It’s difficult to be a Dodge fan these days, but there is something called faith that keeps enthusiasts alive while they hold their collective breaths for a Hemi V8. It’s the same reason people follow a long-dead carpenter or a Chicago football team, but no one ever said following those things is difficult. Why is it different for a Dodge enthusiast?
Perhaps because, despite the odds, Dodge was able to persevere into relevance. Both the Charger and Challenger were based on quasi-obsolete components (thanks—but no thanks—Mercedes-Benz!), yet sales were robust thanks to strong, cheeky marketing, giving a nod to the past with colors and features, and being instrumental in the horsepower wars the likes of America hadn’t seen since 1970. Dodge has been the American anti-hero, rubbing Yankee sensibility into the face of a global industry while playing the part of a lonely brand within a multinational automotive corporation.
And then, it felt that America lost—not a war, but something even bigger. No more Hemi V8 sedans and coupes. None of the spirit that had brought us the Viper, revitalized Ram, Prowler, or (gulp) the PT Cruiser or Magnum. Globalism won, and it didn’t feel right. All that brand equity that made kids want a Dodge went down the drain. How’s that working for ya, Dodge?
The good news is that Dodge will once again produce a Hemi Charger for 2026, but it will not be street-legal as it’s part of the serial Drag Pak racers for the drag strip. It is the first race car to be produced under the umbrella of the newly reestablished SRT Performance division, a promising development that aids in the faith. Officially, it’s known as the Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection, and it will be powered by a supercharged 354ci Hemi V8. For you folks who lived it (or those well-versed in muscle car history), Hustle Stuff was Dodge’s branding of “in-house aftermarket equipment” for folks who wanted to modify their cars for drag racing, from the lowly 198ci “Slant Six” to the 426 Hemi.
The new Hustle Stuff drag car is constructed “with select carbon-fiber components” that makes this Charger 100 pounds lighter than the Challenger Drag Pak that preceded it. Like that car, the new Charger is powered by a supercharged 354ci Hemi V8 that helps it run sub-8-second ETs. Engine upgrades include a new Generation III aluminum Hemi block, new H-beam connecting rods, Diamond aluminum pistons, forged steel eight-counterweight crankshaft, and new lightweight billet supercharger belt tensioner, among other items (you can read about all the modifications on, ahem, Stellantis North America’s media website) Only 50 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection cars will be produced, all serialized. They will be race-prepped by Riley Technologies, a Mooresville, North Carolina-based shop that has a history of collaborating with SRT. The limited-production drag car is engineered for grassroots NHRA Sportsman drag racers, with each of the 50 race cars NHRA-approved for Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) competition.
For those of you headed to the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, we won’t be surprised if this Charger will be on display, perhaps in the Dick Landy-esque paint scheme showed here. However, if you’re planning on being one of the 50, you will have the ability to choose from classic hues like B5 Blue, Go Mango, Sublime, and the ever-popular Plum Crazy (just like the old days . . . if the old days were two years ago), or newer classics like Frostbite and Sinamon Stick. Dodge also will offer optional graphic packages because, well, you know how faith manifests.
If you’re a modern guy or gal who loves the new Charger and are fine with going fast without the burble of a V8, then it’s worth mentioning that you now can officially place an order for a Sixpack-powered Dodge Charger Scat Pack four-door, which is claimed to be the most powerful sedan under $60,000. The Dodge Charger Scat Pack will be capable of 0-60 in 3.9 seconds thanks to a high-output 550-horsepower 3.0-liter, twin-turbo, inline-six Hurricane and standard all-wheel drive. Though 12.2 ETs pales in comparison to the Track Pak Charger’s, it bears mentioning the Sixpack is completely street-legal.
But, for now, keep the faith!
