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Dodge Challenger returns to Trans Am

NASCAR's Nationwide Series may have switched (in appearance anyway) to muscle cars, but American racing fans know that if they want to see real muscle cars on the street circuits, the only place to look is Trans Am. The all-American racing series is packed with Mustangs, Camaros and even Corvettes. The one thing it's been missing is the Dodge Challenger, but now SRT Motorsports has announced it's bringing its muscle car back where it belongs.
Rather than waiting until next year, the Miller Racing team is switching mid-season to the new Dodge Challenger SRT Trans Am racer you see here, just in time for this weekend's race at Mid-Ohio. And not just that - it's lined up a compelling pair of drivers to pilot it, as well.
The No. 11 car will be driven by Trans Am legend Tommy Kendall, a four-time series champion who's been off the grid since 2004. Backing him up in the No. 1 Challenger will be none other than Cameron Lawrence, the driver who has won five out of six races in the Chevy Camaro so far this season, losing out only once to American racing scion Adam Andretti.

GTC deliveries take Rauh collection up to 79 Vipers [w/video]

How many Vipers is enough? One of the ten-cylinder supercars might be too much machine for most drivers to handle, but not for Wayne and D'Ann Rauh. The Texas couple already own 77 of Dodge's flagship model. And now they've taken delivery of two more. At the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit on Friday, the Rauhs received the keys to a pair of Dodge Viper GTCs, customized through the automaker's "1 of 1" customization program. The program allows owners to spec their Viper just the way they want it, with 50 million unique combinations. For their 78th and 79th additions, the Rauhs ordered one decked out in brown with black stripes for Wayne, the other in purple with white for D'Ann, to whom the majority of the collection belongs. Of course, both come equipped with an 8.4-liter V10 driving 645 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. The couple will add the pair to their collection in Arp, TX, a town on the outskirts of Tyler, located between Dallas and Shreveport. The Rauh's garage already includes the last of the previous-generation Vipers decked out in two-tone gold finish. eGarage profiled the couple two years ago when their collection numbered "only" 65, and we have no doubt that number will only continue to grow as long as Dodge keeps building the legendary super-snake. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Texas Dodge Viper Enthusiasts Receive Keys to Two New Customized '1 of 1' Dodge Viper GTC Models, Now Owners of 79 Vipers Total July 24, 2015 , Detroit - Dodge Viper owners Wayne and D'Ann Rauh elevate Viper Nation enthusiasm to a whole new level. On Friday, July 24, the couple visited the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit to receive keys to not one, but two new customized "1 of 1" Dodge Viper GTC models, making them proud owners of a total of 79 Dodge Vipers. Through the new Viper "1 of 1" customization program, owners can create their very own one-of-a-kind Snake. No two customers can order the same configuration, including color, in the same model year. With the introduction of matte-finish exterior paint, the 2016 Viper is now offered in more than 50 million unique build configurations, made up from the more than 16,000 unique paint color options and more than 48,000 unique stripe combinations.

Dodge not being dropped by Chrysler, CEO reaffirms

Dodge isn't going anywhere. Despite some rumor and speculation over the future of the crosshair grille and the cars that wear it, Dodge brand boss, Tim Kuniskis, sat down with TheDetroitBureau.com, explaining that the marque isn't going anywhere. His sentiments echo those of SRT boss Ralph Gilles, who told a group of enthusiasts in July that "Dodge is here to stay!"
Dodge's death won't be "a part of a master plan to consolidate brands," Kuniskis told TheDetroitBureau.com. Instead, the brand, which is ultimately under the command of Fiat/Chrysler CEO, Sergio Marchionne, will likely ditch some of its badge-engineered models, like the Dodge Grand Caravan. A more focused Dodge, which was something Gilles has already hinted at, will likely see it exploring areas of the market that haven't been exploited by other Chrysler brands.
Kuniskis, not surprisingly, wasn't willing to delve into any detailed product plans, telling TDB that the size of the brand's lineup "remains to be seen." Regardless of how big the brand actually ends up being (it is presently Chrysler's volume brand - and not by a little), hopefully the statements from Kuniskiss can put the rumors of a Dodge closure to bed.