Here Is What You Need To Build Your Own Mopar Challenger Drag Pak!

With tens of thousands of grassroots drag racers across the United States and Canada who compete in events sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) every year, Dodge & Mopar have offered a special limited-edition factory-built turnkey package ready for the drag strip every couple of years. Produced in a series of 50 units per run, the Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak race cars have been dominant across North America since the first run was completed in 2009.

But now, Dodge & Mopar are offering anyone with some cash to build their own Drag Pak thanks to the new Direct Connection parts program. However, Dodge is letting you decide what you want to power the car down the track.

We figured we would take a look at what the Direct Connection catalog has to offer the grassroots drag racer and just how much such a build would cost (all pricing is in USD).

Step #1 – The Car – 

7.50 Body Kit – Part #: P5161750AC – $22,995.00 –

Featuring an NHRA-certified roll cage, stripped-down Dodge Challenger chassis, and extensive body modifications and lightweighting – the Drag Pak 7.50 Body Kit offers you the chance to get a quick and painless start to your Challenger racecar. Mopar takes a Challenger street car chassis straight from the factory and make several modifications to make life easier for the racer by improving the safety, stiffness, and serviceability of the car at the track. Comes assembled with the following:

• Fully TIG-welded Chromoly roll cage (SFI 25.5C: NHRA-legal to 7.50 ET)
• All-new roll cage design for greater chassis stiffness
• Engine cross-member with lowered engine mounts
• Cut-outs in engine and transmission cross-members for easy service
• Mounting points for rear 4-link suspension, wishbone & dampers
• Includes doors, decklid & bumper beams
• Lightweight aluminum hood with center scoop & heat extractors
• NHRA-mandated driveshaft hoop & window net
• NHRA-certified roll cage
• The 7.50 Body Kit is available in additional colors, dependant on current Challenger exterior production colors
• Customer pick-up is required

Exterior Kit – Part #: P5160232AC – $5,895.00 –

This kit complements the 7.50 Body Kit to complete the iconic and aggressive Dodge Challenger body. Combining Hellcat front and rear fascias with an SRT® Performance spoiler and some unique Drag Pak elements, Mopar created a package that combines factory looks with racecar performance. Includes several components to ensure the closures (doors, hood, and decklid) fit and function just as well as any road-going Challenger. The kit includes:

• Complete Hellcat front fascia (assembled) and support brackets
• Front headlamps, closeouts, and fender wells
• Hellcat rear fascia with brackets
• Hood latch & cable, gas struts/props
• Hood scoop bezel & heat extractors
• SRT Performance spoiler
• Rear center lamp assembly & decklid striker
• Door seals & weatherstripping
• Exterior door handles & lock cables
• Window motors with regulator & cables
• Carbon fiber closeouts for side mirror-delete
• Associated hardware for all of the above

Interior Kit – Part #: P5160231AC – $6,495.00 –

The Drag Pak Interior Kit balances racecar function with factory comfort and finish. Along with a full dashboard and instrument panel with carbon-fiber bezels and custom Drag Pak engraved closeouts, the kit also includes mounts for the ECU, racing pedals, shifter, and steering column. Rounding out the Factory Stock feel is a custom-cut lightweight carpet and SFI-compliant rollbar padding for the roll cage. The kit includes:

• Full dash panel, glove box, knee panels, A/C vents & trim
• Carbon-fiber instrument panel bezel
• Mounts for control switches and Holley digital dash
• Full door trim panels, with control modules, window switches, and latch strikers
• Trim panels for rockers, A-, B- & C- pillars and steering column
• Mounts for the steering column, shifter, brake, and accelerator pedals
• Front energy-absorber assembly
• SFI 45.1-compliant padding for cage
• Custom-fitted lightweight carpet
• All associated hardware and parts

Step #2 – Seats – 

Now, there are two seat options available for customers to choose from…

Racetech Base Seats – Part #: P5160251AA – $2,625.00 –

Mopar’s Base Seat Kit includes lightweight FIA-compliant Racetech composite seats and Racetech HANS-ready cam-lock harnesses (FIA and SFI-compliant). The kit contains:

• Racetech composite seats (driver & passenger) (FIA 8855-1999 compliant)
• Racetech HANS-ready 6-point driver harness (FIA 8853-1998 & SFI 16.1 compliant)
• Racetech HANS-ready 4-point passenger harness (FIA 8853-1998 & SFI 16.1 compliant)
• Racetech seat brackets
• All associated hardware

Racetech Head Restraint Performance Seat Kit – Part #: P5160229AA – $5,495.00 –

Mopar’s upgraded Seat Kit includes lightweight FIA-compliant Racetech composite seats and Racetech HANS-ready cam-lock harnesses (FIA and SFI-compliant). The kit contains:

• Racetech full-containment composite driver seat with winged head restraints (FIA 8855-1999 compliant)
• Racetech composite passenger seat (FIA 8855-1999 compliant)
• Racetech HANS-ready 6-point driver harness (FIA 8853-1998 & SFI 16.1 compliant)
• Racetech HANS-ready 4-point passenger harness (FIA 8853-1998 & SFI 16.1 compliant)
• Racetech seat brackets (back and bottom braces)
• All associated hardware

Step #3 – Engine Electrical & Controllers – 

Electrical & Fuel Kit – Part #: P5160239AC – $16,095.00 –

The Electrical and Fuel Kit contains everything needed to set up your Drag Pak’s electrical system, as well as a complete plug-and-play fuel system from Aeromotive. It makes use of a user-programmable PDM (power distribution module) to eliminate the use of fuses, relays, and solenoids. This gives racers the ability to make electrical changes without ever having to cut into the harness. The kit contains:

• Complete Aeromotive fuel system including:
  • Brushless inline fuel pump
  • Double inline fuel filters
  • Braided fuel and return lines
  • 30-120 psi adjustable regulator
  • All fittings, hoses (cut-to-length), and hardware
  • 3-gallon SFI-certified drag race fuel cell with safety foam
  • Main body wiring harnesses with:
    • Engine & engine bay harness (with Holley coil drivers)
    • Trunk & battery harness
  • Quick-disconnect battery charging terminals (when used with Drag Pak 7.50 Body Kit, charging terminal located at stock fuel fill door)
  • Push/pull battery master disconnect switch (internal/external)
  • Line lock kit with microswitch
  • Mopar® 12-volt battery
  • Easy-to-read analog gauges by Autometer:
    • Tachometer
    • Oil Pressure
    • Brake Pressure
  • Associated anti-vibration mounts and hardware

ECU Kit – Part #: P5160240AA – $4,695.00 –

The Drag Pak ECU kit features the brain of the Drag Pak. Mopar incorporates a top-of-the-line fully-programmable Holley Dominator EFI VMS and a Holley Digital Dash to tune, run and monitor the Drag Pak. The kit contains:

• Holley Dominator EFI vehicle management system featuring:
  • Fully-potted ECU with sealed automotive & marine grade connectors
  • Individual cylinder fuel and spark control
  • Advanced idle, closed-loop, and enrichment strategies allow for very stable engine operation
  • Can be used as a complete data acquisition system as well
  • Holley EFI digital dash with:
    • 7-inch low-glare full-color touchscreen display – easily viewed even in the sun
    • User-programmable shift lights, alarms, and gauges/indicators
    • Can be programmed as a virtual switch panel
    • Weatherproof aluminum housing
    • View, download, and save Holley EFI data logs to an external USB memory stick
  • 2 Holley wideband O2 sensors

Step #4 – Suspension – 

Suspension Kit – Part #: P5160241AC – $20,295.00 –

The Drag Pak Suspension is engineered to launch hard, decimate the 60-foot, and stay planted all the way to the finish line. Sporting an all-new 4-link rear end and double-adjustable BILSTEIN coil-overs developed especially for the Drag Pak, it offers racers and crew chiefs plenty of adjustabilities to tune for diverse track conditions. A Strange Engineering 9-Inch rear end and aluminum center section combine strength with low mass and rotational inertia to maximize acceleration. The package is rounded out by racing brakes from Strange Engineering that provide ample stopping power after the finish line, with minimal losses due to brake drag on the way there. The kit includes:

• Fixed lower link with an adjustable upper link for tunability
• Heavy-duty wishbone with 1-inch slider
• Adjustable shock mounts
• Heavy-duty anti-roll bar
• Adjustable wheelie bars
• Strange Engineering 9-inch rear end with:
  • 4.11:1 final drive ratio
  • HD Pro aluminum center section
  • Heat-treated 8620 lightweight gears
  • 40-spline gun-drilled “Hy Tuf” ultra-strength axles
• Double-adjustable drag racing coil-overs by BILSTEIN
• Lightweight steering column with quick-disconnect steering wheel
• Independent SLA with high upper A-Arm front suspension with manual steering rack
• Wilwood brake pedal & master cylinder with brake pressure switch
• Strange Engineering Pro Series II low-drag front & rear racing brakes
• Associated hardware and parts

Step #5 – Wheels & Tires – 

The Direct Connection catalog offers two different wheel and tire packages for your racing needs…

Bogart Lightweight Wheel & Tire Kit – Part #: P5160252AB – $4,865.00 –

The base wheel and tire kit include Bogart racing aluminum wheels powder-coated matte black wrapped in non-DOT Mickey Thompson Drag radials. The kit contains…

• Bogart 17-inch x 4.5-inch front wheels
• Bogart 15-inch x 10-inch rear wheels (non-Beadlock)
• Wheels powder-coated matte black with Mopar engraving
• Mickey Thompson ET Front Tires (27.5 X 4.0-17)
• Mickey Thompson ET Drag® Pro Drag Radial Tires (30.0 X 9.0 R15)
• Mounted & balanced with valve stems

Weld Beadlock Lightweight Wheel & Tire Kit – Part #: P5160246AB – $6,895.00 –

Our upgraded Wheel and Tire Kit includes Weld Racing lightweight forged one-piece double Beadlock wheels powder-coated black with a custom Drag Pak engraving, wrapped in non-DOT Mickey Thompson™ drag radials.

• Weld Racing V-Series front 17-inch x 4.5-inch frontrunner wheels
• Weld Racing Alpha-1 15-inch x 10-inch rear wheels (double-Beadlock)
• Wheels powder-coated gloss black with exclusive Drag Pak engraving
• Mickey Thompson ET Front Tires (27.5 X 4.0-17)
• Mickey Thompson ET Drag® Pro Drag Radial Tires (30.0 X 9.0 R15)
• Mounted & balanced with valve stems

Step #6 – Engine – 

There is a couple of directions you can take your Drag Pak build. You can opt for the Drag Pak’s supercharged 354 cubic-inch HEMI V8, an 807 horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI H.O. V8, or just keep it as a rolling chassis and have it powered by something else.

354 Supercharged HEMI® Engine – Part #: P5160354AC – $56,995.00 – 

Our latest evolution of the engine that won the 2018 NHRA Factory Stock Showdown and NMCA Factory Super Car championships, the 354 Supercharged HEMI® Drag Pak engine features numerous upgrades. Featuring an all-new 3.0-liter Whipple twin-screw supercharger, upgraded forged internals, and a new front accessory drive, this engine combination is NHRA-rated at 630 horsepower and approved for NHRA FS/XX and NMCA FSS classes. NHRA mandates engine factored horsepower rating for vehicles that compete within specific NHRA sanctioned class(es) to achieve parity within each race class and does not represent actual engine output capability.

Comes fully assembled and ready to race with all of the below:

• Displacement 354 cubic-inch
• Drag Pak-exclusive aluminum block and HEMI cylinder heads
• Forged internals – Winberg 8-counterweight crank, Carrillo H-beam rods, Diamond billet aluminum pistons
• Jesel valvetrain for improved rigidity
• 3.0-liter Whipple twin-screw supercharger
• 109 mm throttle body & 3.500-inch pulley
• American Racing headers – 304 stainless with merge collectors
• New front drive with billet timing gears & SFI-approved ATI damper
• Installed sensors: Cam & crank position, oil pressure & temperature, intake T-MAP (temperature & pressure)
• Moroso billet aluminum oil pan with fabricated aluminum sump
• Uses Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 (8 qt) & Mopar® oil filter (Part #: 05038041AA)
• Requires the following kits for plug-and-play installation:
  • Engine Systems Kit (Part #: P5160258AC)
  • ECU Kit (Part #: P5160240AA)
  • Drag Pak Electrical & Fuel Kit (Part #: P5160239AC)
• Recommended fuel: VP C16

HELLCRATE REDEYE 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI® Engine – Part #: 68303091AA – $20,795.00 – 

The Hellcrate Redeye 6.2L Supercharged Crate HEMI® engine with 807 horsepower and 717 lb.-ft. of torque. This complete engine assembly includes a water pump, flywheel and clutch, front sump oil pan, intake manifold with throttle body, fuel injectors, and coil packs.

• Engine type GEN III HEMI V8
• 2.7-liter IHI supercharger
• Displacement 376 cubic-inch
• Bore 103.9 inches.
• Stroke 90.9 inches.
• Block cast-iron block with 4-bolt powder metal caps
• Crank material forged alloy steel
• Connecting rods forged powder metal connecting rods with diamond-like coating wrist pins
• Must purchase Hellcrate Redeye 6.2L Supercharged Crate Engine Kit

HELLCRATE REDEYE 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI® Engine Kit – Part #: 68303091AA – $2,375.00 –

Step #7 – Driveline – 

Race Driveline Kit – Part #: P5160333AB – $19,795.00 – 

Make the most of your engine with our Race Driveline Kit. Our Driveline Kit features race-proven components used widely by racers in factory stock racing, integrated and tested to ensure peak performance, pass after pass. Sold ready-to-race with the following:

• Shootout-style racing hydraulic 4-speed automatic featuring:
  • SFI 29.1 certified flexplate
  • Reid racing SFI 4.1 certified transmission case
  • Reid racing SFI 30.1 certified lightweight bell housing
  • Aluminum drums & 300M/4340 input & main shaft
  • 258 mm torque converter
  • CNC-machined billet “Kwik-Shift” shifter with “neutral clean” valve body (P-R-1-2-3-N)
  • Extended dipstick for easy fluid checks
  • ATI Super Starter by Tilton (works with 12-volt/16-volt systems)
  • Lightweight aluminum driveshaft with heavy-duty U-joints

Step #8 – Engine Cooling – 

Engine Systems Kit – Part #: P5160258AC – $5,495.00 –

The Engine Systems Kit features all the components needed to make your Drag Pak engine breathe right and stay cool. Features a brand-new 2-piece air intake for maximum performance. Contains components, hoses, fittings, and hardware–- all in one convenient package. Includes the following:

• Fabricated aluminum intercooler ice tank with clear lid
• C&R racing aluminum radiator with 12-inch SPAL fan & shroud
• 60-inch throttle cable
• Twin electric water pumps (1 for each circuit)
• Crankcase ventilation system with breather bottle & mounts
• 2-piece air intake (for ease of service)
• All associated hoses, fittings & hardware

Step #9 – Graphics – 

Drag Pak Full-Color Livery – Part #: P5160254AA – $5,995.00 – 

The graphics package includes a blue Mopar® logo and red “drag pak” graphics for installation on the quarter panels above the rear wheels. The red band wraps around the rear of the car, connecting the graphics. A wide blue stripe, with red tracers on each side, runs from the edge of the front fascia, over the roof, and through to the rear edge of the decklid. A blue band runs along the lower quarter of each side of the Challenger, accented by a red tracer line.

Direct Connection Full-Color Livery – Part #: P5160255AA – $5,995.00 – 

The graphics package includes a blue Mopar logo and red “direct connection” graphics for installation on the quarter panels above the rear wheels. The red band wraps around the rear of the car, connecting the graphics. A wide blue stripe, with red tracers on each side, runs from the edge of the front fascia, over the roof, and through to the rear edge of the decklid. A blue band runs along the lower quarter of each side of the Challenger, accented by a red tracer line.

Drag Pak Monochromatic Livery – Part #: P5160256AA – $5,995.00 – 

The graphics package includes a monochromatic Mopar logo and “drag pak” graphics for installation on the quarter panels above the rear wheels. The monochromatic band wraps around the rear of the car, connecting the graphics. A wide monochromatic stripe, with tracers on each side, runs from the edge of the front fascia, over the roof, and through to the rear edge of the decklid. A graphic band runs along the lower quarter of each side of the Challenger, accented by a tracer line.

Direct Connection Monochromatic Livery – Part #: P5160257AA – $5,995.00 – 

The graphics package includes a monochromatic Mopar logo and “direct connection” graphics for installation on the quarter panels above the rear wheels. The monochromatic band wraps around the rear of the car, connecting the graphics. A wide monochromatic stripe, with tracers on each side, runs from the edge of the front fascia, over the roof, and through to the rear edge of the decklid. A graphic band runs along the lower quarter of each side of the Challenger, accented by a tracer line.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions…

So if you are a grassroots racer and looking at options, here are the three best options to build a Drag Pak.

Rolling Chassis Drag Race Car –

Build your own rolling chassis drag race car with the purchase of Direct Connection Drag Pak kits. Start with the NHRA certified 7.50 Body Kit, Race Suspension Kit, Electrical and Fuel Kit, Exterior Kit, Interior Kit, and Weld Beadlock Lightweight Wheel Kit. Assembly is required, with little to no additional fabrication. You add the Powertrain, Drivetrain, and your preferred Engine Management System. The Drag Pak 7.50 Body Kit is built on the same production line as the 2021 Drag Pak and includes the NHRA certification for 7.5-second ETs.

HELLCRATE REDEYE 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI® Drag Pak – 

You can build a complete Drag Pak on a budget, using the 807 horsepower HELLCRATE REDEYE engine package capable of running the 1/4-mile in 9-seconds flat.

354 Supercharged HEMI® Engine Drag Pak – 

To build your own complete Drag Pak, here is what you will need to be your own Challenger capable of a 7.5-second 1/4-mile.

Remember that all of the pricing is in USD and does not include taxes and destination charges. Also, none of the Drag Pak kits come with a warranty. 

So what do you think about the different configurations of Drag Paks that can be built with the new Direct Connection catalog? Let us know in the comments below of your favorite option and/or what you would do differently.