2011 Tremec Late-Model Hemi True Street Presented By Mopar Muscle Magazine

This year we had 12 competitors enter for True-Street glory. Awards were given to the winner and runner-up. While there can only be one overall winner in the group, awards were given to those with the closest averages to 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 seconds. So even if you think you can't hang with the big dogs, you can still dial your car in and shoot for the most consistent elapsed times around one of these benchmarks. As an added bonus, the racing doesn't end on Saturday for our competitors. Along with entry to the Late-Model Hemi Shootout True Street class, each competitor is granted access to the Hemi Rumble race the following day. This is an index class that is open to all 5.7 and 6.1 Hemi racers.

If you're curious about the event, we suggest you check out information at the www.nmcadigital.com website or read the statements posted across www.lxforums.com. There is no place else where you'll find such a competitive and fun atmosphere as an NMCA race, so we're happy to see the late-model Hemi have its own class and event to hang its hat. We witnessed several 9-second Hemi-powered cars and SUVs make it down the track, and we are told there will be at next year's event.

Think your Hemi has what it takes to win? Then we will see you next year at the www.shopHEMI.com Late-Model Hemi Shootout. You're missing out on a great congregation of late-model Hemi muscle cars tearing down the track.

Winner

The Combination: For 2011, Chris Janczy took home the win, but this could have all turned out differently. Chris tells us that five months ago he took a 393 stroker engine off the hands of Wend Robertson. Inside the stock block are Wiseco pistons, K1 rods and crankshaft, and 11.5 compression. A set of Frank Racing street/strip heads take advantage of the 227/235 cam and use PAC springs. The heads were also milled .030 inch to bump up the compression. Chris had the engine installed by BFNY Performance in Au Sable Forks, New York. Air is brought in through an SRT8 intake manifold that Chris powdercoated red, and the exhaust leaves through a set of Kooks long tube headers with a Zoomers cat-back. Once everything was squared away with the install, Mike Hess tuned the car with custom DiabloSport software. His sub-12 average was just ahead of runner-up Bill Donoho. We're pretty sure Chris is happy he made the engine swap now.

Hooking Up: All stock up front with 275/40R17 Hoosier drag radials out back. Chris swapped the rear differential to the 3.06 rear from an SRT8 and installed a pair of Driveshaft Shop axles rated to 1,000 horsepower. The transmission uses a Paramount Performance torque converter.

• Pass 1: 11.844
• Pass 2: 11.964
• Pass 3: 12.066
• Average: 11.958

Runner-Up

The Combination: A low-compression 6.4L Hemi built by PRW powers the Challenger. The 9.25:1 compression motor made the perfect powerplant to take advantage of a ProCharger system that helped Bill push out 700 horsepower to the wheels. Brad King at King Motorsport in Richmond, Virginia, built the car.

Hooking Up: Hotchkis TVS springs and sway bars increase the cornering grip of this killer SRT8. "I wanted to lower the car a little bit but I didn't want to sacrifice what I thought was a terrific ride from the factory SRT8 suspensions," he tells us. The factory Getrag 3.06 rear boasts Driveshaft Shop 1,400 horsepower axles. The BBS wheels from Speedfactory bring on a visual punch and the 315/35R20 Nitto Invos put the power down.

• Pass 1: 11.878
• Pass 2: 12.217
• Pass 3: 11.851
• Average: 11.982

12-Second Winner

The Combination: The stock bottom end is all that is left of the original 5.7L, or so it might seem after you speak with Rob about his R/T. The engine features a set of HHP high-compression Stage III heads, and an HHP Stage III cam, which deleted the MDS. Manley pushrods, springs, and retainers beef-up the valvetrain, and Dynatech long-tube headers feed into an SLP Loudmouth II exhaust. With the increase in fuel demands, a set of 6.1L injectors were installed in order to keep up, and an Arrington intake brings in the air. Tuning was done by HHP using DiabloSport.

Hooking Up: A set of KW Variant 1 coil-over shocks sit on the corners and lower the ride to the perfect stance. The rearend was upgraded to an SRT8 rear with a Quaiffe differential and Richmond 3.23 gears. On the street, the R/T rides on SRT8 wheels but, for track duty, 325/45R17M&H Racemasters mounted to 17x10 5Zigen wheels get the job done.

• Pass 1: 12.612
• Pass 2: 12.609
• Pass 3: 12.648
• Average: 12.623

The Combination: A 426 Hemi resides under the hood of Don's R/T Charger. Inside are Ross pistons with a set of K1 rods and forged crankshaft. HHP did the headwork, and a 218/223 Inertia Motorsrpots SRT Max Cam enables the better breathing. The intake was ported and the exhaust is a JBA system. Don tells us the car was tuned by Johan at DiabloSport.

Hooking Up: The factory R/T Daytona suspension has been retained. A set of 275/50R17 Mickey Thompson drag radials help put a leash on the car as the Inertia Motorsports Edge 3,400-rpm stall converter tries to blow the tires away.

• Pass 1: 12.450
• Pass 2: 12.351
• Pass 3: 13.174
• Average: 12.658

The Combination: John tells us his engine combination is mostly stock-for now. The 5.7L utilizes a 6.1L intake along with Kooks headers and a Corsa exhaust. Josh at HHP performed all the tuning in-house using DiabloSport.

Hooking Up: A slick set of black Weld Racing RT-S wheels with M&H Racemasters mounted to them deliver traction and gorgeous looks to this black Challenger. The suspension uses Lakewood shocks in place of the factory Bilsteins. The stock six-speed transmission twists the stock Getrag rear with 3.92 gears.

• Pass 1: 12.676
• Pass 2: 13.052
• Pass 3: 12.881
• Average: 12.870

The Combination: Joshua is the owner of High Horse Performance. He recently purchased the SRT8 as a shop race car. They've installed an HHP/BES stage 2 camshaft, while a forged, low-compression BES 6.1L engine and ProCharger are waiting to go in. "I raced it with a stock exhaust and intake, so it's nothing special," he explains. "But with the future mods we have planned, it should be in the 9-second class by the end of the season.

Hooking Up: All stock SRT8 parts, but not for long as the car is being transformed under an enormous overhaul.

• Pass 1: 12.936
• Pass 2: 12.858
• Pass 3: 12.819
• Average: 12.871

13-Second Winner

The Combination: Lisa's SRT8 only has a few upgrades at the moment. A Corsa exhaust and Diablo tune free up some of the potential of the car just a little. But, the future plans are quite tremendous. "My husband would like to install nitrous with a Maggie or twin-turbos at some point," she says. "I told him that isn't happening until I get another car to drive!"

Hooking Up: Black Factory Reproductions SRT-style wheels wearing 275/40R20 Nittos out back help the Detonator Yellow Challenger keep the 6.1 at bay.

• Pass 1: 13.387
• Pass 2: 13.376
• Pass 3: 13.396
• Average: 13.386

The Combination: The engine is all stock with a 2.5-inch Volant exhaust bolted to factory manifolds and JBA high-flow cats. Air is drawn through a C&L cold air, and a Diablo Predator tune helps squeeze a few more ponies out.

Hooking Up: Stellino has converted the car to a full SRT8 suspension. Out back is a 2.82 gear and a set of Mickey Thompson 275/40R17 drag radials.

• Pass 1: 13.619
• Pass 2: 13.877
• Pass 3: 14.104
• Average: 13.867

The Combination: Inside the 5.7L Hemi is a Franks Racing Sidewinder cam with SRT8 springs and pushrods. Air is drawn through a custom intake that allows the Hemi to breathe in air that's within 5 to 8 degrees of ambient. The car is tuned by Johan at DiabloSport through a Trinity tuner.

Hooking Up: A set of 275/40R17 Mickey Thompson drag radials get Dave to hook up without a problem. An assortment of Pedders bushings and a bumpsteer kit help road manners and its behavior going down the track. Out back is a Getrag 3.06 rear, and the transmission was upgraded with Bluetop solenoids and a Protorq 2,800-rpm converter.

• Pass 1: 13.851
• Pass 2: 13.929
• Pass 3: 14.019
• Average: 13.933

The Combination: The stock 5.7L Hemi sports a K&N cold air kit with a factory exhaust that has the mufflers and resonators removed. In the future, he has plans to install a ProCharger supercharger, a bigger camshaft, and dyno tune the car. It's currently using a 93-octante DiabloSport Trinity tune.

Hooking Up: A set of Nitto NT555R drag radials help hook up with the 3.92 gears. A driveshaft safety loop was installed to prevent any problems should his driveshaft let go.

• Pass 1: 14.051
• Pass 2: 13.945
• Pass 3: 13.995
• Average: 13.97

14-Second Winner

The Combination: Curt has not only enjoyed his Charger Daytona on the street and strip, he also is involved in SCCA autocross. Powering the GoMango Daytona is the factory 5.7L Hemi with a Mopar MDS cam rated at 204/210 degrees of duration at .050-inch lift, and .500/.488-inch lift. A pair of JBA shorty headers feed into a Corsa exhaust.

Hooking Up: Mounted to a set of 20x8.5 and 20x9 American Racing wheels, Curt has a set of 245/45 and 255/55 radials. For the suspension, SRT springs and a Pedders bushing "Critical" kit was used. Curt also tells us he upgraded to a 3.06 gear and SRT internals in the transmission.

• Pass 1: 13.918
• Pass 2: 13.958
• Pass 3: 14.432
• Average: 14.103

The Combination: The 300C SRT8 came equipped with the 425hp 6.1L Hemi. Norris added a Magnaflow catback exhaust and a quick tune but hasn't pushed it any further. "I like the car because I can drive it every day, take a trip with my wife, and then have some fun on the street or at the track.

Hooking Up: Norris mounted a set of 275/50R20 Nitto NT555R drag radials to his stock SRT8 wheels with 245/50R20 Goodyears up front. The suspension is all stock SRT8. Out back is the standard 3.06 gear.

• Pass 1: 13.374
• Pass 2: 19.988
• Pass 3: 20.057
• Average: 17.806 mm