI®—it’s a legitimate powerhouse in its own right. With Dodge’s SIXPACK Charger on the way, Kovalik’s record-breaking run gives us a glimpse into the potential of this new engine, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.