AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —
- New HEMI®-powered Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection set for official competition debut at NHRA Gatornationals, March 5-8 in Gainesville, Florida
- Two-time NHRA Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) champion Mark Pawuk will take the wheel of the purpose-built, race-only Charger Drag Pak at NHRA season opener
- New 550-horsepower, SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger Scat Pack production muscle cars will also hit the strip in “Legends” races, featuring drag-racing icons Don Garlits, Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein and Warren Johnson battling in the all-new Charger
- Dodge Thrill Rides make NHRA event debut, putting race fans in passenger seat to experience the twin-turbo, performance-loaded SIXPACK-powered Charger
- In Dodge NHRA Nitro competition, veteran Leah Pruett returns to Top Fuel action while Tony Stewart Racing teammate Matt Hagan begins campaign for a fifth Funny Car crown
The all-new HEMI®-powered Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection fires up for its drag-racing debut this week when two-time Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) champion Mark Pawuk wheels the new machine in the 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Florida, March 5-8.
For the first time, a race-prepared version of the next-generation Dodge Charger unites with SRT race HEMI power to create the all-new 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection. Unveiled at last year’s Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals, the Charger Drag Pak features a high-powered, 354-cubic-inch HEMI V-8 engine.
Only 50 serialized units of the 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection, the most technologically advanced Drag Pak race car to date, will be built. 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 competition.
The Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak is part of the newly reestablished Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Performance division, responsible for SRT high-performance models, Direct Connection performance parts and American brand motorsports initiatives, including Dodge competition in NHRA and the Ram brand’s return to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2026.
Pawuk, the veteran driver from Richfield, Ohio, has been a leading Dodge competitor for decades and drove his Empaco Equipment Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak to back-to-back series championships in the highly competitive FSS division, notching four victories during the two-year span. Pawuk’s consistency highlighted his 2025 title run with wins at Bristol and Norwalk, as well as a runner-up placing and three semifinal finishes. Now, Pawuk’s excitement for the new Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak has him primed for the car’s competition debut after solid testing runs in Florida.
“I began my racing career in the 1970s with Dodge and Plymouth, and I’ll be wrapping up my career with Dodge and their outstanding Drag Pak car in the future,” said Pawuk, a former NHRA Pro Stock racer. “It’s an honor to be debuting the new Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak this year. The car is much different than the race car (Dodge Challenger) that we won two championships with in 2024-2025. We see a lot of potential with this new car. It will take some time to develop it, but I am very excited about the car. It’s NHRA’s 75th anniversary this year, and I really want to win one of those special Wally (Parks, NHRA founder) trophies for the 75th season. I think it’s possible with the new Drag Pak.
“In 2024, winning my first championship, it was a dream I’ve had all my life. I really can’t believe it happened again in 2025. After the first one, my wife Bonnie suggested it might be time to retire. But I said, ‘What do you mean? I have to try for a repeat.’ Now, I have to go for a three-peat with new HEMI-powered Charger Drag Pak.”
SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger Highlights “Legends” Races, Dodge Thrill Rides at Gatornationals
In addition to the Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak debut at the Gatornationals, four NHRA drag-racing legends – Don Garlits, Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein and Warren Johnson – will pilot production versions of the 550-horsepower, SIXPACK-powered 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack in special “Legends” exhibition races to celebrate NHRA’s 75th anniversary. Round one in the new SIXPACK-powered Charger muscle machines is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. EST on Friday (March 6) with the final round set for Saturday (March 7) at noon EST.
In another Dodge first, fan-favorite Dodge Thrill Rides are coming to an NHRA event. Race fans will have the chance to experience SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack Dodge Thrill Rides, hopping in for a front-row seat as professional drivers unleash burnouts, donuts and the full power of the new twin-turbo 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack on a closed course at the top end of the Gainesville Raceway drag strip.
Running daily all race weekend, fans will experience heart-pounding launches and tire-shredding drifts in the new gas-powered Charger Scat Pack, loaded with performance features, including Line Lock, Launch Control and a rear wheel drive mode capable of sending 100% of torque to the rear wheels at the push of a button, to name just a few.
In the NHRA nitro classes at the Gatornationals, Tony Stewart Racing drivers Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan will unveil new red, white and blue Dodge livery. Both are leading contenders, with Pruett returning to Top Fuel action after two-year hiatus and Hagan, the four-time NHRA world champion, seeking a fifth crown with his TSR Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car when qualifying begins on Friday at 2:30 p.m. EST. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday at 10 a.m. EDT.
For more information on NHRA, visit NHRA.com.
@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram
The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on the track. Fans can see action from the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series and NHRA Sportsman grassroots racers, competing in classes such as Factory Stock Showdown, Stock and Super Stock, as well as additional motorsports series.
Dodge
For 112 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Today, that legacy roars louder than ever in the next-generation lineup of Dodge, America’s performance brand.
The next-gen Dodge Charger multi-energy lineup features:
- the 550-horsepower Dodge Charger Scat Pack, powered by the 3.0L Twin Turbo SIXPACK high-output (H.O.) engine — the most powerful Hurricane engine in production
- the SIXPACK-powered standard-output (S.O.) 420-horsepower Dodge Charger R/T with standard all-wheel drive and the highest entry-level horsepower of any muscle car
- the world’s quickest and most powerful muscle car in the all-electric 670-horsepower Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack
Every Charger comes standard with all-wheel drive and offers two-door coupe or four-door sedan configurations — because with performance comes choice.
The Dodge lineup is also fueled by the fastest American gas-powered SUV ever, the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, powered by the legendary supercharged HEMI V-8 engine, now available in all 50 states. The new Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak breaks free from convention with the three-row SUV, unlocking more than13 million potential customization combinations. The 360-horsepower 5.7-liter Durango GT HEMI AWD remains the most affordable AWD V-8 in the industry.
Purchase of a SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack, Charger Daytona Scat Pack or Durango SRT Hellcat model includes one day of performance driving instruction at Radford Racing School, the official Dodge//SRT high-performance driving school.
Fans can follow all the NHRA action this season at DodgeGarage, the one-stop portal for Dodge//SRT and Mopar drag-racing news, including daily updates and access to an online racing HQ, news, events, galleries, available downloads and merchandise.
Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis (NYSE: STLA).
Mopar
Mopar is the global name for Stellantis genuine parts and authentic accessories.
A simple combination of the words MOtor and PARts, Mopar offers exceptional service, parts and customer-care. Born in 1937 as the name of a line of antifreeze products, Mopar has evolved over more than 85 years to represent both complete vehicle care and authentic performance for owners and enthusiasts worldwide.
Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era with performance parts to enhance speed and handling for both on-road and racing use. Later, Mopar expanded to include technical service and customer support, and today integrates service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer support worldwide.
Follow Dodge, Mopar and Stellantis news and video on:
Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Dodge brand: www.dodge.com
DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com
Mopar brand: www.mopar.com
Mopar blog: blog.mopar.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge and www.facebook.com/mopar
Instagram: @DodgeMoparMotorsports, @DodgeOfficial and @OfficialMopar
Twitter: @Dodge, @OfficialMopar and @StellantisNA
YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, www.youtube.com/c/mopar and www.youtube.com/StellantisNA
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SOURCE Stellantis
