MOPAR HEMI CHALLENGE TO EXPAND IN 2006

Center Line, Mich. — Mopar is proud to announce the expansion of the Mopar HEMI Challenge for the 2006 season. The highly popular event, which has headlined the Friday night racing action at the NHRA U.S. Nationals for the past five years, will feature a three-event schedule this year. In addition to adding two dates to make the event a series, Mopar will crown both a series champion and event champion in Indianapolis for the first time in event history.

“The expansion of the Mopar HEMI Challenge represents Mopar’s commitment to the growth of this authentic event,” said David Hakim, Marketing Manager, Mopar Performance Parts. “The 1968 and 1969 Plymouth Barracudas that compete in the Mopar HEMI Challenge represent the high water mark of the production super stock package cars. This event helps to preserve the legendary status of these machines while, at the same time, implementing modern technology to further their status in the sport of drag racing.”

Featuring events at the Jegs.com Cajun SPORTSnationals, the JEG’S Northern SPORTSnationals and NHRA U.S. Nationals, the Mopar HEMI Challenge will offer over $25,000 in prize money in 2006. The JEGS.com Cajun SPORTSnationals and JEG’S Northern SPORTSnationals events will feature a $5,000 purse, while the NHRA U.S. Nationals event will continue to feature $10,000 to win. A yet-to-be determined cash prize will also be awarded to the series winner at the conclusion of the Indianapolis event.

The 2006 season will also see the Super Stock AA (automatic) vehicles compete head-to-head with the newly formed Super Stock A/HEMI Class. Former winners of the Mopar HEMI Challenge event include Buckey Hess (2001), Richard Beshore (2002), Jerry Jenkins (2003), Jeg Coughlin Jr., (2004), and Charlie Westcott (2005).

The first event in the 2006 Mopar HEMI Challenge event will be held at the JEGS.com Cajun SPORTSnationals on April 21–23. The second leg will be run at the JEG’S Northern SPORTSnationals on July 28–30. The series finale will be held at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Ind., on September 1, 2006. The finale will be featured on ESPN2’s coverage of the NHRA U.S. Nationals.